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Maps · head to head

CesiumJS vs Nominatim

CesiumJS logo

CesiumJS

Maps

Open-source JavaScript library for creating 3D globes and 2D maps with support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CesiumJS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CesiumJS the free Community tier does not permit commercial use; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CesiumJS and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where CesiumJS and Nominatim differ
AttributeCesiumJSNominatim
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

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 CesiumJS

Nothing recorded that Nominatim does not also cover.

Only in Nominatim

Nothing recorded that CesiumJS does not also cover.

Both cover

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

CesiumJS

  • Streaming 3D terrain, imagery and building data into web applicationsnot Nominatim
  • Tiling and hosting large geospatial and reality capture datasetsnot Nominatim

Nominatim

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot CesiumJS
  • Address lookup and location searchnot CesiumJS
  • OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot CesiumJS

Where each one falls short

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

CesiumJS

  • The free Community tier does not permit commercial use
  • The cheapest commercial plan is $149 a month for an individual and $524 for a team
  • Team accounts are capped at 5 members on both the Commercial and Premium plans
  • Three separate quotas apply at once, being storage, monthly streaming and monthly reality modelling gigapixels, and exceeding any one of them constrains the account
  • Streaming is capped at 15 GB a month on the free tier

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

CesiumJS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CesiumJS review.

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CesiumJS if

  • You want to start without paying.
CesiumJS review

Choose Nominatim if

Nothing in the data separates Nominatim from CesiumJS on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is CesiumJS or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. CesiumJS 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, CesiumJS or Nominatim?
CesiumJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CesiumJS and On request for Nominatim.
Does CesiumJS or Nominatim run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CesiumJS for free?
Yes. CesiumJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Nominatim starts at On request.
What is CesiumJS best used for?
CesiumJS is most often used for streaming 3d terrain, imagery and building data into web applications, tiling and hosting large geospatial and reality capture datasets. Of those, streaming 3d terrain, imagery and building data into web applications and tiling and hosting large geospatial and reality capture datasets are not what Nominatim is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CesiumJS: Is Cesium ion free for commercial use?

Cesium offers a free Cesium ion community account, but the page does not explicitly state whether the free tier is permitted for commercial use or if restrictions apply to business applications.

Source
Nominatim: Is Nominatim free?

Nominatim is open source software built on OpenStreetMap data. It appears to be free to use, though commercial usage may require separate licensing or terms. Check the project repository or contact support for clarity on licensing.

Source
CesiumJS: What are the limits of the free Cesium ion community account?

The page only mentions that a free community account is available but does not disclose usage limits, storage quotas, or feature restrictions for the free tier.

Source
Nominatim: What is Nominatim's pricing model?

Nominatim does not publish a standard pricing model on its website. As open source software, it is available for free, but commercial or large-scale deployments may require reviewing their licensing terms or contacting project maintainers.

Source
CesiumJS: What do paid Cesium ion tiers cost?

The page does not provide specific pricing for paid tiers. It directs users to sign up for a free community account or contact Cesium directly for detailed pricing information.

Source
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