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Maps & Navigation · head to head

LocationIQ vs CARTO

LocationIQ logo

LocationIQ

Maps & Navigation

Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
C

CARTO

Maps & Navigation

Location Intelligence Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CARTO has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LocationIQ smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps; CARTO no prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
  • They diverge on capability: LocationIQ covers Core Functionality, CARTO covers Spatial Analysis.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LocationIQ and CARTO actually diverge.

Attributes where LocationIQ and CARTO differ
AttributeLocationIQCARTO
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsAPIWeb
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: 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 LocationIQ

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in CARTO

  • Spatial Analysis
  • Interactive Maps
  • Data Observatory
  • Workflows
  • APIs
  • Snowflake
  • BigQuery
  • PostgreSQL

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

LocationIQ

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scalenot CARTO
  • Store locators and address autofill in web and mobile appsnot CARTO
  • Asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisationnot CARTO
  • Serving static and dynamic map tilesnot CARTO
  • Distance matrix and route planningnot CARTO

CARTO

  • Spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehousenot LocationIQ
  • Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot LocationIQ
  • Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot LocationIQ
  • Site selection and territory planningnot LocationIQ
  • Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot LocationIQ

Where each one falls short

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

LocationIQ

  • Smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • Less documentation than industry-leading platforms
  • Less brand recognition than Google or Mapbox

CARTO

  • No prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
  • Metered on four separate axes: workflow runs, map loads, API calls and location data service operations
  • API access and tokens are limited on pay-as-you-go and unlimited only from the Strategic tier
  • Self-hosting is available on Enterprise and included only on the Custom tier
  • The 14 day trial explicitly forbids production use

Pricing, plan by plan

LocationIQ

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the LocationIQ review.

CARTO

Free
  • Professional$199/month
    • Spatial Analysis
    • Data Observatory
    • Builder

Which should you pick?

Choose LocationIQ if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You work on API.
  • You also want user interface.
LocationIQ review

Choose CARTO if

  • You need spatial analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want interactive maps.
CARTO review

Questions people ask

Is LocationIQ or CARTO better?
Neither clearly leads. LocationIQ starts at On request and CARTO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LocationIQ or CARTO?
CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LocationIQ and Free for CARTO.
Does LocationIQ or CARTO run on more platforms?
LocationIQ runs on API. CARTO runs on Web.
Can I use CARTO for free?
Yes. CARTO has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LocationIQ starts at On request.
What is LocationIQ best used for?
LocationIQ is most often used for geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale, store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps, asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisation, serving static and dynamic map tiles. Of those, geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale and store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps are not what CARTO is typically brought in for.
What can LocationIQ do that CARTO cannot?
LocationIQ covers Core Functionality, User Interface. CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LocationIQ: How much cheaper is LocationIQ than Google Maps?

At 100,000 requests per month, LocationIQ costs $49 whereas Google Maps charges $500 and Mapbox charges $75.

Source
LocationIQ: What is LocationIQ's free tier?

LocationIQ offers a free tier with 5,000 requests per day. Paid plans start at $49/month for the Geocoding Lite plan.

Source
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Related pages

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