The Complete Guide to Ocean Freight Tracking Software in 2025

With dozens of providers offering visibility features, APIs, alerts, and pricing plans, it’s tough to tell what’s truly worth it and what’s just buzzwords.

So we’ve compiled an extensive list of what’s out there with as little fluff as possible. Here’s the most complete and digestible comparison of the top ocean freight tracking platforms in 2025: pricing, features, fit, and flaws.

TL;DR: Quick Comparison of 15 Top Ocean Freight Tracking Platforms

Want the fast facts? Use it to filter what’s worth diving deeper into:

Platform	Pricing Model	Best For	Unique Advantage	Key Limitation
TRADLINX	Subscription/ Pay-as-you-go	Customer-facing tracking for SMBs, 3PLs, forwarders	Only platform with website embeddable tracking widget + flat-rate B/L pricing	Mobile app in development; UI could improve
GoComet	Subscription / per shipment	Enterprises, complex global ops	Port congestion analytics, multimodal coverage	Small carrier support can be inconsistent
Shipsgo	Per shipment ($1.50–$2.00)	Budget-conscious SMBs	WhatsApp/email alerts, CO2 emission reports	No embeddable widget or white-label
FreightPOP	Subscription	Multi-mode shippers	All-mode dashboard, strong analytics	Interface learning curve
Freightify	Subscription	Forwarders, NVOCCs	Rate + tracking bundle, branded portals	Weak vessel-level tracking depth
Visiwise	Subscription	Fast-start FCL tracking for SMBs	Excel upload, quick setup	No predictive ETA or multi-mode
MarineTraffic	Per vessel / subscription	Port/vessel-level monitoring	AIS network + weather routing	No container-level milestone tracking
Project44	Enterprise pricing	Large enterprises, TMS integration	Exception management, rich APIs	Too expensive for SMBs
Terminal49	$350/month	US importers, 3PLs	Risk scoring, hourly data, unlimited tracking	North America-focused
FindTEU	Free up to 10 containers/mo	Startups, basic API needs	Webhook alerts, Excel export	Minimal analytics or UX
Track-Trace	Free	Occasional, low-volume users	Auto carrier detection, zero cost	No API, no alert system
Sinay API	Free starter → €1.33+/shipment	Developers, EU-based logistics	Predictive ETA, customs event status	Analytics gated behind paid tier
Vizion API	$0.0035/event + platform fee	Tech-centric enterprises	53 status codes, 98% coverage, real-time webhook	API-only (no UI), not for non-technical users
Magaya	Subscription	SMEs w/ logistics ERP needs	Inventory + shipment tracking	Limited carrier integrations
ShipStation	Subscription	E-commerce fulfillment	Multi-channel integrations	No ocean freight functionality
Transporeon	Enterprise pricing	Data-driven enterprises	Predictive analytics, procurement tools	Steep learning curve

Platform-by-Platform Snapshots: What Each Tool Gets Right—and What It Doesn’t

TRADLINX

✅ Flat-rate per B/L pricing—cost effective for multi-container shipments.
✅ Website-embeddable tracking widget for live client-facing updates.
✅ 12x/day updates, predictive ETA, customizable alerts, all-carrier coverage.
⚠️ Focused only on ocean freight (no air or land support)

💡 Best for: Forwarders, B2B logistics, SMB for scalable, customer-facing tracking.

Shipsgo

✅ Real-time container tracking, automated WhatsApp/email alerts, emissions reports.
⚠️ Lacks embeddable widget or white-label features.
💡 Best for: Budget-conscious SMBs wanting alert automation.

FreightPOP

✅ Air, LTL, parcel, and ocean in one dashboard with analytics.
⚠️ Learning curve; not specialized for ocean only.
💡 Best for: SMBs juggling mixed freight types.

Freightify

✅ Branded portal, digital rates + tracking bundle.
⚠️ Weak on live vessel data; more rate-focused.
💡 Best for: NVOCCs, forwarders focused on quoting + visibility.

