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Maps & Navigation · head to head

Google Maps Platform vs Citymapper

Google Maps Platform logo

Google Maps Platform

Maps & Navigation

Comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs that allow developers to embed Google

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps & Navigation

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Citymapper 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; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Maps Platform and Citymapper actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Maps Platform and Citymapper differ
AttributeGoogle Maps PlatformCitymapper
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebIos, Android, Web
Founded20052011

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps & Navigation).

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

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in Citymapper

  • Multi-modal routing
  • Real-time departures
  • Live bus tracking
  • Disruption alerts
  • Walking directions
  • Uber
  • Lyft
  • Lime

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 Citymapper
  • Route computation, navigation and fleet route optimisationnot Citymapper
  • Geocoding, place autocomplete and address validationnot Citymapper
  • Environmental data including weather, solar, air quality and pollennot Citymapper
  • Geospatial analytics through Earth Enginenot Citymapper

Citymapper

  • Daily commutingnot Google Maps Platform
  • City explorationnot Google Maps Platform
  • Trip planningnot Google Maps Platform
  • Mobility as a servicenot 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

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.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Maps Platform

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Maps Platform review.

Citymapper

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Multi-modal routing
    • Real-time departures
    • Basic navigation
  • Citymapper Premium$4.99/month
    • Live location sharing
    • Weather integration
    • Widgets

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Maps Platform if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
Google Maps Platform review

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

Questions people ask

Is Google Maps Platform or Citymapper better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Maps Platform starts at On request and Citymapper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Maps Platform or Citymapper?
Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Google Maps Platform and Free for Citymapper.
Does Google Maps Platform or Citymapper run on more platforms?
Google Maps Platform runs on Web. Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Citymapper for free?
Yes. Citymapper 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 Citymapper is typically brought in for.
What can Google Maps Platform do that Citymapper cannot?
Google Maps Platform covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.
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