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Maps & Navigation · head to head

Citymapper vs Google Maps Platform

Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps & Navigation

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Maps Platform logo

Google Maps Platform

Maps & Navigation

Comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs that allow developers to embed Google

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Google Maps Platform free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete
  • They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citymapper and Google Maps Platform actually diverge.

Attributes where Citymapper and Google Maps Platform differ
AttributeCitymapperGoogle Maps Platform
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded20112005

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 Google Maps Platform

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Citymapper

  • Daily commutingnot Google Maps Platform
  • City explorationnot Google Maps Platform
  • Trip planningnot Google Maps Platform
  • Mobility as a servicenot Google Maps Platform

Google Maps Platform

  • Embedding dynamic maps, Street View and photorealistic 3D tiles in an applicationnot Citymapper
  • Route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisationnot Citymapper
  • Geocoding, place autocomplete and address validationnot Citymapper
  • Environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollennot Citymapper
  • Geospatial analytics through Earth Enginenot 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.

Google Maps Platform

  • Free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete
  • Dynamic Maps cost $7.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
  • Geocoding and the Directions API both cost $5.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
  • Pricing is tiered by volume, so the effective unit price depends on total monthly usage and is hard to predict in advance
  • Billing is usage based with no flat plan, so a traffic spike is a cost spike

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

Google Maps Platform

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Maps Platform 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.
Citymapper review

Choose Google Maps Platform if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
Google Maps Platform review

Questions people ask

Is Citymapper or Google Maps Platform better?
Neither clearly leads. Citymapper starts at Free and Google Maps Platform at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citymapper or Google Maps Platform?
Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Citymapper and On request for Google Maps Platform.
Does Citymapper or Google Maps Platform run on more platforms?
Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web. Google Maps Platform runs on Web.
Can I use Citymapper for free?
Yes. Citymapper has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Maps Platform 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 Google Maps Platform is typically brought in for.
What can Citymapper do that Google Maps Platform cannot?
Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts. Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
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