Softwr

Maritime · head to head

ORBCOMM vs StormGlass

ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Maritime

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StormGlass logo

StormGlass

Maritime

Global weather data API for maritime

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StormGlass has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ORBCOMM satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications; StormGlass the free tier allows 10 API requests per day and is not licensed for commercial use
  • They diverge on capability: ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, StormGlass covers Marine weather data.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ORBCOMM and StormGlass actually diverge.

Attributes where ORBCOMM and StormGlass differ
AttributeORBCOMMStormGlass
Starting price$25/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsSatellite, WebApi
Founded19952017

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

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 StormGlass

  • Marine weather data
  • Wave forecasts
  • Tide data
  • Historical weather
  • REST API
  • Webhooks
  • SDKs

Both cover

  • Api support

What people use each for

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

ORBCOMM

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

StormGlass

  • Pulling marine weather and sea state forecasts into a vessel routing or planning toolnot ORBCOMM
  • Adding tide, wave and wind data to a maritime or coastal applicationnot 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

StormGlass

  • The free tier allows 10 API requests per day and is not licensed for commercial use
  • Commercial use and any support at all start at the Medium plan, 49 euros a month
  • The Small plan at 19 euros a month has no support and no commercial licence
  • Request allowances are daily rather than monthly, so a burst of traffic cannot borrow against a quiet week

Pricing, plan by plan

ORBCOMM

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

StormGlass

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Not for commercial use
  • Small$19/month
    • 500 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • 10% annual discount available
  • Medium$49/month
    • 5000 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Full support
  • Large$129/month
    • 25000 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Full support

Which should you pick?

Choose ORBCOMM if

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

Choose StormGlass if

  • You need marine weather data.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want wave forecasts.
StormGlass review

Questions people ask

Is ORBCOMM or StormGlass better?
Neither clearly leads. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and StormGlass at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ORBCOMM or StormGlass?
StormGlass has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $25/month for ORBCOMM and Free for StormGlass.
Does ORBCOMM or StormGlass run on more platforms?
ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web. StormGlass runs on Api.
Can I use StormGlass for free?
Yes. StormGlass has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month.
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 StormGlass is typically brought in for.
What can ORBCOMM do that StormGlass cannot?
ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics. StormGlass covers Marine weather data, Wave forecasts, Tide data, Historical weather. Both handle Api support.

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
StormGlass: Is there a free tier available?

Yes, Stormglass offers a free plan with 10 API requests per day, including all weather parameters, but it is not permitted for commercial use.

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
StormGlass: What does the Medium plan include?

The Medium plan costs 49 EUR per month and includes 5000 daily requests, all weather parameters, and full support for commercial use.

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
StormGlass: Is annual billing available?

Yes, a 10% discount is available when paying annually on Small, Medium, and Large plans.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on ORBCOMM

More on StormGlass

Keep looking

Other head to heads