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Maps · head to head

Citymapper vs OpenRouteService

Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenRouteService logo

OpenRouteService

Maps

Open-source routing, geocoding, and isochrone APIs based on OpenStreetMap data for developers and enterprises

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; OpenRouteService free tier limited to 500 Isochrones requests per day
  • They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, OpenRouteService covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citymapper and OpenRouteService actually diverge.

Attributes where Citymapper and OpenRouteService differ
AttributeCitymapperOpenRouteService
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Citymapper

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

Only in OpenRouteService

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Citymapper

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

OpenRouteService

  • Directions routing for cars, trucks, bikes, walking, hiking, wheelchairnot Citymapper
  • Reachability analysis with isochrones for time and distance calculationsnot Citymapper
  • Many-to-many distance matrix calculationsnot Citymapper
  • Location geocoding and conversion to coordinatesnot Citymapper
  • Points of interest discovery and mappingnot Citymapper
  • Elevation data enrichment using SRTM satellite datanot Citymapper
  • Vehicle routing problem optimizationnot 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.

OpenRouteService

  • Free tier limited to 500 Isochrones requests per day
  • API restrictions exist but details not fully documented on main page
  • Specific pricing tiers and costs not published on primary website

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

OpenRouteService

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenRouteService 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 OpenRouteService if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want user interface.
OpenRouteService review

Questions people ask

Is Citymapper or OpenRouteService better?
Neither clearly leads. Citymapper starts at Free and OpenRouteService at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citymapper or OpenRouteService?
Citymapper starts at Free and OpenRouteService at Free.
Does Citymapper or OpenRouteService run on more platforms?
Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web. OpenRouteService runs on Web.
Can I use Citymapper for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 OpenRouteService is typically brought in for.
What can Citymapper do that OpenRouteService cannot?
Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts. OpenRouteService covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Citymapper: Does Citymapper offer paid membership?

Yes, Citymapper offers a CLUB membership tier with exclusive features, including AI-powered route selection. However, specific pricing details for CLUB membership are not disclosed on their main website.

Source
OpenRouteService: How much does OpenRouteService cost?

OpenRouteService is free to use and open source. The free tier includes up to 500 Isochrones requests per day. Specific pricing for higher usage tiers is not published on the main pricing page.

Source
Citymapper: Where can I find Citymapper CLUB pricing?

Citymapper CLUB pricing is not published on their website. You would need to check the mobile app (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) or contact Citymapper support directly for current pricing information.

Source
OpenRouteService: Is there a free version of OpenRouteService?

Yes, OpenRouteService is completely free to use and built on open source technology. All services are presented as free to use and based on user-generated and collaboratively collected geographic data from OpenStreetMap.

Source
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