Softwr

Maritime · head to head

Pole Star Global vs Q88

Pole Star Global logo

Pole Star Global

Maritime

Maritime domain awareness and compliance

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Q88 logo

Q88

Maritime

Tanker vessel information platform

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pole Star Global no public pricing information published; Q88 the Internet Archive's capture of Q88 LLC's corporate homepage on 19 February 2016 stated Q88.com had 75% of the world-wide tanker industry onboard and served over 1,000 clients across four named products (Q88.com, Q88Dry.com, Milbros.com, Q88VMS.com), with no price figure published for any; this is a 2016 capture and figures are dated.
  • They diverge on capability: Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking, Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pole Star Global and Q88 actually diverge.

Attributes where Pole Star Global and Q88 differ
AttributePole Star GlobalQ88
Starting price$500/month$200/month
Founded19982001

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, API), 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 Pole Star Global

  • Real-time vessel tracking
  • Sanctions screening
  • Compliance monitoring
  • Risk alerts
  • Banking systems
  • Compliance platforms
  • ERP systems

Only in Q88

  • Vessel questionnaires
  • Vetting support
  • Documentation management
  • Compliance tracking
  • Oil major systems
  • Chartering platforms
  • Fleet management

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Pole Star Global

  • Detecting vessels using spoofed AIS to hide their identitynot Q88
  • Screening ship movements against sanctions lists for compliancenot Q88
  • Optimizing tanker voyage profitability through market rate comparisonnot Q88
  • Tracking perishable cargo temperatures during ocean transitnot Q88

Q88

No use cases recorded yet. See the Q88 review.

Where each one falls short

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

Pole Star Global

  • No public pricing information published
  • Requires sales engagement through demo request or local office contact
  • Pricing structure and model not described publicly

Q88

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Q88 LLC's corporate homepage on 19 February 2016 stated Q88.com had 75% of the world-wide tanker industry onboard and served over 1,000 clients across four named products (Q88.com, Q88Dry.com, Milbros.com, Q88VMS.com), with no price figure published for any; this is a 2016 capture and figures are dated.

Pricing, plan by plan

Pole Star Global

$500/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • PurpleTRAC platform
    • Sanctions screening
    • Risk assessment

Q88

$200/month
  • Vessel Manager$500/month
    • Q88 questionnaires
    • Vessel profiles
    • Documentation

Which should you pick?

Choose Pole Star Global if

  • You need real-time vessel tracking.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want sanctions screening.
Pole Star Global review

Choose Q88 if

  • You need vessel questionnaires.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want vetting support.
Q88 review

Questions people ask

Is Pole Star Global or Q88 better?
Neither clearly leads. Pole Star Global starts at $500/month and Q88 at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pole Star Global or Q88?
Pole Star Global starts at $500/month and Q88 at $200/month.
Does Pole Star Global or Q88 run on more platforms?
Pole Star Global runs on Web, API. Q88 runs on Web, Api.
What is Pole Star Global best used for?
Pole Star Global is most often used for detecting vessels using spoofed ais to hide their identity, screening ship movements against sanctions lists for compliance, optimizing tanker voyage profitability through market rate comparison, tracking perishable cargo temperatures during ocean transit. Of those, detecting vessels using spoofed ais to hide their identity and screening ship movements against sanctions lists for compliance are not what Q88 is typically brought in for.
What can Pole Star Global do that Q88 cannot?
Pole Star Global covers Real-time vessel tracking, Sanctions screening, Compliance monitoring, Risk alerts. Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires, Vetting support, Documentation management, Compliance tracking. Both handle Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pole Star Global: How do I obtain Pole Star Global pricing?

Pole Star Global does not publish pricing on their website. Contact the sales team via Request Demo button, Customer Support link, or Find A Local Office contact options on their homepage. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Pole Star Global: Does Pole Star Global offer a free trial?

Pole Star Global does not describe free trials or evaluation programs on their homepage. Request a demo through their website to inquire about trial availability. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
Pole Star Global: What payment model does Pole Star Global use?

Pole Star Global does not publicly disclose pricing structure or billing model (per-seat, usage-based, enterprise, etc.). Direct sales consultation required to discuss payment options. Source: https://www.polestarglobal.com

Source
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