Maps · head to head
deck.gl vs SW Maps
deck.gl
Maps
WebGL-powered framework for visual exploratory data analysis of large datasets, developed by
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SW Maps
Maps
Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: deck.gl open source framework with no commercial support tier available; support relies on community and GitHub issues; SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- They diverge on capability: deck.gl covers Core Functionality, SW Maps covers Custom feature layers.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which deck.gl and SW Maps actually diverge.
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 deck.gl
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in SW Maps
- Custom feature layers
- External GNSS support
- Offline basemaps
- Geospatial PDF layers
- Vector import
- Photo and media capture
- Export formats
- NTRIP client
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
deck.gl
- GPU-accelerated visualisation of large geospatial datasets in the browsernot SW Maps
- Composing map overlays from reusable layersnot SW Maps
- Adding data layers on top of Google Maps or Mapbox basemapsnot SW Maps
- High-precision plotting using 64-bit GPU computationnot SW Maps
- Use from React or plain JavaScriptnot SW Maps
SW Maps
- An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot deck.gl
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot deck.gl
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot deck.gl
- A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot deck.gl
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
deck.gl
- Open source framework with no commercial support tier available; support relies on community and GitHub issues
- Maintained by community contributors (vis.gl contributors), not by a dedicated company support team
SW Maps
- Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
- No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
- It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
- Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.
Pricing, plan by plan
deck.gl
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the deck.gl review.
SW Maps
Free- SW MapsFree
- All features included
- External RTK GNSS support
- Unlimited layers and exports
Which should you pick?
Choose deck.gl if
- You need core functionality.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want user interface.
Choose SW Maps if
- You need custom feature layers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android.
- You also want external gnss support.
Questions people ask
- Is deck.gl or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. deck.gl starts at Free and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, deck.gl or SW Maps?
- deck.gl starts at Free and SW Maps at Free.
- Does deck.gl or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- deck.gl runs on Web. SW Maps runs on Android.
- Can I use deck.gl for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is deck.gl best used for?
- deck.gl is most often used for gpu-accelerated visualisation of large geospatial datasets in the browser, composing map overlays from reusable layers, adding data layers on top of google maps or mapbox basemaps, high-precision plotting using 64-bit gpu computation. Of those, gpu-accelerated visualisation of large geospatial datasets in the browser and composing map overlays from reusable layers are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can deck.gl do that SW Maps cannot?
- deck.gl covers Core Functionality, User Interface. SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
deck.gl: How much does deck.gl cost?
deck.gl is completely free to use. It is an open source framework maintained by the OpenJS Foundation and community contributors. The project is available on GitHub for anyone to use, modify, and contribute to without cost.
SourceSW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?
Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.
deck.gl: Is deck.gl open source?
Yes, deck.gl is open source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation and vis.gl contributors. The source code is publicly available, and the framework can be used freely in any project.
SourceSW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?
Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.
SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?
No. Android only.
SW Maps: Who maintains it?
Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.
SW Maps: Can we get support?
Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.
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