VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing FlightAware and MarineTraffic will find that Both FlightAware and MarineTraffic concentrate on Data APIs, Data Visualizations, and Alerts workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. FlightAware leans into APIs & SDKs, and Satellite / Geospatial, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. MarineTraffic stands out with Shipping & Trade that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
FlightAware vs MarineTraffic
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- FlightAware adds APIs & SDKs, and Satellite / Geospatial coverage that MarineTraffic skips.
- MarineTraffic includes Shipping & Trade categories that FlightAware omits.
- FlightAware highlights: Live flight tracking and flight-status pages with dedicated views for cancellations and delays, plus the signature MiseryMap® for U.S. air traffic disruptions., Premium subscriptions unlock unlimited flight alerts and access to three, five, or eight months of historical flight data., and AeroAPI (v4) provides RESTful access to current and historical flight data with JSON responses and API key authentication..
- MarineTraffic is known for: Live Map with advanced filters, including ship type, capacity, status, and custom smart filters., Notifications for port calls, area entries, vessel movements (speed, course changes, drifting), AIS data updates (ETA, destination, draught), proximity events (STS, tug, pilot, bunkering), and AIS-coverage changes, delivered via email, mobile push, or archive., and CSV exports from vessel and port databases, with monthly quotas depending on plan: Basic (5), Essential (300), Enterprise (10,000)..
FlightAware
flightaware.com
A global flight-tracking platform offering free web and mobile access to live flight data. Premium subscriptions add unlimited alerts and extended historical lookback. Enterprise offerings include AeroAPI (REST), Firehose (streaming), and Rapid Reports (one-off email deliveries).
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Live flight tracking and flight-status pages with dedicated views for cancellations and delays, plus the signature MiseryMap® for U.S. air traffic disruptions.
- Premium subscriptions unlock unlimited flight alerts and access to three, five, or eight months of historical flight data.
- AeroAPI (v4) provides RESTful access to current and historical flight data with JSON responses and API key authentication.
- FlightAware Firehose delivers a continuous enterprise-grade feed of real-time, historical, and predictive flight data over secure TCP/SSL connections.
- Global coverage powered by fused data sources: national air navigation providers, ACARS messages, over 30,000 terrestrial ADS-B receivers, Aireon space-based ADS-B with ~1-minute updates, and FlightAware’s HyperFeed® ML engine processing tens of thousands of position messages per second.
MarineTraffic
marinetraffic.com
Global AIS vessel tracking platform with map views, alerts, voyage history, and data exports. Many features are plan-gated: CSV export quotas, Past Track history, detailed Route Forecasts, and the number of Custom Areas you can define. API access is available with an API key, and mobile apps provide push notifications.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Live Map with advanced filters, including ship type, capacity, status, and custom smart filters.
- Notifications for port calls, area entries, vessel movements (speed, course changes, drifting), AIS data updates (ETA, destination, draught), proximity events (STS, tug, pilot, bunkering), and AIS-coverage changes, delivered via email, mobile push, or archive.
- CSV exports from vessel and port databases, with monthly quotas depending on plan: Basic (5), Essential (300), Enterprise (10,000).
- Past Track playback varies by plan: Free (1 day), Essential (7 days), Enterprise (up to 5 years, in 7-day playback windows).
- Route Forecast tools: Basic shows path previews; Essential and Enterprise unlock ETA and speed details.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
FlightAware
Distinct strengths include:
- Live flight tracking and flight-status pages with dedicated views for cancellations and delays, plus the signature MiseryMap® for U.S. air traffic disruptions.
- Premium subscriptions unlock unlimited flight alerts and access to three, five, or eight months of historical flight data.
- AeroAPI (v4) provides RESTful access to current and historical flight data with JSON responses and API key authentication.
- FlightAware Firehose delivers a continuous enterprise-grade feed of real-time, historical, and predictive flight data over secure TCP/SSL connections.
MarineTraffic
Distinct strengths include:
- Live Map with advanced filters, including ship type, capacity, status, and custom smart filters.
- Notifications for port calls, area entries, vessel movements (speed, course changes, drifting), AIS data updates (ETA, destination, draught), proximity events (STS, tug, pilot, bunkering), and AIS-coverage changes, delivered via email, mobile push, or archive.
- CSV exports from vessel and port databases, with monthly quotas depending on plan: Basic (5), Essential (300), Enterprise (10,000).
- Past Track playback varies by plan: Free (1 day), Essential (7 days), Enterprise (up to 5 years, in 7-day playback windows).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | FlightAware | MarineTraffic |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Alerts Unique: APIs & SDKs, Satellite / Geospatial | Shared: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Alerts Unique: Shipping & Trade |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Other | Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile, API | Web, Mobile, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription, One-time | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do FlightAware and MarineTraffic both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, Data Visualizations, and Alerts workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do FlightAware and MarineTraffic require subscriptions?
Both FlightAware and MarineTraffic keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access FlightAware and MarineTraffic?
Both FlightAware and MarineTraffic support web and mobile access, making it easy to keep tabs on research away from the desk.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
FlightAware differentiates itself with Live flight tracking and flight-status pages with dedicated views for cancellations and delays, plus the signature MiseryMap® for U.S. air traffic disruptions., Premium subscriptions unlock unlimited flight alerts and access to three, five, or eight months of historical flight data., and AeroAPI (v4) provides RESTful access to current and historical flight data with JSON responses and API key authentication., whereas MarineTraffic stands out for Live Map with advanced filters, including ship type, capacity, status, and custom smart filters., Notifications for port calls, area entries, vessel movements (speed, course changes, drifting), AIS data updates (ETA, destination, draught), proximity events (STS, tug, pilot, bunkering), and AIS-coverage changes, delivered via email, mobile push, or archive., and CSV exports from vessel and port databases, with monthly quotas depending on plan: Basic (5), Essential (300), Enterprise (10,000)..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.