Google Maps vs Leaflet vs OpenStreetMap

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Google Maps

40.4K
28K
+ 1
566
Leaflet

1.4K
1.1K
+ 1
107
OpenStreetMap

249
464
+ 1
56

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

Key Differences between Google Maps, Leaflet, and OpenStreetMap

Google Maps, Leaflet, and OpenStreetMap are all popular mapping platforms that offer different features and functionalities. Here are the key differences between these platforms:

  1. Map Data Source: Google Maps relies primarily on proprietary data while Leaflet and OpenStreetMap use open-source data. Google Maps has its own mapping data and also integrates data from various providers, making it comprehensive and accurate. On the other hand, Leaflet and OpenStreetMap rely on crowdsourced data, which can sometimes be less detailed or up to date.

  2. Cost and Licensing: While all three platforms offer free access to basic maps, Google Maps has a freemium model with usage limits for advanced features and commercial use. Google Maps also requires an API key and charges for high-volume usage. Leaflet and OpenStreetMap, being open-source, are free to use and have flexible licensing options, making them more accessible for developers and small businesses.

  3. Customization and Plugins: Leaflet and OpenStreetMap provide extensive customization options and support a wide range of plugins, allowing developers to create highly tailored map applications. Google Maps, on the other hand, provides a more structured and standardized interface with fewer customization options. While Google Maps offers some plugins and styling options, they are more limited compared to Leaflet's ecosystem.

  4. Platform Independence: Leaflet and OpenStreetMap are designed to work across different platforms, including both web and mobile applications. They use web-based technologies like JavaScript and HTML, making them compatible with various browsers and operating systems. Google Maps, although also accessible through web APIs, has a more native presence on Android and iOS devices, providing better integration and performance for mobile app development.

  5. Traffic and Directions: Google Maps has extensive real-time traffic information, providing users with accurate and up-to-date navigation directions. It also offers a comprehensive set of directions, transit information, and alternate routes. Leaflet and OpenStreetMap, while they can display basic route information, rely on third-party plugins or additional APIs for advanced navigation features. Real-time traffic data is more limited or may require additional integration.

  6. Satellite Imagery and Street View: Google Maps offers high-resolution satellite imagery and Street View, enabling users to explore places remotely, view 360-degree street-level imagery, and get a more immersive experience. Leaflet and OpenStreetMap do not provide direct access to satellite imagery or street-level panoramas, although there are plugins available to integrate third-party imagery and street view services.

In Summary, Google Maps provides comprehensive and accurate mapping data with advanced features like real-time traffic and street view, but with cost and customization limitations. Leaflet and OpenStreetMap are open-source alternatives that offer more customization options and platform independence, making them suitable for developers seeking flexibility and affordability. However, they may have limitations in data coverage and advanced features like traffic and street view.

Advice on Google Maps, Leaflet, and OpenStreetMap
  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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Blair Gemmer
Software Engineer at VYNYL · | 2 upvotes · 159.4K 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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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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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 OpenStreetMap
  • 253
    Free
  • 136
    Address input through maps api
  • 81
    Sharable Directions
  • 47
    Google Earth
  • 46
    Unique
  • 3
    Custom maps designing
  • 32
    Light weight
  • 28
    Free
  • 12
    Evolutive via plugins
  • 10
    OpenStreetMap
  • 9
    Strong community
  • 7
    Choice of map providers
  • 6
    Easy API
  • 3
    Alternative to Google Maps
  • 22
    Simple
  • 17
    Free
  • 9
    Open-Source
  • 7
    Open-Data
  • 1
    React/ RNative integration

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Cons of Google Maps
Cons of Leaflet
Cons of OpenStreetMap
  • 4
    Google Attributions and logo
  • 1
    Only map allowed alongside google place autocomplete
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      - No public GitHub repository available -
      - No public GitHub repository available -

      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 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.

      Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

      What companies use Google Maps?
      What companies use Leaflet?
      What companies use OpenStreetMap?

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      What tools integrate with Google Maps?
      What tools integrate with Leaflet?
      What tools integrate with OpenStreetMap?

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      Blog Posts

      JavaScriptGitHubNode.js+26
      20
      4935
      What are some alternatives to Google Maps, Leaflet, and OpenStreetMap?
      Mapbox
      We make it possible to pin travel spots on Pinterest, find restaurants on Foursquare, and visualize data on GitHub.
      TomTom
      It is the leading independent location technology specialist, shaping mobility with highly accurate maps, navigation, real-time traffic info and services.
      OpenLayers
      An opensource javascript library to load, display and render maps from multiple sources on web pages.
      Here Maps
      The Open Location Platform company, enables people, businesses and cities to harness the power of location
      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.
      See all alternatives