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Leaflet vs OpenLayers

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
OpenLayers logo

OpenLayers

Software

High-performance, feature-packed JavaScript library for creating interactive maps on the web with

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; OpenLayers free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Leaflet and OpenLayers actually diverge.

Attributes where Leaflet and OpenLayers differ
AttributeLeafletOpenLayers
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 OpenLayers does not also cover.

Only in OpenLayers

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

OpenLayers

No use cases recorded yet. See the OpenLayers review.

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

OpenLayers

  • Free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Leaflet

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Leaflet review.

OpenLayers

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenLayers review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Leaflet if

  • You want to start without paying.
Leaflet review

Choose OpenLayers if

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

OpenLayers review

Questions people ask

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