Nominatim: Open-source geocoding with OpenStreetMap data. Protomaps: Self-host an entire world basemap as a single PMTiles file.
| Nominatim | Protomaps | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Geocoding, Routing & Location APIs | Basemaps & Map Tiles |
| Pricing model | Open source | Open source |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Software licence | GPL-3.0 (software), ODbL (data) | BSD-3-Clause (code); ODbL (OSM data) |
| API | Yes | — |
| Platforms | API, Linux | Web, JavaScript, Command line |
| Made by | — | — |
| Commercial use | With conditions | Allowed |
| Export / print images | Allowed | Allowed |
| Offline / caching | Allowed | Allowed |
| Visits from MapTools | 2 | 9 |
| Visit | Visit |
Nominatim 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 alternativesProtomaps features
- PMTiles single-file tile archives
- Daily world basemap builds from OpenStreetMap
- Serve from S3, R2 or any static host
- Open basemap styles for MapLibre
When you host the tiles yourself, only the OpenStreetMap attribution and ODbL terms apply.
Protomaps alternativesSummary based on public information. Check each provider's current pricing and terms.