Softwr

Maps & Navigation · head to head

CARTO vs Mapzen

C

CARTO

Maps & Navigation

Location Intelligence Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mapzen logo

Mapzen

Maps & Navigation

Mapzen was an open-source mapping platform that provided geocoding, routing, and map rendering services

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; Mapzen the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2018 priced its mobility APIs on a free tier plus overage model: Turn-by-Turn navigation free for the first 5,000 requests per month then 50 cents per additional 1,000 requests, and Isochrone and Optimized Route each free for the first 100 requests per month then $1.50 per additional 1,000 requests; Mapzen shut down as a project in 2018 shortly after this capture and this pricing no longer applies to any live service
  • They diverge on capability: CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Mapzen covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CARTO and Mapzen actually diverge.

Attributes where CARTO and Mapzen differ
AttributeCARTOMapzen
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierYesNo
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Mapzen

  • 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 Mapzen
  • Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot Mapzen
  • Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot Mapzen
  • Site selection and territory planningnot Mapzen
  • Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot Mapzen

Mapzen

No use cases recorded yet. See the Mapzen review.

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

Mapzen

  • The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2018 priced its mobility APIs on a free tier plus overage model: Turn-by-Turn navigation free for the first 5,000 requests per month then 50 cents per additional 1,000 requests, and Isochrone and Optimized Route each free for the first 100 requests per month then $1.50 per additional 1,000 requests; Mapzen shut down as a project in 2018 shortly after this capture and this pricing no longer applies to any live service

Pricing, plan by plan

CARTO

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

Mapzen

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mapzen 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 Mapzen if

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

Questions people ask

Is CARTO or Mapzen better?
Neither clearly leads. CARTO starts at Free and Mapzen at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CARTO or Mapzen?
CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CARTO and On request for Mapzen.
Does CARTO or Mapzen run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CARTO for free?
Yes. CARTO has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mapzen 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 Mapzen is typically brought in for.
What can CARTO do that Mapzen cannot?
CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows. Mapzen covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
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