Google Maps Platform: Google's maps, places, routes and 3D tiles APIs. Nominatim: Open-source geocoding with OpenStreetMap data.
| Google Maps Platform | Nominatim | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Basemaps & Map Tiles | Geocoding, Routing & Location APIs |
| Pricing model | Paid | Open source |
| Starts at | See website | Free |
| Free tier | Monthly free usage per API (see current pricing) | — |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Software licence | — | GPL-3.0 (software), ODbL (data) |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, JavaScript, iOS, Android, API | API, Linux |
| Made by | — | |
| Commercial use | Paid plan | With conditions |
| Export / print images | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Offline / caching | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Visits from MapTools | 7 | 2 |
| Visit | Visit |
Google Maps Platform features
- Maps JavaScript API and mobile SDKs
- Places, Geocoding and Routes APIs
- Photorealistic 3D Tiles
- Map styling
- Street View
Paying for the API grants online display rights, not download rights. Content may not be pre-fetched, stored or cached except where the terms allow, and offline use is prohibited. Place IDs may be stored. Google Maps content must not be shown on a non-Google map.
Google Maps Platform alternativesNominatim features
- Forward and reverse geocoding
- OpenStreetMap data
- Self-hostable
- Structured and free-form search
The public nominatim.openstreetmap.org instance allows at most 1 request per second and no bulk geocoding. Self-host for heavy or commercial workloads.
Nominatim alternativesSummary based on public information. Check each provider's current pricing and terms.