Softwr

Maps · head to head

Kepler.gl vs Nominatim

Kepler.gl logo

Kepler.gl

Maps

Powerful open-source geospatial analysis tool for large-scale datasets, enabling beautiful data visualizations without coding

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps

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: Kepler.gl kepler.gl is a free open source library with no vendor-sold edition; confirmed by the absence of any App Store, marketplace or G-Cloud listing, support is limited to community GitHub issues rather than a purchased SLA.; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kepler.gl and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where Kepler.gl and Nominatim differ
AttributeKepler.glNominatim

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), 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 Kepler.gl

Nothing recorded that Nominatim does not also cover.

Only in Nominatim

Nothing recorded that Kepler.gl 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.

Kepler.gl

No use cases recorded yet. See the Kepler.gl review.

Nominatim

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot Kepler.gl
  • Address lookup and location searchnot Kepler.gl
  • OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot Kepler.gl

Where each one falls short

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

Kepler.gl

  • Kepler.gl is a free open source library with no vendor-sold edition; confirmed by the absence of any App Store, marketplace or G-Cloud listing, support is limited to community GitHub issues rather than a purchased SLA.

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

Kepler.gl

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Kepler.gl review.

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Kepler.gl if

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

Kepler.gl review

Choose Nominatim if

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

Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is Kepler.gl or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. Kepler.gl 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, Kepler.gl or Nominatim?
Kepler.gl starts at On request and Nominatim at On request.
Does Kepler.gl or Nominatim run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nominatim: Is Nominatim free?

Nominatim is open source software built on OpenStreetMap data. It appears to be free to use, though commercial usage may require separate licensing or terms. Check the project repository or contact support for clarity on licensing.

Source
Nominatim: What is Nominatim's pricing model?

Nominatim does not publish a standard pricing model on its website. As open source software, it is available for free, but commercial or large-scale deployments may require reviewing their licensing terms or contacting project maintainers.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Kepler.gl

More on Nominatim

Keep looking

Other head to heads