MarineTraffic vs VesselFinder vs ShipFinder: Which Is Best?

MarineTraffic vs VesselFinder is a choice between two AIS ship-tracking platforms with similar maps but different free tiers, satellite pricing and apps. This comparison also covers ShipFinder, with prices checked in October 2026.

It is written for people who use tracking data at work: marine surveyors, port agents, cargo superintendents and fleet operators. Ship enthusiasts will find the free-tier answer in the first section.

I check MarineTraffic before every survey to confirm the vessel’s ETA and its declared draught against the last port of call. It also gives me a quick overview of the ship’s size and layout before I board.

Which Is Better, MarineTraffic or VesselFinder?

VesselFinder is the better free and low-cost option: it shows more particulars before asking for payment, and its annual satellite plan is cheap. MarineTraffic is better for professional fleet work, with deeper history, alerts and enterprise data.

Feature	MarineTraffic	VesselFinder	ShipFinder
Owner	Kpler (since March 2023)	AstraPaging Ltd	Pinkfroot Limited
Free web access	Yes, terrestrial AIS	Yes, terrestrial AIS, 1-day track	Limited: dated web map
Cheapest paid plan	£10 per user per month (Basic)	$4 per month or $12 per year (Basic)	$4.99 one-off app
Satellite AIS entry	Essential plan (£100/month), or $0.99 day pass in the app	Satellite plan, $139/month or $1,399/year	Not offered
Paid track history	7 days (Essential) to 5 years (Enterprise)	3 days (Basic) to 90 days (Satellite)	Not offered
Mobile app	Free, in-app purchases; AR $2.99	Free with subscription; Pro app $9.99 (iPad)	$4.99; last updated 2018
Best for	Fleet operators, voyage reconstruction	Free checks, budget satellite coverage	Casual coastal spotting

Prices are as listed in October 2026 and exclude VAT where the provider says so. Both platforms have changed their plans since 2024, so check the provider’s own page before you buy.

How Do MarineTraffic and VesselFinder Get Ship Positions?

Both platforms display AIS messages that ships broadcast on VHF. Shore receivers, many hosted by volunteers, pick up these signals near the coast, and paid satellite feeds fill in the open ocean.

AIS carriage is mandatory under SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 19 for ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards on international voyages. It also applies to cargo ships of 500 GT and upwards on domestic voyages, and to all passenger ships regardless of size.

Each message carries three kinds of data, set out in IMO Resolution A.1106(29). Static data (name, IMO number, MMSI, dimensions) is entered when the unit is installed. Dynamic data (position, course, speed, heading) comes from sensors; voyage data such as draught, destination and ETA is typed in by the crew.

VHF channels, time slots and Class A versus Class B units are covered in our guide to how AIS works on ships.

Terrestrial AIS vs Satellite AIS

Terrestrial AIS relies on shore receivers within VHF range. The US Coast Guard gives a nominal range of about 20 nautical miles at sea. MarineTraffic quotes 15 to 20 nm for a 15 m antenna, and receivers on high ground reach further.

Satellite AIS receives the same signals from low-earth-orbit satellites, so it covers mid-ocean passages. VesselFinder states that satellite positions refresh every few minutes to several hours, with about 90% arriving within one hour.

MarineTraffic’s receiver network is community-based: station hosts share their data in return for account upgrades. After merging FleetMon’s receivers, Kpler put the combined network at more than 6,250 stations in 2023.

Free accounts on both platforms show terrestrial data only. A cargo superintendent checking a ship three days out in the mid-Atlantic sees its last coastal position, not its current one.

What Do You Get on the Free Tier?

Both free tiers show the ship’s name, identifiers, position, course, speed, draught, destination and dimensions from terrestrial AIS. VesselFinder shows more history and port calls before asking for payment; MarineTraffic keeps more behind its paywall.

The free tier is where most professional one-off checks happen. A surveyor confirms the ETA, a port agent checks the last port of call, a P&I correspondent checks a declared route.

