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Maritime · head to head

ORBCOMM vs Samsara

ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Maritime

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Samsara logo

Samsara

Fleet Management

The connected operations cloud

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; Samsara no price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated
  • They diverge on capability: ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ORBCOMM and Samsara actually diverge.

Attributes where ORBCOMM and Samsara differ
AttributeORBCOMMSamsara
Starting price$25/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsSatellite, WebWeb, Mobile
CategoryMaritimeFleet Management
Founded19952015

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 Samsara

  • Real-time GPS tracking
  • AI dash cameras
  • ELD compliance
  • IFTA reporting
  • Driver safety coaching
  • Maintenance scheduling
  • Fuel efficiency
  • Route optimization

What people use each for

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

ORBCOMM

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

Samsara

  • Real time GPS tracking of vehicle location and engine healthnot ORBCOMM
  • AI dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alertsnot ORBCOMM
  • Trailer and powered equipment tracking for asset recoverynot ORBCOMM
  • Fleet maintenance planning and fuel usage analysisnot 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

Samsara

  • No price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated
  • Safety, Telematics and Equipment tracking are sold as separate plan families, so a fleet needing all three buys three plans
  • Weather risk visibility and the 30 plus risk detections with context and patterns require Safety Enterprise rather than Safety Premier
  • AI fuel lifecycle insights, TMS integrations and route performance tools require Telematics Enterprise rather than Telematics Premier
  • Proactive maintenance tools and real time diagnostics for trailers and equipment require Advanced Tracking rather than Standard Visibility

Pricing, plan by plan

ORBCOMM

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

Samsara

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Samsara review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ORBCOMM if

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

Choose Samsara if

  • You need real-time gps tracking.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want ai dash cameras.
Samsara review

Questions people ask

Is ORBCOMM or Samsara better?
Neither clearly leads. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Samsara at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ORBCOMM or Samsara?
ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Samsara at On request.
Does ORBCOMM or Samsara run on more platforms?
ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web. Samsara runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Samsara is typically brought in for.
What can ORBCOMM do that Samsara cannot?
ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics. Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking, AI dash cameras, ELD compliance, IFTA reporting.

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
Samsara: How much does Samsara cost?

Samsara does not publish pricing online. Pricing is customized based on fleet size and specific operational needs. Contact sales to discuss your requirements and receive a quote.

Source
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
Samsara: Does Samsara pricing scale by fleet size?

Yes, Samsara pricing scales based on fleet size with tiers for 1-5 vehicles, 6-29, 30-499, 500-4999, and 5000+ assets. Specific rates for each tier are not disclosed online.

Source
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
Samsara: How can I get Samsara pricing information?

To obtain pricing, use the 'Talk to sales' button on Samsara's website or visit their pricing page. The sales team will discuss your operational needs and provide a customized quote.

Source
Samsara: Does Samsara offer a free trial?

No free trial is mentioned on Samsara's available pages. Contact the sales team to discuss evaluation options and pricing for your fleet.

Source
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