Softwr

Maps · head to head

Citymapper vs OSRM

Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
O

OSRM

Maps

High-performance open-source routing engine designed for OpenStreetMap data, providing fast route calculations

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.; OSRM free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, OSRM covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citymapper and OSRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Citymapper and OSRM differ
AttributeCitymapperOSRM
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 OSRM

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Citymapper

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

OSRM

  • Calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in millisecondsnot Citymapper
  • Building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructurenot Citymapper
  • Customizing route optimization for car, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modesnot Citymapper
  • Integrating OpenStreetMap data for real-time routing in web applicationsnot 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.

OSRM

  • Free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, 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

OSRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OSRM 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 OSRM if

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

Questions people ask

Is Citymapper or OSRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Citymapper starts at Free and OSRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Citymapper or OSRM?
Citymapper starts at Free and OSRM at Free.
Does Citymapper or OSRM run on more platforms?
Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web. OSRM 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 OSRM is typically brought in for.
What can Citymapper do that OSRM cannot?
Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts. OSRM 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
OSRM: How much does Project OSRM cost?

Project OSRM is completely free and open source, distributed under the permissive 2-clause BSD license with no licensing costs or fees.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Citymapper

More on OSRM

Keep looking

Other head to heads