Data field	MarineTraffic (free)	VesselFinder (free)
Vessel name, type, flag	✓	✓
IMO number, MMSI, call sign	✓	✓
Current position on map	✓ (terrestrial)	✓ (terrestrial)
Course and speed	✓	✓
Current AIS draught	✓	✓
Destination and ETA	✓	✓
Dimensions (L × B)	✓	✓
Gross tonnage and deadweight	✓	✓
Year of build	✓	✓
Recent port calls	Limited	✓ (more visible)
Previous vessel names	Partial or paywalled	✓
Track history	Limited	1 day
Saved fleet list	Limited	10 ships
Extended track history	Paid	Paid
Satellite AIS	Paid	Paid
Photo gallery	✓	✓

MarineTraffic has moved more vessel history behind its paywall since Kpler bought it in 2023. VesselFinder currently exposes more particulars and port-call history on the free tier.

I used to open MarineTraffic first on mobile. Its free-tier limits now push me to VesselFinder, which shows more data before prompting an upgrade.

How Much Do MarineTraffic and VesselFinder Cost in 2026?

VesselFinder paid plans run from $4 a month (Basic) to $139 a month for satellite coverage. MarineTraffic web plans start at £10 per user per month, with satellite tracking from the £100 Essential plan.

VesselFinder Plans and Prices (October 2026)

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Track history	My Fleet	Satellite AIS
Free	—	—	1 day	10 ships	No
Basic	$4	$12	3 days	20 ships	No
Premium	$34	$179	7 days	500 ships	No
Satellite	$139	$1,399	90 days	2,000 ships	Yes

Source: VesselFinder’s subscription page, checked 12 October 2026; prices exclude VAT. Subscriptions do not renew automatically, and API access and historical data are sold separately.

The Premium annual plan at $179 is the value pick for port agents and cargo superintendents. It gives 7-day history and a 500-ship fleet list, but terrestrial coverage only.

MarineTraffic Plans and Prices (2026)

Plan	Price	Fleet	Notifications/month	Track history	Satellite AIS
Basic	£10 per user/month	10 vessels	100	None	No (terrestrial only)
Essential	£100 per user/month	20 vessels	300	7 days	Yes, one vessel at a time
Enterprise	On request	2,000 vessels	Unlimited	5 years	Yes

Sources: prices from MarineTraffic’s G2 listing (updated April 2026); plan limits from authorised reseller Unipos (July 2026). MarineTraffic licenses its plans per user.

The Basic plan suits a surveyor or agent who watches a short list of ships near the coast. Essential adds 7-day history and satellite positions for one vessel at a time, which makes it the tier for reconstructing a specific voyage.

Enterprise is quoted on request and adds 5-year history, a 2,000-ship fleet and up to 10,000 data exports a month. Fleet operators with budget authority should request demos from both providers, as enterprise terms are negotiable at volume.

App Purchases and One-Day Satellite Checks

MarineTraffic’s app is free, with in-app purchases on the US App Store. Access Plus 24 ($0.99) gives 24 hours of satellite positions for one chosen vessel. Mobile Pro ($4.99 or $29.99) adds satellite AIS, extended history and fleet monitoring.

For a surveyor who needs one ship’s mid-ocean position for one day, Access Plus 24 is the cheapest satellite check on either platform. VesselFinder’s subscription page lists no day pass.

VesselFinder’s main app is free on iOS and Android, with a subscription for satellite and roaming AIS. A separate VesselFinder Pro app costs $9.99 on iPad.

Which Platform Should You Use?

Use VesselFinder for free or budget checks and MarineTraffic for professional voyage reconstruction and fleet alerts. Either platform works for routine ETA checks within coastal AIS range.

