Softwr

Maritime · head to head

ORBCOMM vs Quartix

ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Maritime

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quartix logo

Quartix

Fleet Management

Deliberately narrow vehicle tracking from a listed UK vendor that publishes its prices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ORBCOMM satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications; Quartix video telematics is not part of the core product, so any fleet that decides it needs camera evidence after an incident has to bring in a second vendor and a second subscription.
  • They diverge on capability: ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Quartix covers Live tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ORBCOMM and Quartix actually diverge.

Attributes where ORBCOMM and Quartix differ
AttributeORBCOMMQuartix
Starting price$25/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer vehicle per month
PlatformsSatellite, WebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMaritimeFleet Management
Founded1995Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 ORBCOMM

  • Satellite tracking
  • Container monitoring
  • Cold chain monitoring
  • Fleet telematics
  • TMS systems
  • ERP platforms
  • Warehouse management
  • Web support

Only in Quartix

  • Live tracking
  • Driving style scoring
  • Timesheet reporting
  • Geofences
  • Driver identification
  • Published pricing

What people use each for

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

ORBCOMM

  • Tracking shipping container temperatures for refrigerated cargonot Quartix
  • Detecting vessel AIS spoofing to identify anomalous maritime activitynot Quartix
  • Monitoring fuel consumption patterns across fleet operationsnot Quartix
  • Screening shipments for sanctions compliance violationsnot Quartix

Quartix

  • A UK or French van fleet that wants tracking and timesheet evidence without a discovery call and a three-year commitmentnot ORBCOMM
  • A finance manager who needs to compare telematics costs on published numbers rather than negotiated quotesnot ORBCOMM
  • An operator disputing employee hours or customer claims about arrival times who needs a defensible site attendance recordnot ORBCOMM
  • A small fleet whose insurer offers a discount for driving style monitoring but who does not need cameras or compliance toolingnot ORBCOMM

Where each one falls short

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

ORBCOMM

  • Satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications
  • Higher cost per message compared to terrestrial cellular IoT solutions
  • Coverage remains near-global rather than fully global in all remote regions

Quartix

  • Video telematics is not part of the core product, so any fleet that decides it needs camera evidence after an incident has to bring in a second vendor and a second subscription.
  • There is no maintenance, work order or parts management, so servicing schedules stay in whatever spreadsheet or garage system the fleet already runs.
  • US hours of service and wider DOT compliance are not the focus, which rules Quartix out for regulated interstate commercial operations.
  • The standard tracker is hardwired rather than a plug-in device, so installation means booking vehicles in, which adds cost and downtime that no-contract plug-in competitors avoid.
  • The API and integration list are short, so feeding tracking data into payroll, job costing or an ERP tends to mean scheduled exports rather than a supported connector.

Pricing, plan by plan

ORBCOMM

$25/month
  • Fleet Manager$99/month
    • Real-time tracking
    • Geofencing
    • Reporting

Quartix

On request
  • Quartix$undefined/month
    • List pricing published openly, with rates varying by contract length
    • Tracking hardware included in the subscription rather than bought separately
    • One-year terms available alongside longer discounted options

Which should you pick?

Choose ORBCOMM if

  • You need satellite tracking.
  • You work on Satellite, Web.
  • You also want container monitoring.
ORBCOMM review

Choose Quartix if

  • You need live tracking.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want driving style scoring.
Quartix review

Questions people ask

Is ORBCOMM or Quartix better?
Neither clearly leads. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Quartix at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ORBCOMM or Quartix?
ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Quartix at On request.
Does ORBCOMM or Quartix run on more platforms?
ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web. Quartix runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is ORBCOMM best used for?
ORBCOMM is most often used for tracking shipping container temperatures for refrigerated cargo, detecting vessel ais spoofing to identify anomalous maritime activity, monitoring fuel consumption patterns across fleet operations, screening shipments for sanctions compliance violations. Of those, tracking shipping container temperatures for refrigerated cargo and detecting vessel ais spoofing to identify anomalous maritime activity are not what Quartix is typically brought in for.
What can ORBCOMM do that Quartix cannot?
ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics. Quartix covers Live tracking, Driving style scoring, Timesheet reporting, Geofences.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ORBCOMM: What is ORBCOMM's satellite coverage?

ORBCOMM's OGx service provides nearly global coverage across over 160 countries using a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for two-way messaging and IoT data services.

Source
Quartix: Why is Quartix cheaper than the big platforms?

Because it does less. There is no camera ecosystem, no compliance suite and no marketplace to fund. If you only need tracking, you are not subsidising features you will not use.

ORBCOMM: How does satellite IoT compare to cellular connectivity?

ORBCOMM satellite offers immunity from cellular blind spots, network outages, congestion, and weather-related disruptions. However, satellite connectivity introduces approximately 600 milliseconds of round-trip latency.

Source
Quartix: Do I have to sign for three years?

No. Shorter terms are offered, priced higher per month than the longer options. The rates are published, so the trade-off is visible before you talk to anyone.

ORBCOMM: What can ORBCOMM monitor in containers?

ORBCOMM's CT 1010 device provides sensor-based monitoring for container fire detection, unauthorized access alerts, damage detection, and asset visibility, with real-time satellite-based tracking.

Source
Quartix: Is the hardware mine?

The tracking unit is supplied as part of the subscription rather than sold to you. Check the return and replacement terms if you plan to leave or dispose of vehicles.

Share

Related pages

More on ORBCOMM

More on Quartix

Keep looking

Other head to heads