Google Maps vs Leaflet vs Mapfit

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Google Maps

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Leaflet

1.4K
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Mapfit

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Google Maps vs Leaflet vs Mapfit: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Google Maps and Leaflet and Mapfit

  1. Mapping Data Sources: Google Maps primarily uses its own mapping data, offering comprehensive coverage worldwide with features like Street View and real-time traffic updates. In contrast, Leaflet allows for integration with various data sources, such as OpenStreetMap or custom tile servers. Mapfit focuses on high-quality maps data, leveraging machine learning to continuously enhance mapping accuracy and details.

  2. Customization and Styling: While Google Maps provides limited customization options, Leaflet offers extensive flexibility in creating custom map styles, markers, and layers. Mapfit allows users to design highly detailed maps with customizable markers and map elements, providing a balance between customization and ease of use for developers.

  3. Development Ecosystem: Google Maps has a robust ecosystem with comprehensive documentation, libraries, and developer resources, making it suitable for large-scale applications. Leaflet, on the other hand, is lightweight and easy to implement, ideal for simple mapping needs or projects with limited resources. Mapfit boasts a developer-friendly platform with SDKs for various programming languages, enabling seamless integration into different applications.

  4. Price and Licensing: Google Maps offers a free tier with limitations on usage and paid options for heavy usage, tailored to businesses of all sizes. Leaflet is open-source and free to use, making it a cost-effective choice for individuals and smaller organizations. Mapfit provides flexible pricing plans based on usage and is suitable for businesses looking for affordable mapping solutions with high-quality data.

  5. Interactive Features and APIs: Google Maps provides advanced interactive features like geocoding, routing, and Street View, along with comprehensive APIs for integration into web and mobile applications. Leaflet offers simplicity and ease of use with basic mapping functionalities and plugins for additional features. Mapfit includes geocoding and routing APIs, along with interactive features like autocomplete search and dynamic map updates for a seamless user experience.

  6. Performance and Speed: Google Maps may experience performance issues with heavy usage or complex applications due to its centralized processing. Leaflet's lightweight nature and client-side rendering result in faster loading times and better performance for smaller-scale projects. Mapfit's focus on optimized map data and efficient rendering processes ensures fast loading speeds and smooth user interactions for applications of any size.

In Summary, Google Maps, Leaflet, and Mapfit offer distinct advantages in terms of mapping data sources, customization options, development ecosystem, pricing, interactive features, and performance speed.

Advice on Google Maps, Leaflet, and Mapfit
  1. 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.

  2. 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?

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Replies (1)

You could use a low-code platform to read the spreadsheet and use them as input for the pin pointing. The most expert provider would HERE or TomTom for the best routing algoritmes. Input parameters would be dependent on the chosen provider.

I see your stack is mostly Google and I am not familiar with that. But we have implemented this through the M365 Teams/SharePoint, Excell, MS PowerPlatform, our WMS and Azure.

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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."

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Replies (6)
Recommends
on
MapboxMapbox

I use Mapbox because We need 3D maps and navigation, it has a great plugin for React and React Native which we use. Also the Mapbox Geocoder is great.

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Recommends
on
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap

I use OpenStreetMap because that has a strong community. It takes some time to catch up with Google Maps, but OpenStreetMap will become great solution.

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Blair Gemmer
Software Engineer at VYNYL · | 2 upvotes · 182.7K views
Recommends
on
Google MapsGoogle Maps

Google Maps is best because it is practically free (they give you $300 in free credits per month and it's really hard to go over the free tier unless you really mean business) and it's the best!

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Shuuji TAKAHASHI
Recommends
on
Google MapsGoogle Maps

I use Google Maps because it has a lot of great features such as Google's rich APIs, geolocation functions, navigation search feature, street map view, auto-generated 3D city map.

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Recommends
on
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap

Its open source and we use it.

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Fabio Fraga Machado
Recommends
on
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap

I use OpenStreetMap because i have the control of the environment, using Docker containers or bare-metal servers.

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Pros of Google Maps
Pros of Leaflet
Pros of Mapfit
  • 253
    Free
  • 136
    Address input through maps api
  • 82
    Sharable Directions
  • 47
    Google Earth
  • 46
    Unique
  • 3
    Custom maps designing
  • 34
    Light weight
  • 29
    Free
  • 12
    Evolutive via plugins
  • 11
    OpenStreetMap
  • 10
    Strong community
  • 7
    Choice of map providers
  • 6
    Easy API
  • 3
    Alternative to Google Maps
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    Cons of Google Maps
    Cons of Leaflet
    Cons of Mapfit
    • 5
      Google Attributions and logo
    • 2
      Only map allowed alongside google place autocomplete
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        1.1K
        507
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        What is 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.

        What is 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.

        What is Mapfit?

        Use cutting-edge maps with seamless APIs, frameworks, and data licensing at a fraction of what competitors charge.

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        What companies use Google Maps?
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        What companies use Mapfit?
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          What tools integrate with Google Maps?
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          What tools integrate with Mapfit?
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            Blog Posts

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            What are some alternatives to Google Maps, Leaflet, and Mapfit?
            Mapbox
            We make it possible to pin travel spots on Pinterest, find restaurants on Foursquare, and visualize data on GitHub.
            OpenStreetMap
            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.
            TomTom
            It is the leading independent location technology specialist, shaping mobility with highly accurate maps, navigation, real-time traffic info and services.
            Postman
            It is the only complete API development environment, used by nearly five million developers and more than 100,000 companies worldwide.
            Postman
            It is the only complete API development environment, used by nearly five million developers and more than 100,000 companies worldwide.
            See all alternatives