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Citymapper vs OpenLayers

Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Software

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenLayers logo

OpenLayers

Software

High-performance, feature-packed JavaScript library for creating interactive maps on the web with

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.; OpenLayers free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, OpenLayers covers Core Functionality.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citymapper and OpenLayers actually diverge.

Attributes where Citymapper and OpenLayers differ
AttributeCitymapperOpenLayers
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 Citymapper

  • Multi-modal routing
  • Real-time departures
  • Live bus tracking
  • Disruption alerts
  • Walking directions
  • Uber
  • Lyft
  • Lime

Only in OpenLayers

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Citymapper

  • Daily commutingnot OpenLayers
  • City explorationnot OpenLayers
  • Trip planningnot OpenLayers
  • Mobility as a servicenot OpenLayers

OpenLayers

No use cases recorded yet. See the OpenLayers review.

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.

OpenLayers

  • Free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier

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

OpenLayers

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenLayers 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 OpenLayers if

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

Questions people ask

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