Maps & Navigation · head to head
Citymapper vs Esri ArcGIS
Citymapper
Maps & Navigation
The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Esri ArcGIS
Maps & Navigation
Geographic Information System Platform
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Citymapper has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Citymapper citymapper's own App Store listing states live transit and turn-by-turn features work only in a named list of specific cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and dozens of other listed cities), not globally, per the developer's own description.; Esri ArcGIS arcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence
- They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Citymapper and Esri ArcGIS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Citymapper | Esri ArcGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web | Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop |
| Founded | 2011 | 1969 |
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 Citymapper
- Multi-modal routing
- Real-time departures
- Live bus tracking
- Disruption alerts
- Walking directions
- Uber
- Lyft
- Lime
Only in Esri ArcGIS
- Mapping & Visualization
- Spatial Analysis
- Data Management
- Field Operations
- Real-time Analytics
- AutoCAD
- SAP
- Microsoft Office
Both cover
- Ios support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Citymapper
- Daily commutingnot Esri ArcGIS
- City explorationnot Esri ArcGIS
- Trip planningnot Esri ArcGIS
- Mobility as a servicenot Esri ArcGIS
Esri ArcGIS
- Geospatial mapping and spatial analysisnot Citymapper
- Enterprise data governance and managementnot Citymapper
- Real-time field data collectionnot Citymapper
- AI-assisted geospatial analysisnot Citymapper
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Citymapper
- Citymapper's own App Store listing states live transit and turn-by-turn features work only in a named list of specific cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and dozens of other listed cities), not globally, per the developer's own description.
Esri ArcGIS
- ArcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence
- Field and offline workflows require advanced capabilities; basic plans may lack offline synchronisation
- Pricing details not published; customers must contact sales for quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
Citymapper
Free- FreeFree
- Multi-modal routing
- Real-time departures
- Basic navigation
- Citymapper Premium$4.99/month
- Live location sharing
- Weather integration
- Widgets
Esri ArcGIS
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Esri ArcGIS review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Citymapper if
- You need multi-modal routing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want real-time departures.
Choose Esri ArcGIS if
- You need mapping & visualization.
- You work on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop.
- You also want spatial analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Citymapper or Esri ArcGIS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Citymapper starts at Free and Esri ArcGIS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Citymapper or Esri ArcGIS?
- Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citymapper and On request for Esri ArcGIS.
- Does Citymapper or Esri ArcGIS run on more platforms?
- Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web. Esri ArcGIS runs on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop.
- Can I use Citymapper for free?
- Yes. Citymapper has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Esri ArcGIS starts at On request.
- What is Citymapper best used for?
- Citymapper is most often used for daily commuting, city exploration, trip planning, mobility as a service. Of those, daily commuting and city exploration are not what Esri ArcGIS is typically brought in for.
- What can Citymapper do that Esri ArcGIS cannot?
- Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts. Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, Spatial Analysis, Data Management, Field Operations. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.