Decision Guide
How to Choose the Right AIS Data API
A framework for evaluating AIS API providers. Make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Choosing an AIS data API is a significant decision. The right provider will power your maritime application reliably for years. The wrong choice leads to unexpected costs, reliability issues, or missing features that force a painful migration later.
This guide provides an objective framework for evaluation. Whether you're building a fleet management platform, supply chain visibility tool, or commodity trading system, these criteria will help you make the right choice.
Key Evaluation Criteria
Use these criteria to compare any AIS data provider objectively.
Data Coverage
Consider whether you need global ocean coverage (satellite) or high-frequency coastal updates (terrestrial), or both.
Questions to ask:
- Does the provider offer both satellite and terrestrial AIS?
- What is the typical position update frequency?
- Are there coverage gaps in regions important to you?
Historical Data
Historical track data is essential for voyage reconstruction, compliance audits, and trend analysis.
Questions to ask:
- How far back does historical data go?
- Is historical data priced differently?
- Can you query by date range efficiently?
Pricing Model
Understand the total cost of ownership, including base fees, per-request costs, and overage charges.
Questions to ask:
- Is pricing transparent and predictable?
- Are there overage charges or usage caps?
- What happens if you exceed your plan limits?
- Is there a free trial to test before committing?
API Quality
Developer experience matters. Good documentation and reliable endpoints save time.
Questions to ask:
- Is the API well-documented with examples?
- What is the typical response time?
- Is there a sandbox environment for testing?
- What SDKs or client libraries are available?
Reliability
Uptime and support quality directly impact your application reliability.
Questions to ask:
- What uptime SLA is guaranteed?
- Is there a public status page?
- What support channels are available?
- How quickly are issues typically resolved?
Data Completeness
Beyond positions, consider what additional data points you need: vessel specs, ownership, inspections, weather.
Questions to ask:
- What vessel metadata is available (dimensions, ownership, etc.)?
- Is inspection and compliance data available?
- Can you get weather conditions at vessel positions?
- How complete is the vessel database?
Find Your Ideal AIS Provider
Answer a few questions about your needs and we'll help you determine which AIS data provider is the best fit.
What is your monthly budget for maritime data?
Consider your total expected spend including all API calls.
Match Your Use Case
Different applications have different priorities. Here's what to focus on for common use cases.
Building a fleet management dashboard
Priority: Real-time positions + historical data
Recommendation: Look for combined satellite/terrestrial coverage with good API documentation
Supply chain cargo visibility
Priority: Port call data + ETA predictions
Recommendation: Prioritize providers with port analytics and historical arrival patterns
Maritime insurance claims verification
Priority: Historical positions + inspection records
Recommendation: Need deep historical data and PSC inspection access
Commodity trading intelligence
Priority: Real-time positions + area monitoring
Recommendation: Focus on global coverage and the ability to monitor geographic zones
Academic research
Priority: Historical data + affordable pricing
Recommendation: Look for flexible pricing that fits research budgets
Startup MVP development
Priority: Free trial + simple integration
Recommendation: Choose providers with free trials and developer-friendly documentation
Provider Evaluation Checklist
Use this checklist when evaluating any AIS data provider.
How Data Docked Measures Up
Here's how we address each evaluation criterion. We encourage you to verify and compare with other providers.
Our approach:
- Transparent credit-based pricing (from 80 EUR/month)
- Pay per request with no hidden fees
- Developer-friendly documentation and onboarding
- Combined satellite + terrestrial AIS coverage
- PSC inspection data from all 9 MOUs + USCG (unique)
- 99.9% uptime SLA guarantee
- 2 years of historical track data
- Responsive customer support
- Overage protection prevents surprise bills
Key stats:
Ready to Evaluate?
Use our free trial to test the API with real data. No credit card required.