Softwr

Maps · head to head

GraphHopper vs Leaflet

GraphHopper logo

GraphHopper

Maps

Open-source routing engine for road networks, providing fast route calculations, turn-by-turn navigation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Leaflet logo

Leaflet

Maps

Leading open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps, used by millions of developers worldwide

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Leaflet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GraphHopper the free plan is non commercial use only; Leaflet 2D only with no support for 3D features, tilt, or rotation
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GraphHopper and Leaflet actually diverge.

Attributes where GraphHopper and Leaflet differ
AttributeGraphHopperLeaflet
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 GraphHopper

Nothing recorded that Leaflet does not also cover.

Only in Leaflet

Nothing recorded that GraphHopper 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.

GraphHopper

  • Routing, distance matrix and route optimisation over an APInot Leaflet
  • Map matching GPS traces and generating isochronesnot Leaflet

Leaflet

  • Embedding interactive maps in a web pagenot GraphHopper
  • Mobile-friendly map interfaces across desktop and mobile browsersnot GraphHopper
  • Mapping where bundle size matters, at roughly 42 KB of JavaScriptnot GraphHopper
  • Extending a basic map with plugins rather than adopting a full platformnot GraphHopper

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GraphHopper

  • The free plan is non commercial use only
  • Free allows 500 credits a day, 5 locations per request and a single vehicle
  • Request complexity is capped per plan, at 30 locations and 2 vehicles on Basic at 69 EUR a month, rising to 200 locations and 20 vehicles on Premium at 479 EUR
  • Isochrone range is limited by plan, at 15 minutes on Basic and 30 on Premium
  • Credits are a daily allowance, so a busy day cannot draw on a quiet one

Leaflet

  • 2D only with no support for 3D features, tilt, or rotation
  • Performance degrades when rendering large datasets of complex vector geometries without optimization
  • Limited dynamic styling support; style is fixed on the server when using raster tiles
  • Lacks native support for WMS features; requires plugins like Leaflet.WMS and complex feature identification is cumbersome
  • Requires external tile service for map imagery; does not provide map tiles natively

Pricing, plan by plan

GraphHopper

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the GraphHopper review.

Leaflet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Leaflet review.

Which should you pick?

Choose GraphHopper if

Nothing in the data separates GraphHopper from Leaflet on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

GraphHopper review

Choose Leaflet if

  • You want to start without paying.
Leaflet review

Questions people ask

Is GraphHopper or Leaflet better?
Neither clearly leads. GraphHopper starts at On request and Leaflet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GraphHopper or Leaflet?
Leaflet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for GraphHopper and Free for Leaflet.
Does GraphHopper or Leaflet run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Leaflet for free?
Yes. Leaflet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GraphHopper starts at On request.
What is GraphHopper best used for?
GraphHopper is most often used for routing, distance matrix and route optimisation over an api, map matching gps traces and generating isochrones. Of those, routing, distance matrix and route optimisation over an api and map matching gps traces and generating isochrones are not what Leaflet is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GraphHopper: Is the free plan actually usable for production?

No. The free tier is limited to non-commercial use only and includes 500 daily credits. To use GraphHopper in production, you need a paid plan starting at 69 euros per month.

Source
Leaflet: Is Leaflet free and open source?

Yes. Leaflet is open-source JavaScript library licensed for free use. Over 400 plugins add capabilities like marker clustering, heatmaps, drawing tools, geocoding, and routing.

Source
GraphHopper: What happens if I exceed my daily credit limit?

The page does not specify. Each tier has a daily credit limit (500 for free, 5,000 for Basic, 15,000 for Standard, 50,000 for Premium), but no overage policy is documented.

Source
Leaflet: How do I include Leaflet in my project via CDN?

Leaflet is available on multiple free CDNs including unpkg, cdnjs, and jsDelivr. Include the CSS stylesheet from https://unpkg.com/[email protected]/dist/leaflet.css and JavaScript from https://unpkg.com/[email protected]/dist/leaflet.js in your HTML head.

Source
GraphHopper: Does GraphHopper offer a trial period?

No. There is no trial period. You can start with the free plan to test, but commercial use requires a paid subscription.

Source
Leaflet: What mapping services does Leaflet support?

Leaflet integrates seamlessly with various mapping services including OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Bing, and other custom tile providers, allowing developers to choose the best base layer.

Source
GraphHopper: How much does the Premium plan cost and what do I get?

Premium is 479 euros per month and includes 50,000 daily credits, up to 200 locations per request, up to 20 vehicles, email and phone support, and access to all APIs including routing and optimization.

Source
Leaflet: What is the file size of Leaflet?

Leaflet weighs about 42 KB of JavaScript.

Source
GraphHopper: Is there a discount if I link back to GraphHopper?

Yes. A 20% discount is available with proper attribution. The page also mentions a 99.5% uptime SLA on paid plans only.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on GraphHopper

More on Leaflet

Keep looking

Other head to heads