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Maps · head to head

Citymapper vs PositionStack

Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PositionStack logo

PositionStack

Maps

Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage

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.; PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month
  • They diverge on capability: Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, PositionStack covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Citymapper and PositionStack actually diverge.

Attributes where Citymapper and PositionStack differ
AttributeCitymapperPositionStack
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: 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 PositionStack

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Citymapper

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

PositionStack

  • Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot Citymapper
  • Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot Citymapper
  • Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot 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.

PositionStack

  • The free plan allows only 100 requests per month
  • The free plan is a personal licence, so commercial use requires a paid plan
  • The free plan is rate limited, with an extended rate limit only from the Basic plan up
  • Requests beyond the monthly quota are billed as overage, at $0.0003996 per request on Basic
  • The lowest advertised rates require annual prepayment
  • Enterprise volumes are priced by quote with no published rate

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

PositionStack

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack 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 PositionStack if

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

Questions people ask

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

Annual billing provides up to 15% discount compared to monthly billing total. For example, Basic annual is $8.99/month vs $9.99/month monthly, and Professional annual is $43.99/month vs $49.99/month monthly. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

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
PositionStack: How do Positionstack overage notifications work?

Positionstack sends alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your monthly request allowance. Overages are calculated at month-end and charged according to each tier's per-request rate (e.g., Business tier: $0.00013332/request). Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
PositionStack: What payment methods does Positionstack accept?

Positionstack accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Diner's Club for monthly billing. Enterprise customers may arrange bank transfers for their custom agreements. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
PositionStack: Can I downgrade or cancel my Positionstack plan?

Downgrades take effect at your billing cycle end. Cancellations require contacting customer service. Uptime guarantee is 99.9% average over 12 months. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
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