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Software · head to head

CARTO vs Nominatim

C

CARTO

Software

Location Intelligence Platform

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 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; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • They diverge on capability: CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Nominatim covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CARTO and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where CARTO and Nominatim differ
AttributeCARTONominatim
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierYesNo
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 CARTO

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

Only in Nominatim

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

Nominatim

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

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

CARTO

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

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim 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 Nominatim if

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

Questions people ask

Is CARTO or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. CARTO 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, CARTO or Nominatim?
CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CARTO and On request for Nominatim.
Does CARTO or Nominatim 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. Nominatim 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 Nominatim is typically brought in for.
What can CARTO do that Nominatim cannot?
CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows. Nominatim covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
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