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Maritime · head to head

Portcast vs Terminal49

Portcast logo

Portcast

Maritime

AI-powered container tracking and ETA

From
$500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Terminal49 logo

Terminal49

Maritime

Container tracking for freight forwarders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Terminal49 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Portcast pricing not published on homepage or dedicated pricing page; Terminal49 aPI access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • They diverge on capability: Portcast covers Predictive ETAs, Terminal49 covers Automated tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Portcast and Terminal49 actually diverge.

Attributes where Portcast and Terminal49 differ
AttributePortcastTerminal49
Starting price$500/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded20182019

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Portcast

  • Predictive ETAs
  • Container tracking
  • Exception alerts
  • Port congestion data
  • ERP systems
  • Shipping lines

Only in Terminal49

  • Automated tracking
  • Terminal appointments
  • Demurrage alerts
  • Customer portals
  • Carrier websites
  • Terminal systems

Both cover

  • TMS platforms
  • Web support
  • Api support

What people use each for

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

Portcast

  • Real-time container and air cargo tracking across carriersnot Terminal49
  • Predicted ETAs and delay forecasting for ocean freightnot Terminal49
  • Port congestion monitoringnot Terminal49
  • Auditing freight invoices automaticallynot Terminal49
  • Feeding predicted arrival data into a TMS or ERPnot Terminal49

Terminal49

  • Tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminalsnot Portcast
  • Feeding container milestones into an internal system over an APInot Portcast

Where each one falls short

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

Portcast

  • Pricing not published on homepage or dedicated pricing page
  • No free tier or trial information disclosed
  • Features and billing model not detailed publicly

Terminal49

  • API access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users and 50 document credits
  • The Lite and Complete plans require an annual contract
  • No plan above the free tier publishes a price, so every paid tier requires contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Portcast

$500/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • AI-powered ETAs
    • Container tracking
    • Analytics

Terminal49

Free
  • Pro$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Terminal data
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Portcast if

  • You need predictive etas.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want container tracking.
Portcast review

Choose Terminal49 if

  • You need automated tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want terminal appointments.
Terminal49 review

Questions people ask

Is Portcast or Terminal49 better?
Neither clearly leads. Portcast starts at $500/month and Terminal49 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Portcast or Terminal49?
Terminal49 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/month for Portcast and Free for Terminal49.
Does Portcast or Terminal49 run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Terminal49 for free?
Yes. Terminal49 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Portcast starts at $500/month.
What is Portcast best used for?
Portcast is most often used for real-time container and air cargo tracking across carriers, predicted etas and delay forecasting for ocean freight, port congestion monitoring, auditing freight invoices automatically. Of those, real-time container and air cargo tracking across carriers and predicted etas and delay forecasting for ocean freight are not what Terminal49 is typically brought in for.
What can Portcast do that Terminal49 cannot?
Portcast covers Predictive ETAs, Container tracking, Exception alerts, Port congestion data. Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, Terminal appointments, Demurrage alerts, Customer portals. Both handle TMS platforms, Web support, Api support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Portcast: Where can I find Portcast pricing?

Portcast does not display pricing information on their website. They direct inquiries to Book a demo or Get in Touch options on their homepage for pricing and plan details. Source: https://www.portcast.io

Source
Terminal49: Is there a free plan available?

Yes, Terminal49 offers a Free Forever plan with no commitment required. It includes up to 3 users, basic shipment tracking, and 50 document credits.

Source
Portcast: Does Portcast offer a free trial or demo?

Portcast emphasizes booking a demo as the primary way to learn about features and pricing. No free tier details are described on their homepage. Source: https://www.portcast.io

Source
Terminal49: What plans require payment?

Terminal49 offers four tiers: Free (free forever), Lite (annual contract), Essential (annual or pay-as-you-go), and Complete (annual contract). Lite, Essential, and Complete require direct contact with sales for pricing.

Source
Portcast: Is Portcast supply chain visibility software priced per user or by usage?

Portcast does not disclose their pricing model publicly. Contact their sales team through their website's demo booking or contact form to discuss per-user, usage-based, or other billing options. Source: https://www.portcast.io

Source
Terminal49: What features are in the Essential plan?

Essential (Most Popular) includes unlimited users, full shipment & container dashboards, API access & webhooks, intermodal rail tracking, container assignments, and team collaboration features. It offers both annual contract and pay-as-you-go billing options.

Source
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