SeaRates Container Tracking vs Terminal49

SeaRates Container Tracking tracks sea shipments by container number, Bill of Lading or booking reference, showing shipment location and status. Users can view container positions on a world map, see route visibility and port activity, and get estimated arrival insights. The system calculates storage time at transshipment ports and offers alerts for status events, departures, arrivals, delays and early delivery. SeaRates says its visibility and arrival estimates draw on Automatic Identification System data from ships, satellites and port stations. The mobile app offers laptop synchronization, live updates and instant notifications. For businesses, the API can pass status events to a website or connect tracking data to a TMS, ERP or other software; a website widget can also be embedded. API requests use HTTPS and an API key, with a documented general quota of 100 requests per 20 seconds per organization. Online tracking is described as free to try, while API pricing is usage-based and no price is listed. Updates are daily; more frequent updates require contacting an account manager.

Terminal49 combines container tracking, shipment documents and workflow automation for logistics operations, with web and API access. It tracks across carriers, terminals, vessel and AIS activity, and intermodal rail; its data is described as updated hourly. The API provides shipment milestones such as vessel events, container moves, holds, fees and Last Free Day information. The platform can classify documents automatically and associate them with the relevant container. Milestone and exception alerts are available, while the Complete plan adds automated workflows and custom reports. The API uses webhooks for status changes and supplies standardized JSON, developer documentation and code samples. Listed integrations include Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Microsoft SQL Server, Google Sheets, Excel, NetSuite, SAP, Descartes, CargoWise, Power BI and Azure. Terminal49 says data transfers are encrypted and that it is SOC 2 compliant. The free plan supports up to ten active containers and three users. Lite, Complete and Essential have annual contract or pay-as-you-go terms, with prices available by request or demo; the API page offers a seven-day trial with full API access. Its stated audience includes cargo owners, importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, 3PLs and logistics technology companies.