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Mapbox has an excellent alternative map platform based largely but not entirely on OpenStreetMap data. Mapbox GL JS in particular is a joy to work with and exte

Mapbox has an excellent alternative map platform based largely but not entirely on OpenStreetMap data. Mapbox GL JS in particular is a joy to work with and extend. https://www.mapbox.com/ https://www.mapbox.com/ It's not free, but it's very easy to use and the pricing is roughly 1/10th of Google's when you get past the free tier: https://www.mapbox.com/pricing/ https://www.mapbox.com/pricing/ Mapzen used to be an alternative but sadly they shut down. However many of their products live on in open source or paid-hosted alternatives. See https://www.nextzen.org/ https://www.nextzen.org/ for a start.

jakecopp 9y ago
Mapbox's maps look great, though I wish they had a generic product like Google Maps that I could use. Does any such general navigation app using Mapbox exist? Basically a vector OpenStreetMap with good search and routing.
- mtmail 9y ago
  https://www.mapquest.com/ https://www.mapquest.com/ uses Mapbox in the background. https://maps.mapcat.com/ https://maps.mapcat.com/ uses OpenStreetMap vector tiles. On mobile I use https://maps.me/download/ https://maps.me/download/ (free, offline use possible).
  - jakecopp 9y ago
    MapQuest feels a bit strange with the huge amount of advertising. I'd much rather pay.
- lucb1e 9y ago
  OsmAnd can do this. It's generally recommended as the OpenStreetMap app, but almost everyone uses it with offline maps. If you click past that and enable the built-in online tiles addon, you can have tiles. Search and navigation, I don't remember seeing it in recent versions but there are so many options, I'm almost certain it must be in there somewhere. Search for custom or online navigation provider in OsmAnd and you should be able to find it. As you see, it's not exactly built for this type of usage, but it is supported and the app is generally considered as the best alternative out there, so it might be worth a try!
- gdejans 9y ago
  For good search and routing, you need a high-quality map data designed to deliver professional find, routing and navigation services. I recommend you take a look at developer.tomtommaps.com
chrishynes 9y ago
Thinking seriously about switching to MapBox. Google's pricing is insane after this change -- $7 per 1000 map views!?!?! Did they add an extra zero accidentally?
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- dabernathy89 9y ago
  For reference - If i'm reading this right, it was 50 cents per 1000 map views before (up to 100k per day). https://web.archive.org/web/20180307020901/https://developers.google.com/maps/pricing-and-plans/ https://web.archive.org/web/20180307020901/https://developer...
  - SiVal 9y ago
    I'm working on the design of a system right now that is intended to be commercial if we can bootstrap it with profits. I had already decided to find an alternative to Google Maps because of the risk of getting technologically locked into a completely custom API/service. What, for example, would happen to our profits and bootstrapping plans if Google decided to, say, double or triple its pricing overnight? Big trouble right? So, here we have people who built around Google Maps wishing the prices were only tripled. I'm not yet sure what we will do, but we'll try to improvise something from less-featureful maps before we'll build a nest out on a Google branch and dare them to cut it off. I'm glad I learned my lesson from the experiences of others before this even happened. This is a great reminder about the hazards of designing around single-source, critical inputs.
- brittany_mapfit 9y ago
  Inquire with Mapfit as well to learn about your use case. Contact me directly with website information, your current usage, and use case. brittany@mapfit.com
spectre256 9y ago
I'll tag on to Nelson's post to plug a new geocoding service two of us ex-Mapzen folks started called https://geocode.earth https://geocode.earth. We offer geocoding, especially autocomplete, with much more liberal usage restrictions than either Mapquest or Google, and some pretty powerful features like address interpolation. As we're still really getting the platform around the geocoder off the ground, we don't have a permanent free tier, but I'd be happy to set anyone up with a demo key if they are looking for something new.
- brennankreiman 9y ago
  I would be interested in a demo key. Former GIS, now web developer.
  - spectre256 9y ago
    sure, shoot an email to hello@geocode.earth and we'll set you up
gdejans 9y ago
Also TomTom offers an aternative for Google Maps with high quality maps, geocoding, routing and traffic APIs + web and mobile SDK: https://developer.tomtom.com/tomtom-maps-apis-developers https://developer.tomtom.com/tomtom-maps-apis-developers Pricing includes a free tier of 2,500 transactions/day and is much more affordable than the new Google Maps prices. I work for TomTom so in case you have any questions, feel free to contact me at developerrelations@tomtom.com.
- icebraining 9y ago
  Is there a demo available?
  - gdejans 9y ago
    Yes, demo's for the Web SDK are available here: https://developer.tomtom.com/maps-sdk-web/functional-examples https://developer.tomtom.com/maps-sdk-web/functional-example.... There are also demo's available for the mobile SDKs.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
fictionpad 9y ago
Mapbox is not cheap either. I use geocode.xyz to batch geocode data for Singapore and it works great (there is a free batch geocoding api) It even correctly geocodes some addresses I could not find on Google Maps. And you can get unlimited access for $100 per month.
tyleregeto 9y ago
Mapbox is pretty expensive for small commercial apps, $499 flat rate + usage costs. If your commercial usage is on the smaller side, the new Google Maps pricing looks really good. I was a Mapzen customer, their pricing model was great, very sorry to see it go.
- dabernathy89 9y ago
  I've never understood Mapbox pricing. $499 lets you give maps access to 250 users. That's steep for solo devs / small shops that want to create a map-based app. And there's no way of knowing how that pricing will scale without contacting them for an enterprise plan!
- freyfogle 9y ago
  some other good OSM map options are: http://www.thunderforest.com http://www.thunderforest.com https://stadiamaps.com https://stadiamaps.com For geocoding: https://geocoder.opencagedata.com https://geocoder.opencagedata.com For routing: https://www.graphhopper.com https://www.graphhopper.com
- EQmapbox 9y ago
  Hey Tyler, I work as a customer success manager for our commercial segment and are happy to say we're willing to work with you on a price that fits your business. If you write in through our contact forms just ask to speak with Erin and we can work something out! https://www.mapbox.com/contact/sales/ https://www.mapbox.com/contact/sales/ Note - I work at Mapbox
corny 9y ago
I'm in the process of comparing Mapbox with Google Maps Platform. The usage would be for large full-screen maps with lots of interaction. Comparing map loads/views is not apples to apples. Google counts a single map "load" similar to a page view [1]. The number of tiles loaded doesn't influence cost. With Mapbox, a map "view" is 4-15 tiles (depending on how they're styled) [2]. [1] https://developers.google.com/maps/faq?_ga=2.255037760.939395686.1525298015-420753160.1519080820#usage_mapload https://developers.google.com/maps/faq?_ga=2.255037760.93939... [2] https://www.mapbox.com/help/define-map-view/ https://www.mapbox.com/help/define-map-view/
- brittany_mapfit 9y ago
  Contact me at Mapfit to learn about our map tiles. brittany@mapfit.com
- chrishynes 9y ago
  That Mapbox pricing page seems to be talking about custom maps... What are the built-in styles considered? https://www.mapbox.com/api-documentation/#styles https://www.mapbox.com/api-documentation/#styles
  - EQmapbox 9y ago
    Hey Chris, you can make custom maps with Mapbox but you don't have to - here's a look at our core styles + designer styles that come out of the box, https://www.mapbox.com/help/studio-manual-styles/#mapbox-template-styles https://www.mapbox.com/help/studio-manual-styles/#mapbox-tem.... Pricing is based on transactions for each API. Lots of folks find this table helpful - https://www.mapbox.com/help/account-faq/#what-api-requests-does-mapbox-include-in-my-plan https://www.mapbox.com/help/account-faq/#what-api-requests-d.... Note - I work at Mapbox
- nugget 9y ago
  Check out Mapfit (mapfit.com) as well - top notch team with a lot of interesting ideas, and similarly much better prices than Google.

