Overview

Bing Maps API

Stacks26

Followers94

Votes1

OpenStreetMap

Stacks253

Followers473

Votes58

Bing Maps API vs OpenStreetMap: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Bing Maps API and OpenStreetMap

In the context of mapping APIs, both Bing Maps API and OpenStreetMap have their own specific features and advantages. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Data Sources: Bing Maps API primarily uses licensed data from leading mapping data providers, while OpenStreetMap relies on user-generated and crowd-sourced data. This means that Bing Maps API benefits from a more comprehensive and thoroughly curated dataset, while OpenStreetMap's data may vary in quality based on the level of contributions from its user community.

2. Licensing: Bing Maps API requires a license and is subject to terms and conditions, including usage limitations and costs for certain applications. OpenStreetMap, on the other hand, provides its data free of charge, allowing developers to freely access, use, and modify the map data based on the terms of the Open Database License.

3. Map Customization: Bing Maps API offers a wide range of customization options, allowing developers to easily modify the map styles, markers, overlays, and other visual elements to fit their specific needs. OpenStreetMap also allows customization, but it primarily focuses on the underlying map data and provides fewer built-in styling options out of the box.

4. Community Engagement: OpenStreetMap has a strong community-driven approach, with individuals, organizations, and businesses actively contributing to the improvement and enrichment of the map data. This vibrant community aspect enables regular updates, continuous addition of new features, and local knowledge integration. Bing Maps API, while not community-driven in the same sense, benefits from regular updates and improvements made by Microsoft and its data providers.

5. Developer Support and Documentation: Bing Maps API is backed by Microsoft, a large technology corporation with extensive developer support resources and comprehensive documentation. It provides robust developer tools, excellent technical support, and frequent updates. OpenStreetMap, being an open-source project, relies more on community-based support and its documentation can vary in quality and completeness depending on the specific resources contributed by the community.

6. Pricing Models: Bing Maps API offers various pricing models, including free tier options with usage limitations, as well as paid plans based on usage volume or enterprise agreements. OpenStreetMap, being free and open-source, does not have any direct costs for usage, but individual applications built on top of OpenStreetMap may have their own costs associated with hosting, data storage, and other infrastructure requirements.

In Summary, Bing Maps API and OpenStreetMap have key differences in their data sources, licensing, map customization, community engagement, developer support, and pricing models. Developers should consider these differences while choosing the appropriate mapping solution based on their specific requirements and constraints.

🔥 Trending in API Tools on StackShare

#1 Brand API - Brand.dev API Tools

#1 Brand API - Brand.dev

Try it View Docs Alternatives

Try

1

Advice on Bing Maps API, OpenStreetMap

StackShare

Apr 4, 2019

Needs advice

From a StackShare Community member: "We're a team of two starting to write a mobile app. The app will heavily rely on maps and this is where my partner and I are not seeing eye-to-eye. I would like to go with an open source solution like OpenStreetMap that is used by Apple & Foursquare. He would like to go with Google Maps since more apps use it and has better support (according to him). Mapbox is also an option but I don’t know much about it."

183k views183k

Comments

Duane

Feb 5, 2021

Needs advice

I would like to input a spreadsheet with names and associated addresses into a map program to; pinpoint all of the locations on a map. How can I do that? On which map? Are there field size limitations? All help would be appreciated.
There is a subdivision that is about one(1) mile by 3/4 mile in size. Is there a map program that would create the most efficient way to drive all of the streets in the subdivision without a lot of doubling back?

41.1k views41.1k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

Bing Maps API	OpenStreetMap
The Bing Maps platform provides multiple API options for your application including Web Control, a Windows Store apps control, a WPF control, REST Services, and Spatial Data Services. Use the information below as well as at MSDN to help determine which API bests suits your needs.	OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more, all over the world.
-	Emphasizes local knowledge; Contributors use aerial imagery, GPS devices, and low-tech field maps to verify that OSM is accurate and up to date; Built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data
Statistics
Stacks 26	Stacks 253
Followers 94	Followers 473
Votes 1	Votes 58
Pros & Cons
Pros 1 Free	Pros 23 Simple 17 Free 9 Open-Source 8 Open-Data 1 React/ RNative integration

What are some alternatives to Bing Maps API, OpenStreetMap?

Google Maps

Create rich applications and stunning visualisations of your data, leveraging the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usability of Google Maps and a modern web platform that scales as you grow.

Mapbox

We make it possible to pin travel spots on Pinterest, find restaurants on Foursquare, and visualize data on GitHub.

Leaflet

Leaflet is an open source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. It is developed by Vladimir Agafonkin of MapBox with a team of dedicated contributors. Weighing just about 30 KB of gzipped JS code, it has all the features most developers ever need for online maps.

OpenLayers

An opensource javascript library to load, display and render maps from multiple sources on web pages.

ArcGIS

It is a geographic information system for working with maps and geographic information. It is used for creating and using maps, compiling geographic data, analyzing mapped information, sharing and much more.

CSV2GEO

It provides live conversion of batch addresses into geographic coordinates (address to lat long) or turn coordinates into well formatted address. It creates and publishes interactive maps.

MapTiler

It is a software for map tile rendering. It has been designed for producing seamless maps and aerial photo layers covering whole countries. The rendering is fast and efficient, and it can fully utilize multiple CPUs to 100%.

MAPS.ME

MAPS.ME is an open source cross-platform offline maps application, built on top of crowd-sourced OpenStreetMap data. It was publicly released for iOS and Android.

LocationIQ

Free and Fast Geocoding Service

Stadia Maps

We enable devs to contextualize their data on a map and build complicated apps involving routing, time zones, and more with our APIs. We hate billing surprises as much as you, and if you send us an email, you'll get a real human reply.