Softwr

Maritime · head to head

ORBCOMM vs Webfleet

ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Maritime

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Webfleet logo

Webfleet

Fleet Management

European fleet telematics, owned by Bridgestone since the TomTom Telematics sale

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; Webfleet ownership sits with a tyre manufacturer, so product investment follows the tyre and vehicle services strategy, and features that do not feed that business have historically moved slowly.
  • They diverge on capability: ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Webfleet covers Tachograph management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ORBCOMM and Webfleet actually diverge.

Attributes where ORBCOMM and Webfleet differ
AttributeORBCOMMWebfleet
Starting price$25/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
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 Webfleet

  • Tachograph management
  • OptiDrive 360
  • LINK devices
  • PRO driver terminals
  • Tyre and vehicle data
  • Video telematics

What people use each for

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

ORBCOMM

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

Webfleet

  • A haulage operator running heavy goods vehicles across EU borders that must download tachograph data remotely and prove driving-time compliancenot ORBCOMM
  • A European van fleet that wants driver coaching and fuel reporting without buying an American platform with unused compliance modulesnot ORBCOMM
  • An organisation already buying Bridgestone tyres and maintenance that can fold telematics into an existing service contractnot ORBCOMM
  • Fleets that want in-cab navigation and job dispatch on a dedicated driver terminal rather than a phone appnot 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

Webfleet

  • Ownership sits with a tyre manufacturer, so product investment follows the tyre and vehicle services strategy, and features that do not feed that business have historically moved slowly.
  • North American coverage is thin next to the European operation, with a smaller partner network and an hours of service product that is not competitive with purpose-built ELD vendors.
  • Useful compliance capability sits in add-on tiers, so remote tachograph download and advanced reporting push the real per vehicle cost well above the entry quote.
  • The camera line arrived later than the market and offers less on-device detection and less coaching workflow than Lytx or Samsara, so safety-driven buyers often end up running a second system.
  • Contracts are hardware-led and usually multi-year, so replacing Webfleet means either running out the term or writing off installed devices that have no resale value.

Pricing, plan by plan

ORBCOMM

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

Webfleet

On request
  • Webfleet$undefined/year
    • Per vehicle subscription in feature tiers
    • Hardware bought outright or amortised over the term
    • Tachograph and remote download sold as add-ons

Which should you pick?

Choose ORBCOMM if

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

Choose Webfleet if

  • You need tachograph management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want optidrive 360.
Webfleet review

Questions people ask

Is ORBCOMM or Webfleet better?
Neither clearly leads. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Webfleet at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ORBCOMM or Webfleet?
ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Webfleet at On request.
Does ORBCOMM or Webfleet run on more platforms?
ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web. Webfleet 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 Webfleet is typically brought in for.
What can ORBCOMM do that Webfleet cannot?
ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics. Webfleet covers Tachograph management, OptiDrive 360, LINK devices, PRO driver terminals.

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
Webfleet: Is Webfleet still connected to TomTom?

No. TomTom sold the telematics business to Bridgestone in 2019. There is still navigation and mapping heritage in the driver terminals, but the owner and the strategy are Bridgestone.

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
Webfleet: Can it handle US ELD requirements?

There is an offering, but it is not the strength of the platform. A fleet whose main problem is US hours of service compliance should look at vendors built around that mandate.

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
Webfleet: Do I have to buy Bridgestone tyres to use it?

No. The tyre services integration is optional. It is worth pricing as a bundle if you already buy from Bridgestone, because that is where the discounting sits.

Share

Related pages

More on ORBCOMM

More on Webfleet

Keep looking

Other head to heads