Folium: Leaflet maps from Python. Mapbox: Custom map styles, vector tiles and location APIs for developers.
| Folium | Mapbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Map Libraries & SDKs | Basemaps & Map Tiles |
| Pricing model | Open source | Freemium |
| Starts at | Free | See website |
| Free tier | — | Monthly free web map loads and API requests |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Software licence | MIT | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Platforms | Python | Web, JavaScript, iOS, Android, API |
| Made by | — | Mapbox |
| Commercial use | Allowed | Allowed |
| Export / print images | Allowed | With conditions |
| Offline / caching | Check terms | With conditions |
| Visits from MapTools | 1 | 8 |
| Visit | Visit |
Folium features
- Leaflet maps from Python
- Choropleths and heatmaps
- Jupyter integration
- HTML export
Mapbox features
- Mapbox Studio style editor
- Mapbox GL JS and mobile SDKs
- Geocoding, directions, isochrone APIs
- Satellite and terrain layers
- Static Images API
Commercial use is allowed under Mapbox's terms. Static and printed maps must be attributed like a photo credit. Images from the Mapbox Studio print export require contacting Mapbox sales before use. Offline use is limited to the mobile SDKs' offline features.
Mapbox alternativesSummary based on public information. Check each provider's current pricing and terms.