Visiwise

✅ Quick-start FCL ocean tracking, simple interface.
⚠️ No predictive analytics or multimodal support.
💡 Best for: SMBs needing easy, Excel-upload-based visibility.

MarineTraffic

✅ Vessel tracking with AIS, congestion, weather overlays.
⚠️ Doesn’t track shipment-level container milestones.
💡 Best for: Port planners, vessel monitoring, insurers.

Project44

✅ Deep TMS integrations, robust API, exception automation.
⚠️ Expensive and complex for smaller teams.
💡 Best for: Global shippers with full tech stacks.

Terminal49

✅ Hourly data, great U.S. terminal coverage.
⚠️ U.S.-centric; limited global scope.
💡 Best for: U.S. importers, 3PLs handling volume.

FindTEU

✅ Free starter tier with webhook alerts, Excel export.
⚠️ Minimal UI; limited shipment logic.
💡 Best for: Dev teams building basic integrations.

Track-Trace

✅ Free, 168 carriers
⚠️ No alerts, no automation.
💡 Best for: Casual, one-off users.

Sinay API

✅ Predictive ETA, webhook alerts, customs integration.
⚠️ Analytics features require upgraded pricing tiers.
💡 Best for: SMEs in Europe needing ISO-compliant data.

Vizion API

✅ 53 container statuses, webhook engine, global coverage.
⚠️ Requires engineering to use; no native UI.
💡 Best for: Enterprise dev teams building custom logistics platforms.

GoComet

✅ Multimodal tracking (ocean, air, land), congestion analytics, strong automation.
⚠️ Limited performance with smaller or regional carriers.
💡 Best for: Enterprises needing advanced analytics across modes.

Who Offers What? Key Features Across Platforms at a Glance

A quick cross-platform snapshot for visual thinkers—see how the top tools stack up in core capabilities:

Feature	TRADLINX	GoComet	Shipsgo	Visiwise	Vizion API
Real-time Tracking	✅ 12x/day	✅	✅	✅	✅
Predictive ETA	✅	✅	⚠️ Basic	❌	✅
Client Widget (Embeddable)	✅ Only one	❌	❌	❌	❌
White-Label Branding	✅ (Enterprise plan)	⚠️ Basic only	❌	✅	❌
Flat B/L Pricing	✅ Rare	❌	✅ (credit model)	❌	❌
Alert Customization	✅ Email-based, ETD/ETA delay types	⚠️ Limited	✅	⚠️ Internal only	✅ Webhook
API Access	✅	✅	✅ (extra fee)	❌	✅

Avoid These Common Mistakes When Choosing Tracking Software

✅ Buying by brand, not features: Big names don’t always mean better tools. Look at update frequency, alert flexibility, and total cost per shipment.
✅ Ignoring client-facing needs: If customers ask you for shipment updates, your platform should include embeddable widgets or shareable URLs—many don’t.
✅ Overpaying for enterprise features: Platforms like Project44 are powerful, but for many SMBs, they’re overkill. Flat-rate or credit-based pricing (like TRADLINX or Shipsgo) offers better ROI.
✅ Overlooking data latency: Some free tools only update once every 6–12 hours. That lag can cause missed delays and increased demurrage.
✅ Forgetting about API quality: If you plan to integrate into internal systems, weak or non-standard APIs (or expensive extras) can ruin the ROI.

Conclusion: Which Platform Delivers True Ocean Visibility?

All the platforms we reviewed serve a purpose—some are free and quick to try, others are built for big enterprise needs. But only one combines scalable pricing, real-time data, predictive insights, and client-empowering tools like website-embeddable tracking widgets:

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility stands out for any business that ships regularly, needs transparency, and wants to cut manual update work across the board.

Want to see how it works with your shipments, lanes, and client setup?

You don’t need more dashboards. You need smarter visibility and fewer surprises. TRADLINX can help with both.

Why overpay for visibility? TRADLINX saves you 40% with transparent per–Master B/L pricing. Get 99% accuracy, 12 updates daily, and 80% ETA accuracy improvements, trusted by 83,000+ logistics teams and global leaders like Samsung and LG Chem.