Software · head to head
Google Maps Platform vs CesiumJS
Google Maps Platform
Software
Comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs that allow developers to embed Google
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
CesiumJS
Software
Open-source JavaScript library for creating 3D globes and 2D maps with support
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only CesiumJS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Maps Platform free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete; CesiumJS the free Community tier does not permit commercial use
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Maps Platform and CesiumJS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Maps Platform | CesiumJS |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | freemium | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2005 | Unknown |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Google Maps Platform
Nothing recorded that CesiumJS does not also cover.
Only in CesiumJS
Nothing recorded that Google Maps Platform does not also cover.
Both cover
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Maps Platform
- Embedding dynamic maps, Street View and photorealistic 3D tiles in an applicationnot CesiumJS
- Route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisationnot CesiumJS
- Geocoding, place autocomplete and address validationnot CesiumJS
- Environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollennot CesiumJS
- Geospatial analytics through Earth Enginenot CesiumJS
CesiumJS
- Streaming 3D terrain, imagery and building data into web applicationsnot Google Maps Platform
- Tiling and hosting large geospatial and reality capture datasetsnot Google Maps Platform
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Maps Platform
- Free allowances are per service rather than pooled, at 10,000 events a month for dynamic maps, geocoding and autocomplete
- Dynamic Maps cost $7.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
- Geocoding and the Directions API both cost $5.00 per 1,000 calls at the entry tier
- Pricing is tiered by volume, so the effective unit price depends on total monthly usage and is hard to predict in advance
- Billing is usage based with no flat plan, so a traffic spike is a cost spike
CesiumJS
- The free Community tier does not permit commercial use
- The cheapest commercial plan is $149 a month for an individual and $524 for a team
- Team accounts are capped at 5 members on both the Commercial and Premium plans
- Three separate quotas apply at once, being storage, monthly streaming and monthly reality modelling gigapixels, and exceeding any one of them constrains the account
- Streaming is capped at 15 GB a month on the free tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Maps Platform
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Maps Platform review.
CesiumJS
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the CesiumJS review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Maps Platform if
Nothing in the data separates Google Maps Platform from CesiumJS on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Maps Platform or CesiumJS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Maps Platform starts at On request and CesiumJS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Maps Platform or CesiumJS?
- CesiumJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Google Maps Platform and Free for CesiumJS.
- Does Google Maps Platform or CesiumJS run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use CesiumJS for free?
- Yes. CesiumJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Maps Platform starts at On request.
- What is Google Maps Platform best used for?
- Google Maps Platform is most often used for embedding dynamic maps, street view and photorealistic 3d tiles in an application, route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisation, geocoding, place autocomplete and address validation, environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollen. Of those, embedding dynamic maps, street view and photorealistic 3d tiles in an application and route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisation are not what CesiumJS is typically brought in for.