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Samsara vs HERE Technologies

Samsara logo

Samsara

Software

The connected operations cloud

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HERE Technologies logo

HERE Technologies

Software

Location data and technology company that provides mapping and location services to businesses globally

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HERE Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Samsara no price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated; HERE Technologies pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
  • They diverge on capability: Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking, HERE Technologies covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Samsara and HERE Technologies actually diverge.

Attributes where Samsara and HERE Technologies differ
AttributeSamsaraHERE Technologies
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android, Cross-platform
Founded20151985

Identical on both: 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 Samsara

  • Real-time GPS tracking
  • AI dash cameras
  • ELD compliance
  • IFTA reporting
  • Driver safety coaching
  • Maintenance scheduling
  • Fuel efficiency
  • Route optimization

Only in HERE Technologies

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Samsara

  • Real time GPS tracking of vehicle location and engine healthnot HERE Technologies
  • AI dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alertsnot HERE Technologies
  • Trailer and powered equipment tracking for asset recoverynot HERE Technologies
  • Fleet maintenance planning and fuel usage analysisnot HERE Technologies

HERE Technologies

  • Map data for automated and assisted drivingnot Samsara
  • Connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysisnot Samsara
  • Supply chain planning and logistics digital twinsnot Samsara
  • Geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location servicesnot Samsara
  • Fleet tour planning and routing across 200 countriesnot Samsara

Where each one falls short

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

Samsara

  • No price is published for any plan; every tier on the plans page offers only a Get pricing button, and no contract length or hardware cost is stated
  • Safety, Telematics and Equipment tracking are sold as separate plan families, so a fleet needing all three buys three plans
  • Weather risk visibility and the 30 plus risk detections with context and patterns require Safety Enterprise rather than Safety Premier
  • AI fuel lifecycle insights, TMS integrations and route performance tools require Telematics Enterprise rather than Telematics Premier
  • Proactive maintenance tools and real time diagnostics for trailers and equipment require Advanced Tracking rather than Standard Visibility

HERE Technologies

  • Pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
  • Lack of transparency in cost projections makes budgeting and forecasting difficult
  • Requires separate API keys and subscriptions for different feature categories, complicating integration
  • Customer support quality and responsiveness is inconsistent compared to competitors like Google Maps

Pricing, plan by plan

Samsara

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Samsara review.

HERE Technologies

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HERE Technologies review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Samsara if

  • You need real-time gps tracking.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want ai dash cameras.
Samsara review

Choose HERE Technologies if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
  • You also want user interface.
HERE Technologies review

Questions people ask

Is Samsara or HERE Technologies better?
Neither clearly leads. Samsara starts at On request and HERE Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Samsara or HERE Technologies?
HERE Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Samsara and Free for HERE Technologies.
Does Samsara or HERE Technologies run on more platforms?
Samsara runs on Web, Mobile. HERE Technologies runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
Can I use HERE Technologies for free?
Yes. HERE Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Samsara starts at On request.
What is Samsara best used for?
Samsara is most often used for real time gps tracking of vehicle location and engine health, ai dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alerts, trailer and powered equipment tracking for asset recovery, fleet maintenance planning and fuel usage analysis. Of those, real time gps tracking of vehicle location and engine health and ai dash cameras with in cab driver coaching and safety alerts are not what HERE Technologies is typically brought in for.
What can Samsara do that HERE Technologies cannot?
Samsara covers Real-time GPS tracking, AI dash cameras, ELD compliance, IFTA reporting. HERE Technologies covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HERE Technologies: What does HERE Technologies provide?

HERE Technologies provides a comprehensive location platform including digital maps, routing and navigation APIs, geocoding, search, traffic, positioning, and telematics services for automotive, logistics, and enterprise applications.

Source
HERE Technologies: Does HERE offer a free tier?

Yes. HERE provides a free tier with 30,000 map requests per month, 5,000 routing transactions, and 30,000 geocoding transactions. Usage beyond these limits is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Source
HERE Technologies: What SDKs and APIs does HERE offer?

HERE provides REST APIs for maps, routing, geocoding, and search, plus SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, and JavaScript. The HERE SDK enables turn-by-turn navigation and location services for mobile and web applications.

Source
HERE Technologies: Is HERE's pricing transparent?

No. HERE uses a complex transaction-based pricing model with separate costs for different API categories. The pricing structure lacks transparency, making it difficult for customers to forecast costs at scale.

Source
HERE Technologies: How has HERE's pricing changed?

HERE moved to a simplified transaction-based pricing model with free monthly allowances for common APIs. Users pay per transaction beyond the free tier, though the structure has been criticized for complexity and lack of cost transparency.

Source
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