Maps · head to head
Geoapify vs SW Maps
Geoapify
Maps
Geocoding, routing, map tiles, and place search APIs for developers building location-aware applications
- 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: Geoapify does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps; 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: Geoapify 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 Geoapify 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 Geoapify
- 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.
Geoapify
- Custom mapping with Leaflet, MapLibre or OpenLayersnot SW Maps
- Address validation, geocoding and autocompletenot SW Maps
- Multi-stop route planning and logistics optimisationnot SW Maps
- Points of interest search filtered by category and areanot SW Maps
- Isochrone generation for service coverage analysisnot 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 Geoapify
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot Geoapify
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot Geoapify
- 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 Geoapify
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Geoapify
- Does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps
- Limited daily rate limits enforced per day rather than monthly limits
- Requires internet connection to access the API, limiting offline functionality
- OpenStreetMap-based data may have inconsistent coverage in certain regions
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
Geoapify
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Geoapify review.
SW Maps
Free- SW MapsFree
- All features included
- External RTK GNSS support
- Unlimited layers and exports
Which should you pick?
Choose Geoapify if
- You need core functionality.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, API.
- 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 Geoapify or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. Geoapify 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, Geoapify or SW Maps?
- Geoapify starts at Free and SW Maps at Free.
- Does Geoapify or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- Geoapify runs on Web, API. SW Maps runs on Android.
- Can I use Geoapify for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Geoapify best used for?
- Geoapify is most often used for custom mapping with leaflet, maplibre or openlayers, address validation, geocoding and autocomplete, multi-stop route planning and logistics optimisation, points of interest search filtered by category and area. Of those, custom mapping with leaflet, maplibre or openlayers and address validation, geocoding and autocomplete are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can Geoapify do that SW Maps cannot?
- Geoapify 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
Geoapify: What APIs does Geoapify provide?
Geoapify provides six API categories: Maps (vector and raster tiles), Address Search (geocoding and reverse geocoding), Routes (route calculation and optimization), Places (POI search), Reachability and Analysis (isochrone generation), and IP Geolocation.
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.
Geoapify: What is Geoapify's pricing model?
Geoapify offers a free plan with 3,000 credits per day for low-volume usage and paid plans that scale with needs. The platform uses a credits-based system to measure API request complexity.
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.
Geoapify: Can I cache and redistribute Geoapify results?
Yes, Geoapify emphasizes open-data-based APIs with permissive licensing that allows caching, storing, and redistributing results without vendor lock-in restrictions.
SourceSW 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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