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Maritime · head to head

ChartCo vs VesselFinder

ChartCo logo

ChartCo

Maritime

Integrated maritime compliance platform

From
$300/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VesselFinder logo

VesselFinder

Maritime

Free AIS vessel tracking web site

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only VesselFinder has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ChartCo requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features; 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: ChartCo covers Chart management, VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ChartCo and VesselFinder actually diverge.

Attributes where ChartCo and VesselFinder differ
AttributeChartCoVesselFinder
Starting price$300/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, DesktopWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19982011

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 ChartCo

  • Chart management
  • Publication updates
  • Compliance tracking
  • Fleet administration
  • ECDIS
  • Fleet management systems
  • Procurement
  • Windows 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.

ChartCo

  • Training and certifying crew members across global shipping operationsnot VesselFinder
  • Scheduling maintenance and procurement for fleet maintenance compliancenot VesselFinder
  • Planning passages with intelligent tools for ship and shorenot VesselFinder
  • Optimizing voyages for risk reduction and sustainability objectivesnot VesselFinder

VesselFinder

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

Where each one falls short

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

ChartCo

  • Requires specialized maritime knowledge to fully utilize features
  • High cost for maritime-specific software

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

ChartCo

$300/month
  • OneOcean$600/month
    • Chart management
    • Publications
    • Compliance tracking

VesselFinder

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

Which should you pick?

Choose ChartCo if

  • You need chart management.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want publication updates.
ChartCo 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 ChartCo or VesselFinder better?
Neither clearly leads. ChartCo starts at $300/month and VesselFinder at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ChartCo or VesselFinder?
VesselFinder has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/month for ChartCo and Free for VesselFinder.
Does ChartCo or VesselFinder run on more platforms?
ChartCo runs on Web, Desktop. VesselFinder runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use VesselFinder for free?
Yes. VesselFinder has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ChartCo starts at $300/month.
What is ChartCo best used for?
ChartCo is most often used for training and certifying crew members across global shipping operations, scheduling maintenance and procurement for fleet maintenance compliance, planning passages with intelligent tools for ship and shore, optimizing voyages for risk reduction and sustainability objectives. Of those, training and certifying crew members across global shipping operations and scheduling maintenance and procurement for fleet maintenance compliance are not what VesselFinder is typically brought in for.
What can ChartCo do that VesselFinder cannot?
ChartCo covers Chart management, Publication updates, Compliance tracking, Fleet administration. VesselFinder covers Real-time tracking, Vessel database, Port information, Weather overlay. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ChartCo: What does ChartCo OneOcean provide?

ChartCo OneOcean is an integrated maritime software platform that combines electronic navigational charts, publications, weather data, and compliance tools for voyage planning and maritime safety.

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
ChartCo: How many vessels use ChartCo PassageManager?

ChartCo's PassageManager software is used by approximately 6,500 vessels worldwide for passage planning and navigational chart management.

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
ChartCo: Does ChartCo help with environmental compliance?

Yes, ChartCo OneOcean includes EnviroManager for compliance with MARPOL and regional environmental regulations, helping crews manage waste and minimize discharge risks.

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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