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MarineTraffic vs SolarWinds

MarineTraffic logo

MarineTraffic

Software

Global ship tracking intelligence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SolarWinds

Software

Solar asset performance monitoring and management

From
$2/kW/month
Rated
-
Full review

The short version

  • Only MarineTraffic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MarineTraffic and SolarWinds actually diverge.

Attributes where MarineTraffic and SolarWinds differ
AttributeMarineTrafficSolarWinds
Starting priceFree$2/kW/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb, Mobile, Api
Founded20072015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MarineTraffic

  • Real-time vessel tracking
  • Global AIS coverage
  • Voyage history
  • Port call data
  • ETA predictions
  • REST API
  • Google Earth
  • GIS systems

Only in SolarWinds

  • Real-time monitoring
  • Performance analytics
  • Alarm management
  • O&M workflows
  • Reporting
  • Benchmarking
  • Weather integration
  • Financial tracking

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MarineTraffic

  • Real-time vessel trackingnot SolarWinds
  • Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot SolarWinds
  • Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot SolarWinds
  • Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot SolarWinds
  • Vessel and company database lookupsnot SolarWinds

SolarWinds

  • Solar monitoringnot MarineTraffic
  • Performance optimizationnot MarineTraffic
  • O&M managementnot MarineTraffic
  • Portfolio reportingnot MarineTraffic
  • Investor reportingnot MarineTraffic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MarineTraffic

  • Specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
  • Enterprise tier is sales-assisted, quote-only
  • API access is credit-consumption based with cost varying by AIS data source and detail level, making cost opaque
  • Commercial API access now routes through parent company Kpler via demo request

SolarWinds

Nothing recorded yet. See the SolarWinds review.

Pricing, plan by plan

MarineTraffic

Free
  • Basic$undefined/mo
    • Free vessel tracking account
  • Essential$undefined/mo
    • Expanded tracking features
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Quote-only, sales-assisted

SolarWinds

$2/kW/month
  • Monitor$2/kW/month
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Performance tracking
    • Alerts
  • Optimize$4/kW/month
    • Advanced analytics
    • Degradation analysis
    • Benchmarking
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Portfolio management
    • Custom integrations
    • Financial modeling

Which should you pick?

Choose MarineTraffic if

  • You need real-time vessel tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
  • You also want global ais coverage.
MarineTraffic review

Choose SolarWinds if

  • You need real-time monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want performance analytics.
SolarWinds review

Questions people ask

Is MarineTraffic or SolarWinds better?
Neither clearly leads. MarineTraffic starts at Free and SolarWinds at $2/kW/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MarineTraffic or SolarWinds?
MarineTraffic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MarineTraffic and $2/kW/month for SolarWinds.
Does MarineTraffic or SolarWinds run on more platforms?
MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API. SolarWinds runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use MarineTraffic for free?
Yes. MarineTraffic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SolarWinds starts at $2/kW/month.
What is MarineTraffic best used for?
MarineTraffic is most often used for real-time vessel tracking, port call and eta tracking for logistics, fleet monitoring for shipping and chartering, maritime research and analytics via api feeds. Of those, real-time vessel tracking and port call and eta tracking for logistics are not what SolarWinds is typically brought in for.
What can MarineTraffic do that SolarWinds cannot?
MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. SolarWinds covers Real-time monitoring, Performance analytics, Alarm management, O&M workflows.
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