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Maritime · head to head

StormGlass vs VesselFinder

StormGlass logo

StormGlass

Maritime

Global weather data API for maritime

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Maritime

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: StormGlass the free tier allows 10 API requests per day and is not licensed for commercial use; 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: StormGlass covers Marine weather data, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which StormGlass and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where StormGlass and VesselFinder differ
AttributeStormGlassVesselFinder
PlatformsApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20172011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 StormGlass

  • Marine weather data
  • Wave forecasts
  • Tide data
  • Historical weather
  • REST API
  • Webhooks
  • SDKs
  • Api support

Only in VesselFinder

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

What people use each for

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

StormGlass

  • Pulling marine weather and sea state forecasts into a vessel routing or planning toolnot VesselFinder
  • Adding tide, wave and wind data to a maritime or coastal applicationnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

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

Where each one falls short

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

StormGlass

  • The free tier allows 10 API requests per day and is not licensed for commercial use
  • Commercial use and any support at all start at the Medium plan, 49 euros a month
  • The Small plan at 19 euros a month has no support and no commercial licence
  • Request allowances are daily rather than monthly, so a burst of traffic cannot borrow against a quiet week

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

StormGlass

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Not for commercial use
  • Small$19/month
    • 500 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • 10% annual discount available
  • Medium$49/month
    • 5000 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Full support
  • Large$129/month
    • 25000 requests per day
    • All weather parameters
    • Full support

VesselFinder

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

Which should you pick?

Choose StormGlass if

  • You need marine weather data.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want wave forecasts.
StormGlass 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 StormGlass or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. StormGlass starts at Free and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, StormGlass or VesselFinder?
StormGlass starts at Free and VesselFinder at Free.
Does StormGlass or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
StormGlass runs on Api. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use StormGlass for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is StormGlass best used for?
StormGlass is most often used for pulling marine weather and sea state forecasts into a vessel routing or planning tool, adding tide, wave and wind data to a maritime or coastal application. Of those, pulling marine weather and sea state forecasts into a vessel routing or planning tool and adding tide, wave and wind data to a maritime or coastal application are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can StormGlass do that VesselFinder cannot?
StormGlass covers Marine weather data, Wave forecasts, Tide data, Historical weather. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

StormGlass: Is there a free tier available?

Yes, Stormglass offers a free plan with 10 API requests per day, including all weather parameters, but it is not permitted for commercial use.

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
StormGlass: What does the Medium plan include?

The Medium plan costs 49 EUR per month and includes 5000 daily requests, all weather parameters, and full support for commercial use.

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
StormGlass: Is annual billing available?

Yes, a 10% discount is available when paying annually on Small, Medium, and Large plans.

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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