Mapbox: Custom map styles, vector tiles and location APIs for developers. Nominatim: Open-source geocoding with OpenStreetMap data.
| Mapbox | Nominatim | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Basemaps & Map Tiles | Geocoding, Routing & Location APIs |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open source |
| Starts at | See website | Free |
| Free tier | Monthly free web map loads and API requests | — |
| 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 | Mapbox | — |
| Commercial use | Allowed | With conditions |
| Export / print images | With conditions | Allowed |
| Offline / caching | With conditions | Allowed |
| Visits from MapTools | 8 | 2 |
| Visit | Visit |
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 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.