Softwr

Software · head to head

Leaflet vs Nominatim

Leaflet logo

Leaflet

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Software

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

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Leaflet and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where Leaflet and Nominatim differ
AttributeLeafletNominatim
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Nominatim does not also cover.

Only in Nominatim

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

Nominatim

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

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

Leaflet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Leaflet review.

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Leaflet if

  • You want to start without paying.
Leaflet review

Choose Nominatim if

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

Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is Leaflet or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. Leaflet starts at Free and Nominatim at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Leaflet or Nominatim?
Leaflet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Leaflet and On request for Nominatim.
Does Leaflet or Nominatim 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. Nominatim 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 Nominatim 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Leaflet

More on Nominatim

Keep looking

Other head to heads