Softwr

Software · head to head

Q88 vs Clarksons

Q88 logo

Q88

Software

Tanker vessel information platform

From
$200/month
Rated
-
Clarksons logo

Clarksons

Software

World's leading shipbroker and data provider

From
$3000/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Clarksons uK government contract award notice on find-tender.service.gov.uk shows a Clarkson Research Services Limited data subscription contract valued at 6,500 GBP excluding VAT (7,800 GBP including VAT) for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026
  • They diverge on capability: Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires, Clarksons covers Market intelligence.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Q88 and Clarksons actually diverge.

Attributes where Q88 and Clarksons differ
AttributeQ88Clarksons
Starting price$200/month$3000/month
Founded20011852

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Q88

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

Only in Clarksons

  • Market intelligence
  • Fleet database
  • Freight rates
  • Research reports
  • API
  • Excel add-in
  • Data exports

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Api support

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Clarksons

  • UK government contract award notice on find-tender.service.gov.uk shows a Clarkson Research Services Limited data subscription contract valued at 6,500 GBP excluding VAT (7,800 GBP including VAT) for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Q88

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

Clarksons

$3000/month
  • Shipping Intelligence Network$5000/month
    • Market data
    • Fleet database
    • Research reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Q88 if

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

Choose Clarksons if

  • You need market intelligence.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want fleet database.

Questions people ask

Is Q88 or Clarksons better?
Neither clearly leads. Q88 starts at $200/month and Clarksons at $3000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Q88 or Clarksons?
Q88 starts at $200/month and Clarksons at $3000/month.
Does Q88 or Clarksons run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What can Q88 do that Clarksons cannot?
Q88 covers Vessel questionnaires, Vetting support, Documentation management, Compliance tracking. Clarksons covers Market intelligence, Fleet database, Freight rates, Research reports. Both handle Web support, Api support.

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