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Maps & Navigation · head to head

CARTO vs LocationIQ

C

CARTO

Maps & Navigation

Location Intelligence Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LocationIQ logo

LocationIQ

Maps & Navigation

Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CARTO has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CARTO no prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only; LocationIQ smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • They diverge on capability: CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, LocationIQ covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CARTO and LocationIQ actually diverge.

Attributes where CARTO and LocationIQ differ
AttributeCARTOLocationIQ
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebAPI
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps & Navigation).

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 CARTO

  • Spatial Analysis
  • Interactive Maps
  • Data Observatory
  • Workflows
  • APIs
  • Snowflake
  • BigQuery
  • PostgreSQL

Only in LocationIQ

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

CARTO

  • Spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehousenot LocationIQ
  • Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot LocationIQ
  • Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot LocationIQ
  • Site selection and territory planningnot LocationIQ
  • Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot LocationIQ

LocationIQ

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scalenot CARTO
  • Store locators and address autofill in web and mobile appsnot CARTO
  • Asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisationnot CARTO
  • Serving static and dynamic map tilesnot CARTO
  • Distance matrix and route planningnot CARTO

Where each one falls short

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

CARTO

  • No prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
  • Metered on four separate axes: workflow runs, map loads, API calls and location data service operations
  • API access and tokens are limited on pay-as-you-go and unlimited only from the Strategic tier
  • Self-hosting is available on Enterprise and included only on the Custom tier
  • The 14 day trial explicitly forbids production use

LocationIQ

  • Smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • Less documentation than industry-leading platforms
  • Less brand recognition than Google or Mapbox

Pricing, plan by plan

CARTO

Free
  • Professional$199/month
    • Spatial Analysis
    • Data Observatory
    • Builder

LocationIQ

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the LocationIQ review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CARTO if

  • You need spatial analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want interactive maps.
CARTO review

Choose LocationIQ if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You work on API.
  • You also want user interface.
LocationIQ review

Questions people ask

Is CARTO or LocationIQ better?
Neither clearly leads. CARTO starts at Free and LocationIQ at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CARTO or LocationIQ?
CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CARTO and On request for LocationIQ.
Does CARTO or LocationIQ run on more platforms?
CARTO runs on Web. LocationIQ runs on API.
Can I use CARTO for free?
Yes. CARTO has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LocationIQ starts at On request.
What is CARTO best used for?
CARTO is most often used for spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehouse, building interactive maps and location dashboards, geocoding and routing through location data services, site selection and territory planning. Of those, spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehouse and building interactive maps and location dashboards are not what LocationIQ is typically brought in for.
What can CARTO do that LocationIQ cannot?
CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows. LocationIQ covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LocationIQ: How much cheaper is LocationIQ than Google Maps?

At 100,000 requests per month, LocationIQ costs $49 whereas Google Maps charges $500 and Mapbox charges $75.

Source
LocationIQ: What is LocationIQ's free tier?

LocationIQ offers a free tier with 5,000 requests per day. Paid plans start at $49/month for the Geocoding Lite plan.

Source
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Related pages

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