VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing MarineTraffic and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) will find that Both MarineTraffic and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) concentrate on Data Visualizations, Data APIs, and Shipping & Trade workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. MarineTraffic leans into Alerts, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) stands out with Education, and Blogs 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
MarineTraffic vs Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- MarineTraffic adds Alerts coverage that Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) skips.
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) includes Education, and Blogs categories that MarineTraffic omits.
- MarineTraffic 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., and CSV exports from vessel and port databases, with monthly quotas depending on plan: Basic (5), Essential (300), Enterprise (10,000)..
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) is known for: Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
- MarineTraffic ships a mobile app. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) is web/desktop only.
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.
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
oec.world
A global trade and economic complexity platform with rich visualizations, country and product rankings, and an API. Pro plans unlock the latest monthly and subnational datasets, while Premium adds company-level Bill of Lading data and bulk downloads. Academic discounts and enterprise options with SSO support are also available.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
- Data downloads in CSV, Excel, or JSON, with bulk access and larger query limits available for subscribers.
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
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).
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Distinct strengths include:
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | MarineTraffic | Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data Visualizations, Data APIs, Shipping & Trade Unique: Alerts | Shared: Data Visualizations, Data APIs, Shipping & Trade Unique: Education, Blogs |
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, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription | 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 MarineTraffic and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) both support?
Both platforms cover Data Visualizations, Data APIs, and Shipping & Trade workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do MarineTraffic and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) require subscriptions?
Both MarineTraffic and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
Which tool has mobile access?
MarineTraffic ships a dedicated mobile experience, while Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
MarineTraffic differentiates itself with 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)., whereas Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) stands out for Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
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.