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AllTrails vs Nominatim

AllTrails logo

AllTrails

Software

Discover the best hiking and biking trails

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Software

Open-source geocoding tool for OpenStreetMap data, providing address search and reverse geocoding capabilities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AllTrails has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AllTrails the App Store listing shows AllTrails is a free download with an in-app Pro subscription; the visible listing text does not state the Pro price, so the reader must check in-app purchases for the current rate.; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • They diverge on capability: AllTrails covers Trail discovery, Nominatim covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AllTrails and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where AllTrails and Nominatim differ
AttributeAllTrailsNominatim
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AllTrails

  • Trail discovery
  • Offline maps
  • GPS navigation
  • Activity recording
  • Trail reviews
  • Apple Health
  • Garmin
  • Apple Watch

Only in Nominatim

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AllTrails

  • Trail discoverynot Nominatim
  • Hiking navigationnot Nominatim
  • Outdoor fitness trackingnot Nominatim

Nominatim

  • Geocoding addresses to coordinates from OpenStreetMap datanot AllTrails
  • Reverse geocoding coordinates to a place namenot AllTrails
  • Self hosting a geocoder over an OSM extractnot AllTrails

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AllTrails

  • The App Store listing shows AllTrails is a free download with an in-app Pro subscription; the visible listing text does not state the Pro price, so the reader must check in-app purchases for the current rate.

Nominatim

  • The public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • Bulk geocoding must run in a single thread and cannot be distributed across machines
  • Scripts running longer than a day or on a schedule are limited to 4 requests per minute
  • Autocomplete search against the public API is explicitly prohibited
  • Systematic queries such as grid based reverse lookups and complete data downloads are prohibited
  • Reselling geocoding results or acting as an API intermediary is prohibited
  • Every request must send a valid HTTP Referer or User-Agent identifying the application, and default library headers are rejected
  • Results must be cached client side, and repeated identical queries can lead to blocking
  • Attribution to OpenStreetMap under ODbL must be displayed

Pricing, plan by plan

AllTrails

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trail search
    • Community reviews
    • Basic maps
  • AllTrails+$35.99/year
    • Offline maps
    • Real-time navigation
    • Trail conditions

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose AllTrails if

  • You need trail discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want offline maps.
AllTrails review

Choose Nominatim if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is AllTrails or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. AllTrails starts at Free and Nominatim at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AllTrails or Nominatim?
AllTrails has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AllTrails and On request for Nominatim.
Does AllTrails or Nominatim run on more platforms?
AllTrails runs on Ios, Android, Web. Nominatim runs on Web.
Can I use AllTrails for free?
Yes. AllTrails has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nominatim starts at On request.
What is AllTrails best used for?
AllTrails is most often used for trail discovery, hiking navigation, outdoor fitness tracking. Of those, trail discovery and hiking navigation are not what Nominatim is typically brought in for.
What can AllTrails do that Nominatim cannot?
AllTrails covers Trail discovery, Offline maps, GPS navigation, Activity recording. Nominatim covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
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