Softwr

Maps & Navigation · head to head

Google Maps Platform vs Nominatim

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
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps & Navigation

Open-source geocoding tool for OpenStreetMap data, providing address search and reverse geocoding capabilities

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Maps Platform and Nominatim differ
AttributeGoogle Maps PlatformNominatim
Founded2005Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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

Nothing recorded that Nominatim does not also cover.

Only in Nominatim

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

Nominatim

  • Geocoding addresses to coordinates from OpenStreetMap datanot Google Maps Platform
  • Reverse geocoding coordinates to a place namenot Google Maps Platform
  • Self hosting a geocoder over an OSM extractnot 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

Nominatim

  • The public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • Bulk geocoding must run in a single thread and cannot be distributed across machines
  • Scripts running longer than a day or on a schedule are limited to 4 requests per minute
  • Autocomplete search against the public API is explicitly prohibited
  • Systematic queries such as grid based reverse lookups and complete data downloads are prohibited
  • Reselling geocoding results or acting as an API intermediary is prohibited
  • Every request must send a valid HTTP Referer or User-Agent identifying the application, and default library headers are rejected
  • Results must be cached client side, and repeated identical queries can lead to blocking
  • Attribution to OpenStreetMap under ODbL must be displayed

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Maps Platform

On request

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

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Maps Platform if

Nothing in the data separates Google Maps Platform from Nominatim on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Google Maps Platform review

Choose Nominatim if

Nothing in the data separates Nominatim from Google Maps Platform on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is Google Maps Platform or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Maps Platform starts at On request and Nominatim at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Maps Platform or Nominatim?
Google Maps Platform starts at On request and Nominatim at On request.
Does Google Maps Platform or Nominatim run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Nominatim is typically brought in for.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Google Maps Platform

More on Nominatim

Keep looking

Other head to heads