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Software · head to head

Mapbox Government vs CKAN

Mapbox Government logo

Mapbox Government

Software

Maps and Location for Government

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CKAN logo

CKAN

Software

Open Source Data Portal Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mapbox Government the Navigation SDK free tier covers only up to 10 monthly active users, and 11 or more requires contacting sales; CKAN the package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install
  • They diverge on capability: Mapbox Government covers Custom Map Design, CKAN covers Dataset Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mapbox Government and CKAN actually diverge.

Attributes where Mapbox Government and CKAN differ
AttributeMapbox GovernmentCKAN
Pricing modelusage-basedfree
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20102006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Mapbox Government

  • Custom Map Design
  • Navigation SDK
  • Geocoding
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Offline Maps
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Google Cloud

Only in CKAN

  • Dataset Management
  • Data Harvesting
  • API Access
  • Visualization
  • Extensions
  • DataPusher
  • Harvester
  • Third-party Tools

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Mapbox Government

  • Embedding maps and turn by turn navigation in government applicationsnot CKAN
  • Routing and geocoding for public sector fleet and field operationsnot CKAN
  • Custom cartography for agency web and mobile appsnot CKAN

CKAN

  • Publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portalnot Mapbox Government
  • Self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an APInot Mapbox Government

Where each one falls short

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

Mapbox Government

  • The Navigation SDK free tier covers only up to 10 monthly active users, and 11 or more requires contacting sales
  • Volume pricing beyond the published free tiers is not listed and requires contacting sales for a discount
  • Pricing is metered per product, so Directions API, Navigation SDK and map loads are each billed on their own meter

CKAN

  • The package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install
  • Only Solr 9 and Solr 8 are supported, and from CKAN 2.10 they are the only Solr versions supported at all
  • A working deployment requires PostgreSQL, Solr, Redis, nginx, supervisor and uWSGI to be installed and maintained separately
  • Python 3.10 or later is required

Pricing, plan by plan

Mapbox Government

Free
  • GovernmentFree
    • Custom Maps
    • Navigation
    • Geocoding

CKAN

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Data Management
    • API Access
    • Visualization

Which should you pick?

Choose Mapbox Government if

  • You need custom map design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want navigation sdk.
Mapbox Government review

Choose CKAN if

  • You need dataset management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data harvesting.
CKAN review

Questions people ask

Is Mapbox Government or CKAN better?
Neither clearly leads. Mapbox Government starts at Free and CKAN at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mapbox Government or CKAN?
Mapbox Government starts at Free and CKAN at Free.
Does Mapbox Government or CKAN run on more platforms?
Mapbox Government runs on Web, Ios, Android. CKAN runs on Web.
Can I use Mapbox Government for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Mapbox Government best used for?
Mapbox Government is most often used for embedding maps and turn by turn navigation in government applications, routing and geocoding for public sector fleet and field operations, custom cartography for agency web and mobile apps. Of those, embedding maps and turn by turn navigation in government applications and routing and geocoding for public sector fleet and field operations are not what CKAN is typically brought in for.
What can Mapbox Government do that CKAN cannot?
Mapbox Government covers Custom Map Design, Navigation SDK, Geocoding, Spatial Analysis. CKAN covers Dataset Management, Data Harvesting, API Access, Visualization. Both handle Web support.
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