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

Google Maps

41.2K
28.7K
+ 1
567
LocationIQ

6
47
+ 1
4
Add tool

Google Maps vs LocationIQ: What are the differences?

## Key Differences between Google Maps and LocationIQ

Google Maps and LocationIQ are both popular mapping services; however, they have distinct differences in functionality and features.

1. **Pricing Model**: Google Maps offers a free tier where you can make a limited number of requests for free, while LocationIQ provides a generous free tier with higher request limits compared to Google Maps and offers paid plans tailored to different requirements.

2. **Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding Accuracy**: Google Maps tends to have more accurate geocoding and reverse geocoding results due to its extensive data sources and proprietary algorithms. In contrast, LocationIQ may have slightly lower accuracy levels in geocoding and reverse geocoding processes.

3. **Customization Options**: Google Maps provides a wide range of customization options, allowing you to personalize maps with unique styles, markers, and overlays. LocationIQ, on the other hand, offers less flexibility in terms of map customization.

4. **Street View Feature**: Google Maps includes the popular Street View feature that allows users to explore real-world locations through interactive panoramic images. LocationIQ does not have a comparable Street View feature.

5. **User Interface**: Google Maps is known for its user-friendly and intuitive interface that provides a seamless map browsing experience. LocationIQ, while functional, may have a slightly more complex interface that requires a learning curve for new users.

6. **Coverage and Data Sources**: Google Maps has a larger coverage area and can provide more detailed maps in many regions worldwide compared to LocationIQ. This difference in coverage can impact the accuracy of location data for users in certain areas.

In Summary, Google Maps and LocationIQ offer distinct features and pricing models, with Google Maps excelling in accuracy, customization, and user interface, while LocationIQ provides competitive pricing and generous request limits.
Advice on Google Maps and LocationIQ
  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?

See more
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.

See more

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."

See more
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.

See more
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.

See more
Blair Gemmer
Software Engineer at VYNYL · | 2 upvotes · 175.6K 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!

See more
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.

See more
Recommends
on
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap

Its open source and we use it.

See more
Fabio Fraga Machado
Recommends
on
OpenStreetMapOpenStreetMap

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

See more
Manage your open source components, licenses, and vulnerabilities
Learn More
Pros of Google Maps
Pros of LocationIQ
  • 253
    Free
  • 136
    Address input through maps api
  • 82
    Sharable Directions
  • 47
    Google Earth
  • 46
    Unique
  • 3
    Custom maps designing
  • 4
    Geocoding

Sign up to add or upvote prosMake informed product decisions

Cons of Google Maps
Cons of LocationIQ
  • 4
    Google Attributions and logo
  • 1
    Only map allowed alongside google place autocomplete
    Be the first to leave a con

    Sign up to add or upvote consMake informed product decisions

    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 LocationIQ?

    Free and Fast Geocoding Service

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

    What companies use Google Maps?
    What companies use LocationIQ?
      No companies found
      Manage your open source components, licenses, and vulnerabilities
      Learn More

      Sign up to get full access to all the companiesMake informed product decisions

      What tools integrate with Google Maps?
      What tools integrate with LocationIQ?

      Sign up to get full access to all the tool integrationsMake informed product decisions

      What are some alternatives to Google Maps and LocationIQ?
      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.
      JavaScript
      JavaScript is most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but used in many non-browser environments as well such as node.js or Apache CouchDB. It is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm scripting language that is dynamic,and supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.
      Git
      Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency.
      See all alternatives