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Maritime · head to head

ShipNet vs VesselFinder

ShipNet logo

ShipNet

Maritime

Complete ship management software

From
$400/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Maritime

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VesselFinder has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ShipNet no pricing information published online; VesselFinder aPI access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • They diverge on capability: ShipNet covers Technical management, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ShipNet and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where ShipNet and VesselFinder differ
AttributeShipNetVesselFinder
Starting price$400/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, WindowsWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19842011

Identical on both: 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 ShipNet

  • Technical management
  • Crew management
  • Procurement
  • Accounting
  • ERP systems
  • Payroll
  • Classification societies
  • Windows support

Only in VesselFinder

  • Real-time tracking
  • Vessel database
  • Port information
  • Weather overlay
  • API access
  • Mobile apps
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ShipNet

  • Fleet operations and compliance management for shipping companiesnot VesselFinder
  • Profitability tracking across vessel operations and charteringnot VesselFinder
  • Technical asset management and vessel maintenance schedulingnot VesselFinder
  • Commercial voyage and chartering operations managementnot VesselFinder
  • Marine financial accounting and reporting integrationnot VesselFinder
  • Dry docking and vessel maintenance project managementnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

  • Tracking vessel positions and voyages from AIS datanot ShipNet
  • Pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an APInot ShipNet

Where each one falls short

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

ShipNet

  • No pricing information published online
  • Requires demo request to obtain pricing details
  • Targets large shipping operators with 150+ customers globally

VesselFinder

  • API access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position
  • Credits expire 12 months after purchase
  • Credit packs start at 330 EUR for 10,000 credits, excluding VAT
  • Tracking a vessel outside terrestrial AIS range multiplies the cost of every position tenfold, so open ocean coverage is the expensive case rather than the standard one

Pricing, plan by plan

ShipNet

$400/month
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Technical management
    • Crewing
    • Procurement

VesselFinder

Free
  • Basic$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Extended history
    • Fleet monitoring

Which should you pick?

Choose ShipNet if

  • You need technical management.
  • You work on Web, Windows.
  • You also want crew management.
ShipNet review

Choose VesselFinder if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want vessel database.
VesselFinder review

Questions people ask

Is ShipNet or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. ShipNet starts at $400/month and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ShipNet or VesselFinder?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $400/month for ShipNet and Free for VesselFinder.
Does ShipNet or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
ShipNet runs on Web, Windows. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use VesselFinder for free?
Yes. VesselFinder has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ShipNet starts at $400/month.
What is ShipNet best used for?
ShipNet is most often used for fleet operations and compliance management for shipping companies, profitability tracking across vessel operations and chartering, technical asset management and vessel maintenance scheduling, commercial voyage and chartering operations management. Of those, fleet operations and compliance management for shipping companies and profitability tracking across vessel operations and chartering are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can ShipNet do that VesselFinder cannot?
ShipNet covers Technical management, Crew management, Procurement, Accounting. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ShipNet: How much does Shipnet cost?

Shipnet does not publish pricing on their website. Interested customers must request a demo to receive pricing information from their sales team.

Source
VesselFinder: What are the main pricing tiers for VesselFinder?

VesselFinder offers four tiers: Free (no cost), Basic (4 dollars per month), Premium (34 dollars per month), and Satellite (139 dollars per month).

Source
ShipNet: Who uses Shipnet?

Shipnet serves over 150 shipping companies across 31 countries, including major operators like Golar LNG, Wilson, and COSCO Shipping. The platform is described as built by mariners for mariners.

Source
VesselFinder: What does the Free plan include?

The Free plan provides terrestrial coverage, 1-day track history, a 10-ship fleet capacity, and 100 route planner uses.

Source
ShipNet: What modules does Shipnet offer?

Shipnet provides eight integrated solution modules: Safety, Technical, Analytics, Commercial, Financial, Procurement, Dry Docking, and Shipnet ONE for unified ecosystem management.

Source
VesselFinder: What tracking capabilities come with the Satellite plan?

The Satellite plan includes both satellite and terrestrial coverage, 90-day track history, 2,000-ship fleet capacity, terminal and berth data, proximity event alerts, and ETA prediction.

Source
VesselFinder: Do subscriptions automatically renew?

No, subscriptions do not renew automatically. Users receive reminder notifications one week before expiration.

Source
VesselFinder: Do the listed prices include VAT?

No, the prices displayed do not include VAT. Payment options include bank transfers and credit or debit cards processed online.

Source
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