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Maps & Navigation · head to head

Leaflet vs MapQuest

Leaflet logo

Leaflet

Maps & Navigation

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
M

MapQuest

Maps & Navigation

Free driving directions, live traffic updates, and road conditions for trip planning and navigation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Leaflet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Leaflet 2D only with no support for 3D features, tilt, or rotation; MapQuest subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Leaflet and MapQuest actually diverge.

Attributes where Leaflet and MapQuest differ
AttributeLeafletMapQuest
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: 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 Leaflet

Nothing recorded that MapQuest does not also cover.

Only in MapQuest

Nothing recorded that Leaflet 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.

Leaflet

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

MapQuest

  • Geocoding, routing and static maps over an APInot Leaflet
  • Adding directions and place search to an applicationnot Leaflet

Where each one falls short

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

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

MapQuest

  • Subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand
  • The 50,000 free pay as you go transactions are described as available for a limited time rather than as a standing allowance
  • Plan allowances are monthly and do not carry over
  • Enterprise volume is custom priced

Pricing, plan by plan

Leaflet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Leaflet review.

MapQuest

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MapQuest review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Leaflet if

  • You want to start without paying.
Leaflet review

Choose MapQuest if

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

MapQuest review

Questions people ask

Is Leaflet or MapQuest better?
Neither clearly leads. Leaflet starts at Free and MapQuest at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Leaflet or MapQuest?
Leaflet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Leaflet and On request for MapQuest.
Does Leaflet or MapQuest 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. MapQuest starts at On request.
What is Leaflet best used for?
Leaflet is most often used for embedding interactive maps in a web page, mobile-friendly map interfaces across desktop and mobile browsers, mapping where bundle size matters, at roughly 42 kb of javascript, extending a basic map with plugins rather than adopting a full platform. Of those, embedding interactive maps in a web page and mobile-friendly map interfaces across desktop and mobile browsers are not what MapQuest is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.css and JavaScript from https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.js in your HTML head.

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
Leaflet: What is the file size of Leaflet?

Leaflet weighs about 42 KB of JavaScript.

Source
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Related pages

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