jakecopp 9y ago

Mapbox's maps look great, though I wish they had a generic product like Google Maps that I could use. Does any such general navigation app using Mapbox exist? Basically a vector OpenStreetMap with good search and routing.

mtmail 9y ago
https://www.mapquest.com/ https://www.mapquest.com/ uses Mapbox in the background. https://maps.mapcat.com/ https://maps.mapcat.com/ uses OpenStreetMap vector tiles. On mobile I use https://maps.me/download/ https://maps.me/download/ (free, offline use possible).
- jakecopp 9y ago
  MapQuest feels a bit strange with the huge amount of advertising. I'd much rather pay.
lucb1e 9y ago
OsmAnd can do this. It's generally recommended as the OpenStreetMap app, but almost everyone uses it with offline maps. If you click past that and enable the built-in online tiles addon, you can have tiles. Search and navigation, I don't remember seeing it in recent versions but there are so many options, I'm almost certain it must be in there somewhere. Search for custom or online navigation provider in OsmAnd and you should be able to find it. As you see, it's not exactly built for this type of usage, but it is supported and the app is generally considered as the best alternative out there, so it might be worth a try!
gdejans 9y ago
For good search and routing, you need a high-quality map data designed to deliver professional find, routing and navigation services. I recommend you take a look at developer.tomtommaps.com

chrishynes 9y ago

Thinking seriously about switching to MapBox. Google's pricing is insane after this change -- $7 per 1000 map views!?!?! Did they add an extra zero accidentally?

