Software · head to head
S&P Global Maritime vs MarineTraffic
S&P Global Maritime
Software
Maritime intelligence and analytics
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only MarineTraffic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: S&P Global Maritime pricing is not publicly disclosed, requiring direct contact with S&P Global for quotes; MarineTraffic specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
- They diverge on capability: S&P Global Maritime covers Vessel database, MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which S&P Global Maritime and MarineTraffic actually diverge.
| Attribute | S&P Global Maritime | MarineTraffic |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Founded | 1860 | 2007 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 S&P Global Maritime
- Vessel database
- Ship valuations
- Company intelligence
- Market analytics
- API
- Excel add-in
- Data feeds
- Api support
Only in MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel tracking
- Global AIS coverage
- Voyage history
- Port call data
- ETA predictions
- REST API
- Google Earth
- GIS systems
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
S&P Global Maritime
No use cases recorded yet. See the S&P Global Maritime review.
MarineTraffic
- Real-time vessel trackingnot S&P Global Maritime
- Port call and ETA tracking for logisticsnot S&P Global Maritime
- Fleet monitoring for shipping and charteringnot S&P Global Maritime
- Maritime research and analytics via API feedsnot S&P Global Maritime
- Vessel and company database lookupsnot S&P Global Maritime
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
S&P Global Maritime
- Pricing is not publicly disclosed, requiring direct contact with S&P Global for quotes
- Subscription model can be costly for small to medium-sized shipping operations
MarineTraffic
- Specific numeric prices for the Basic/Essential tiers are not published on a directly accessible page (plans pages are bot-protected)
- Enterprise tier is sales-assisted, quote-only
- API access is credit-consumption based with cost varying by AIS data source and detail level, making cost opaque
- Commercial API access now routes through parent company Kpler via demo request
Pricing, plan by plan
S&P Global Maritime
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the S&P Global Maritime review.
MarineTraffic
Free- Basic$undefined/mo
- Free vessel tracking account
- Essential$undefined/mo
- Expanded tracking features
- Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Quote-only, sales-assisted
Which should you pick?
Choose S&P Global Maritime if
- You need vessel database.
- You work on Web, Desktop.
- You also want ship valuations.
Choose MarineTraffic if
- You need real-time vessel tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- You also want global ais coverage.
Questions people ask
- Is S&P Global Maritime or MarineTraffic better?
- Neither clearly leads. S&P Global Maritime starts at On request and MarineTraffic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, S&P Global Maritime or MarineTraffic?
- MarineTraffic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for S&P Global Maritime and Free for MarineTraffic.
- Does S&P Global Maritime or MarineTraffic run on more platforms?
- S&P Global Maritime runs on Web, Desktop. MarineTraffic runs on Web, iOS, Android, API.
- Can I use MarineTraffic for free?
- Yes. MarineTraffic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. S&P Global Maritime starts at On request.
- What can S&P Global Maritime do that MarineTraffic cannot?
- S&P Global Maritime covers Vessel database, Ship valuations, Company intelligence, Market analytics. MarineTraffic covers Real-time vessel tracking, Global AIS coverage, Voyage history, Port call data. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
S&P Global Maritime: What data does S&P Global Maritime Sea-web provide?
Sea-web is a comprehensive maritime reference database with over 600 data fields on more than 220,000 ships of 100 GT and above, including information on ships, companies, builders, ports, movements, fixtures, casualties, performance, and security.
SourceS&P Global Maritime: Does S&P Global Maritime track shipping rates?
Yes, S&P Global provides over 765 meticulously assessed freight rate assessments across containers, tankers, dry freight, dry bulk, and marine fuels with real-time and historical data.
Source