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Maritime · head to head

Terminal49 vs VesselFinder

Terminal49 logo

Terminal49

Maritime

Container tracking for freight forwarders

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: Terminal49 aPI access and webhooks start at the Essential plan; 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: Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Terminal49 and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where Terminal49 and VesselFinder differ
AttributeTerminal49VesselFinder
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20192011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Terminal49

  • Automated tracking
  • Terminal appointments
  • Demurrage alerts
  • Customer portals
  • TMS platforms
  • Carrier websites
  • Terminal systems
  • Api 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.

Terminal49

  • Tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminalsnot VesselFinder
  • Feeding container milestones into an internal system over an APInot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

  • Tracking vessel positions and voyages from AIS datanot Terminal49
  • Pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an APInot Terminal49

Where each one falls short

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

Terminal49

  • API access and webhooks start at the Essential plan
  • The free plan is limited to 3 users and 50 document credits
  • The Lite and Complete plans require an annual contract
  • No plan above the free tier publishes a price, so every paid tier requires contacting sales

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

Terminal49

Free
  • Pro$299/month
    • Unlimited tracking
    • Terminal data
    • API access

VesselFinder

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Terminal49 if

  • You need automated tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want terminal appointments.
Terminal49 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 Terminal49 or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. Terminal49 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, Terminal49 or VesselFinder?
Terminal49 starts at Free and VesselFinder at Free.
Does Terminal49 or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
Terminal49 runs on Web, Api. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Terminal49 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Terminal49 best used for?
Terminal49 is most often used for tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminals, feeding container milestones into an internal system over an api. Of those, tracking ocean containers and shipments across carriers and terminals and feeding container milestones into an internal system over an api are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can Terminal49 do that VesselFinder cannot?
Terminal49 covers Automated tracking, Terminal appointments, Demurrage alerts, Customer portals. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Terminal49: Is there a free plan available?

Yes, Terminal49 offers a Free Forever plan with no commitment required. It includes up to 3 users, basic shipment tracking, and 50 document credits.

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
Terminal49: What plans require payment?

Terminal49 offers four tiers: Free (free forever), Lite (annual contract), Essential (annual or pay-as-you-go), and Complete (annual contract). Lite, Essential, and Complete require direct contact with sales for pricing.

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
Terminal49: What features are in the Essential plan?

Essential (Most Popular) includes unlimited users, full shipment & container dashboards, API access & webhooks, intermodal rail tracking, container assignments, and team collaboration features. It offers both annual contract and pay-as-you-go billing options.

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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