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
dabernathy89 9y ago
For reference - If i'm reading this right, it was 50 cents per 1000 map views before (up to 100k per day). https://web.archive.org/web/20180307020901/https://developers.google.com/maps/pricing-and-plans/ https://web.archive.org/web/20180307020901/https://developer...
- SiVal 9y ago
  I'm working on the design of a system right now that is intended to be commercial if we can bootstrap it with profits. I had already decided to find an alternative to Google Maps because of the risk of getting technologically locked into a completely custom API/service. What, for example, would happen to our profits and bootstrapping plans if Google decided to, say, double or triple its pricing overnight? Big trouble right? So, here we have people who built around Google Maps wishing the prices were only tripled. I'm not yet sure what we will do, but we'll try to improvise something from less-featureful maps before we'll build a nest out on a Google branch and dare them to cut it off. I'm glad I learned my lesson from the experiences of others before this even happened. This is a great reminder about the hazards of designing around single-source, critical inputs.
brittany_mapfit 9y ago
Inquire with Mapfit as well to learn about your use case. Contact me directly with website information, your current usage, and use case. brittany@mapfit.com

spectre256 9y ago

I'll tag on to Nelson's post to plug a new geocoding service two of us ex-Mapzen folks started called https://geocode.earth https://geocode.earth. We offer geocoding, especially autocomplete, with much more liberal usage restrictions than either Mapquest or Google, and some pretty powerful features like address interpolation. As we're still really getting the platform around the geocoder off the ground, we don't have a permanent free tier, but I'd be happy to set anyone up with a demo key if they are looking for something new.

brennankreiman 9y ago
I would be interested in a demo key. Former GIS, now web developer.
- spectre256 9y ago
  sure, shoot an email to hello@geocode.earth and we'll set you up

gdejans 9y ago

Also TomTom offers an aternative for Google Maps with high quality maps, geocoding, routing and traffic APIs + web and mobile SDK: https://developer.tomtom.com/tomtom-maps-apis-developers https://developer.tomtom.com/tomtom-maps-apis-developers Pricing includes a free tier of 2,500 transactions/day and is much more affordable than the new Google Maps prices. I work for TomTom so in case you have any questions, feel free to contact me at developerrelations@tomtom.com.

icebraining 9y ago
Is there a demo available?
- gdejans 9y ago
  Yes, demo's for the Web SDK are available here: https://developer.tomtom.com/maps-sdk-web/functional-examples https://developer.tomtom.com/maps-sdk-web/functional-example.... There are also demo's available for the mobile SDKs.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

fictionpad 9y ago

Mapbox is not cheap either. I use geocode.xyz to batch geocode data for Singapore and it works great (there is a free batch geocoding api) It even correctly geocodes some addresses I could not find on Google Maps. And you can get unlimited access for $100 per month.

tyleregeto 9y ago

Mapbox is pretty expensive for small commercial apps, $499 flat rate + usage costs. If your commercial usage is on the smaller side, the new Google Maps pricing looks really good. I was a Mapzen customer, their pricing model was great, very sorry to see it go.

dabernathy89 9y ago
I've never understood Mapbox pricing. $499 lets you give maps access to 250 users. That's steep for solo devs / small shops that want to create a map-based app. And there's no way of knowing how that pricing will scale without contacting them for an enterprise plan!
freyfogle 9y ago
some other good OSM map options are: http://www.thunderforest.com http://www.thunderforest.com https://stadiamaps.com https://stadiamaps.com For geocoding: https://geocoder.opencagedata.com https://geocoder.opencagedata.com For routing: https://www.graphhopper.com https://www.graphhopper.com
EQmapbox 9y ago
Hey Tyler, I work as a customer success manager for our commercial segment and are happy to say we're willing to work with you on a price that fits your business. If you write in through our contact forms just ask to speak with Erin and we can work something out! https://www.mapbox.com/contact/sales/ https://www.mapbox.com/contact/sales/ Note - I work at Mapbox

corny 9y ago

I'm in the process of comparing Mapbox with Google Maps Platform. The usage would be for large full-screen maps with lots of interaction. Comparing map loads/views is not apples to apples. Google counts a single map "load" similar to a page view [1]. The number of tiles loaded doesn't influence cost. With Mapbox, a map "view" is 4-15 tiles (depending on how they're styled) [2]. [1] https://developers.google.com/maps/faq?_ga=2.255037760.939395686.1525298015-420753160.1519080820#usage_mapload https://developers.google.com/maps/faq?_ga=2.255037760.93939... [2] https://www.mapbox.com/help/define-map-view/ https://www.mapbox.com/help/define-map-view/

brittany_mapfit 9y ago
Contact me at Mapfit to learn about our map tiles. brittany@mapfit.com
chrishynes 9y ago
That Mapbox pricing page seems to be talking about custom maps... What are the built-in styles considered? https://www.mapbox.com/api-documentation/#styles https://www.mapbox.com/api-documentation/#styles
- EQmapbox 9y ago
  Hey Chris, you can make custom maps with Mapbox but you don't have to - here's a look at our core styles + designer styles that come out of the box, https://www.mapbox.com/help/studio-manual-styles/#mapbox-template-styles https://www.mapbox.com/help/studio-manual-styles/#mapbox-tem.... Pricing is based on transactions for each API. Lots of folks find this table helpful - https://www.mapbox.com/help/account-faq/#what-api-requests-does-mapbox-include-in-my-plan https://www.mapbox.com/help/account-faq/#what-api-requests-d.... Note - I work at Mapbox
nugget 9y ago
Check out Mapfit (mapfit.com) as well - top notch team with a lot of interesting ideas, and similarly much better prices than Google.