Maps & Navigation · head to head
CARTO vs PositionStack
PositionStack
Maps & Navigation
Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month
- They diverge on capability: CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, PositionStack covers Core Functionality.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CARTO and PositionStack actually diverge.
| Attribute | CARTO | PositionStack |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2012 | Unknown |
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 PositionStack
- 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 PositionStack
- Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot PositionStack
- Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot PositionStack
- Site selection and territory planningnot PositionStack
- Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot PositionStack
PositionStack
- Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot CARTO
- Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot CARTO
- Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot 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
PositionStack
- The free plan allows only 100 requests per month
- The free plan is a personal licence, so commercial use requires a paid plan
- The free plan is rate limited, with an extended rate limit only from the Basic plan up
- Requests beyond the monthly quota are billed as overage, at $0.0003996 per request on Basic
- The lowest advertised rates require annual prepayment
- Enterprise volumes are priced by quote with no published rate
Pricing, plan by plan
CARTO
Free- Professional$199/month
- Spatial Analysis
- Data Observatory
- Builder
PositionStack
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack review.
Which should you pick?
Choose CARTO if
- You need spatial analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want interactive maps.
Choose PositionStack if
- You need core functionality.
- You also want user interface.
Questions people ask
- Is CARTO or PositionStack better?
- Neither clearly leads. CARTO starts at Free and PositionStack at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CARTO or PositionStack?
- CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CARTO and On request for PositionStack.
- Does CARTO or PositionStack 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. PositionStack 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 PositionStack is typically brought in for.
- What can CARTO do that PositionStack cannot?
- CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows. PositionStack covers Core Functionality, User Interface.