• Ship enthusiasts and families tracking one ship: VesselFinder’s free tier. It shows more particulars without an upgrade and is cleaner for occasional use, including planning a ship-spotting trip.
• Marine surveyors and cargo superintendents: MarineTraffic. It shows more operational context per vessel, and its track display is the better tool for checking whether a ship deviated from its declared route.
• Bunker surveyors: MarineTraffic for ETA confirmation and a draught cross-check against the last port of call. The bunkering sequence and documentation depend on the ship’s recent port history and next nominated port.
• Port agents monitoring arrivals: either platform. For berthing and pilot boarding coordination, the agent needs current draught and beam, and both are free on either platform.
• Fleet operators with 10 or more ships: MarineTraffic Essential or Enterprise. Its alerting, notifications and event logging are more developed than VesselFinder’s equivalent.
• Budget users who need satellite coverage: VesselFinder Satellite on an annual plan for continuous coverage, or MarineTraffic’s $0.99 day pass for a single check. If you are monitoring a passage rather than managing a fleet, VesselFinder is the cheaper route.

How Do the Mobile Apps Compare?

MarineTraffic’s app has more features: weather layers, a voyage planner and paid augmented reality. VesselFinder’s app is simpler and faster for a single position check, and its free version shows more before asking for payment.

The MarineTraffic AR view identifies ships through the phone camera for $2.99. It is useful on port approaches and when coordinating with a ship heading to the berth for a survey.

I use the VesselFinder app for quick position checks in port, when I need a ship’s ETA without logging into a browser.

Colour codes differ between the two platforms. On MarineTraffic, green is cargo, red is tanker, blue is passenger, orange is fishing and pink is pleasure craft. VesselFinder uses its own legend, so check the map key before reading a cluster of icons.

Is ShipFinder Worth Using?

Not for professional work. ShipFinder is a $4.99 iOS app from Pinkfroot Limited with augmented reality identification, but it has no satellite AIS and no update since November 2018.

The App Store listing claims more than 20,000 ships tracked at once. Point the camera at a ship and the AR view overlays its name, type and AIS data; filters, search, favourites and bookmarks are included.

Coverage gaps are real: App Store reviews report missing vessels and ships shown at impossible speeds. The ShipFinder web map has a dated interface and limited information, and it is not a usable professional tool.

ShipFinder suits occasional spotting in well-covered coastal areas. For port-call history, extended tracks or full particulars, it does not replace either main platform.

What Are the Alternatives to MarineTraffic and VesselFinder?

For casual use, ShipFinder is the main paid alternative; for professional fleets, the alternatives are enterprise data providers. Several former competitors now share one owner, as Kpler bought MarineTraffic and FleetMon in 2023 and Spire Maritime in 2025.

FleetMon’s receiver network was merged into MarineTraffic from 2024. Spire Maritime is a satellite AIS provider, and Kpler completed its purchase in April 2025.

Most free tracking sites read the same public AIS broadcasts. Receiver density and satellite access, not the map interface, decide which service shows a ship first.

What Can’t MarineTraffic or VesselFinder Tell You?

Neither platform can confirm that a ship’s AIS data is true. AIS can be switched off, positions can be spoofed, and draught, destination and ETA are typed in by the crew.

AIS can be switched off. A ship missing from the map is not necessarily stationary or out of service. IMO Resolution A.1106(29) lets the master switch AIS off where broadcasting would compromise safety or security, with the reason logged.

Warships fall outside SOLAS carriage rules. Fishing vessels are covered only by regional rules, such as the EU requirement for Class A AIS above 15 m. Ships in sanctioned trades have also been documented running dark or transmitting intermittently.

AIS positions can be spoofed. Since mid-2025, ships in the Persian Gulf have reported AIS spoofing and GPS jamming, and some appeared to call at sanctioned ports they never visited. Spoofing has also been documented in the Black Sea.

Neither platform can verify a transmitted position independently. A P&I surveyor or insurer who needs proof of position cannot rely on AIS alone.

Draught data is self-reported. AIS shows the maximum draught the crew entered for the voyage, not a live measurement. IMO guidance asks crews to amend it, for example after de-ballasting before port entry, but it is often left unchanged.

Never use AIS draught as a substitute for a physical draught survey.

ETA and destination are typed in by the crew. Both fields are often abbreviated, outdated or wrong, so treat the AIS figure as an indicator of the ETA, not a commitment. Never use it for contractual arrival times or demurrage calculations.

Related Topics

• Limitations of marine radars
• Navigation equipment on board ships
• GMDSS equipment and documents on ships

Frequently Asked Questions