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Software · head to head

VesselFinder vs Alphaliner

VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Software

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Alphaliner logo

Alphaliner

Software

Container shipping data and analysis

From
$800/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VesselFinder has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: VesselFinder aPI access is billed in credits, and a satellite AIS position costs 10 credits against 1 for a terrestrial position; Alphaliner now delivered through AXSMarine rather than independently, and alphaliner.com redirects there
  • They diverge on capability: VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Alphaliner covers Fleet database.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which VesselFinder and Alphaliner actually diverge.

Attributes where VesselFinder and Alphaliner differ
AttributeVesselFinderAlphaliner
Starting priceFree$800/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20111998

Identical on both: 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 VesselFinder

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

Only in Alphaliner

  • Fleet database
  • Charter rate tracking
  • Capacity analysis
  • Market reports
  • Data exports
  • Excel reports

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

VesselFinder

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

Alphaliner

  • Tracking liner services and containership deploymentsnot VesselFinder
  • Port and terminal call analyticsnot VesselFinder
  • Fleet monitoring with technical and commercial vessel datanot VesselFinder
  • Suez and Panama canal traffic analysisnot VesselFinder
  • Feeding shipping data into internal systems through the API hubnot VesselFinder

Where each one falls short

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

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

Alphaliner

  • Now delivered through AXSMarine rather than independently, and alphaliner.com redirects there
  • Neither the subscription model nor any price is published
  • A market intelligence data service for shipping professionals rather than an operational tool

Pricing, plan by plan

VesselFinder

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

Alphaliner

$800/month
  • Professional$1500/month
    • Fleet database
    • Charter rates
    • Weekly reports

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Alphaliner if

  • You need fleet database.
  • You also want charter rate tracking.
Alphaliner review

Questions people ask

Is VesselFinder or Alphaliner better?
Neither clearly leads. VesselFinder starts at Free and Alphaliner at $800/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, VesselFinder or Alphaliner?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for VesselFinder and $800/month for Alphaliner.
Does VesselFinder or Alphaliner run on more platforms?
VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android. Alphaliner runs on Web.
Can I use VesselFinder for free?
Yes. VesselFinder has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alphaliner starts at $800/month.
What is VesselFinder best used for?
VesselFinder is most often used for tracking vessel positions and voyages from ais data, pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an api. Of those, tracking vessel positions and voyages from ais data and pulling ship positions and particulars into a logistics or chartering system over an api are not what Alphaliner is typically brought in for.
What can VesselFinder do that Alphaliner cannot?
VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Alphaliner covers Fleet database, Charter rate tracking, Capacity analysis, Market reports. Both handle Web support.
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