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Maritime · head to head

StormGlass vs Windward

StormGlass logo

StormGlass

Maritime

Global weather data API for maritime

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windward logo

Windward

Maritime

AI-powered maritime risk intelligence

From
$3000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StormGlass has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: StormGlass the free tier allows 10 API requests per day and is not licensed for commercial use; Windward requires embedded expert analysts for actionable intelligence; cannot operate fully autonomously
  • They diverge on capability: StormGlass covers Marine weather data, Windward covers AI-powered risk scoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which StormGlass and Windward actually diverge.

Attributes where StormGlass and Windward differ
AttributeStormGlassWindward
Starting priceFree$3000/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsApiWeb, Api
Founded20171996

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 StormGlass

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

Only in Windward

  • AI-powered risk scoring
  • Sanctions compliance
  • Ship-to-ship detection
  • Dark activity alerts
  • Compliance systems
  • Trading platforms
  • Banking systems
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Api 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 Windward
  • Adding tide, wave and wind data to a maritime or coastal applicationnot Windward

Windward

  • Detecting vessel spoofing using multi-sensor AIS, dark vessel signals, and satellite datanot StormGlass
  • Conducting UN sanctions investigations for North Korea maritime compliancenot StormGlass
  • Performing financial AML and sanctions screening for maritime transactionsnot StormGlass
  • Identifying drug smuggling routes in international shipping networksnot StormGlass
  • Tracking port delays and causes in real-time shipping visibilitynot 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

Windward

  • Requires embedded expert analysts for actionable intelligence; cannot operate fully autonomously
  • Platform focuses on specific maritime regions (Strait of Hormuz, Somali piracy zones); may not provide equally robust global coverage
  • Classified as unclassified and shareable, limiting penetration into highly classified defense operations
  • API-dependent architecture (GraphQL-based) may create integration complexity for some organizations
  • Multi-source data integration can be resource-intensive for organizations lacking dedicated intelligence staff

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

Windward

$3000/month
  • Professional$7500/month
    • Behavioral analytics
    • Dark activity detection
    • API access

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 Windward if

  • You need ai-powered risk scoring.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want sanctions compliance.
Windward review

Questions people ask

Is StormGlass or Windward better?
Neither clearly leads. StormGlass starts at Free and Windward at $3000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, StormGlass or Windward?
StormGlass has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for StormGlass and $3000/month for Windward.
Does StormGlass or Windward run on more platforms?
StormGlass runs on Api. Windward runs on Web, Api.
Can I use StormGlass for free?
Yes. StormGlass has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Windward starts at $3000/month.
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 Windward is typically brought in for.
What can StormGlass do that Windward cannot?
StormGlass covers Marine weather data, Wave forecasts, Tide data, Historical weather. Windward covers AI-powered risk scoring, Sanctions compliance, Ship-to-ship detection, Dark activity alerts. Both handle Api support.

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
Windward: Does Windward provide autonomous intelligence or does it require human analysts?

Windward requires expert analysts to embed directly in your mission to deliver intelligence-ready products. The platform supports analyst workflows but cannot operate fully autonomously.

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
Windward: What data sources does Windward use beyond AIS?

Windward integrates multiple data sources including AIS, dark vessel signals, Earth Observation (EO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and RF signals to provide multi-sensor maritime intelligence where AIS alone is insufficient.

Source
StormGlass: Is annual billing available?

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

Source
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