← Back to Home

VerifyCarrier vs SaferWebAPI

Two developer-focused ways to get FMCSA carrier data over a JSON API. Here's the honest version: SaferWebAPI sells flat-rate unlimited access; VerifyCarrier starts free and layers risk scoring and web tools on top of the same public data. Which one fits depends on what you're building.

TL;DR

SaferWebAPI: $30/mo flat, unlimited

VerifyCarrier: free tier forever, paid from $19/mo

Same public FMCSA data

VerifyCarrier adds a 0–100 risk score on top

API + free web tools

Our DOT & MC lookups are free for your whole team, no subscription

Feature Comparison

SaferWebAPI details retrieved from saferwebapi.com, July 2026. Check their site for current terms.

FeatureVerifyCarrierSaferWebAPI
Pricing Model
$0–$99/mo
Tiered by volume, per account
$30/mo flat
Single Pro plan
Free Option
100 API calls/month, forever
15-day free trial
No credit card; then $30/mo
Unlimited Requests
Metered plans up to 10,000/mo
Advertised as unlimited
Carrier Risk Score (0–100)
Computed from FMCSA data, on every plan
Not advertised
FMCSA Company Snapshot Data
DOT/MC lookup, authority & insurance status
USDOT snapshot + name lookup
SMS BASIC Safety Scores
From $19/mo (Starter)
SMS safety scores endpoint
Free Web Lookup Tools
Free DOT, MC & SAFER lookups — no account needed
With subscription
Browser interface included in trial/Pro
Carrier Monitoring
Coming soon — join waitlist
Not advertised as of July 2026
Per-Seat Fees
None — one account, whole team
None advertised

When to Choose Each Option

Choose VerifyCarrier if you:

  • Want to start at $0 with no trial expiration and no credit card
  • Need a risk score, not just raw FMCSA fields, in your API response
  • Want free web lookup tools for ops staff alongside the API
  • Do predictable volumes (up to 10,000 checks/month)
  • Want to be on the monitoring waitlist when carrier alerts launch

Choose SaferWebAPI if you:

  • Need very high request volumes at a flat $30/month price
  • Only need raw FMCSA passthrough without derived scoring
  • Want unlimited API keys across many internal services

Yes, we just told you when a competitor is the better deal. Honest comparisons are the only kind worth publishing.

What Our API Returns

Same public FMCSA data, plus a transparent risk score your code can act on directly — no need to build your own scoring model.

# Verify carrier by DOT number
curl https://verifycarrier.com/api/lookup/dot/12345 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

# Response
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "dot_number": "12345",
    "legal_name": "ACME TRUCKING LLC",
    "authority_status": "AUTHORIZED",
    "risk": {
      "score": 35.2,
      "tier": "Medium",
      "description": "Review recommended",
      "factors": ["New authority", "Limited inspection history"]
    },
    "safety": {
      "rating": "S",
      "out_of_service": false
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SaferWebAPI cheaper than VerifyCarrier?

It depends on your volume. As of July 2026, SaferWebAPI's Pro plan is $30/month flat with unlimited API requests — at high request volumes that is genuinely hard to beat on price alone. VerifyCarrier's free tier is $0 for up to 100 API calls per month with no trial expiry, so at low volume VerifyCarrier costs nothing. Paid VerifyCarrier tiers ($19–$99/mo) add a computed 0–100 risk score, BASIC safety scores, and crash summary data on top of raw FMCSA fields.

What does SaferWebAPI include?

As of July 2026, saferwebapi.com advertises company snapshot lookup by USDOT number, carrier name lookup, and SMS safety scores, with a 15-day free trial (no credit card) and a single $30/month Pro plan with unlimited requests. Check saferwebapi.com for current details.

What does VerifyCarrier include that SaferWebAPI doesn't advertise?

A permanent free API tier (100 calls/month, no credit card, no trial clock), a transparent 0–100 carrier risk score computed from FMCSA safety data, free web lookup tools your ops team can use without any subscription, and per-account pricing with no per-seat fees. Carrier monitoring and change alerts are coming soon — you can join the waitlist today.

Does VerifyCarrier offer unlimited API requests?

No. VerifyCarrier plans are metered: 100 calls/month free, up to 10,000 calls/month on the Business plan ($99/mo). If you need truly unlimited raw FMCSA passthrough at a flat price, SaferWebAPI's model may fit you better — we'd rather tell you that than have you find out later.

Is there a free official FMCSA API?

Yes — FMCSA offers its own QCMobile API with a free developer webkey, and the official SAFER website is free to use. Third-party services like VerifyCarrier and SaferWebAPI exist because the official interfaces can be harder to integrate; VerifyCarrier adds a normalized JSON shape, risk scoring, and web tools on top of the same public data.

Does VerifyCarrier have carrier monitoring?

Not yet. Carrier monitoring and email alerts are in development. Email support@verifycarrier.com to join the waitlist and we'll notify you at launch.

Try the API Free — No Trial Clock

100 free API calls every month. No credit card. Upgrade only if you outgrow it.