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Maps · head to head

Mapillary vs Nominatim

Mapillary logo

Mapillary

Maps

Platform for street-level imagery that crowdsources images to map the world and

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mapillary no pricing information published on main website pages, suggesting either free service or hidden pricing model; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mapillary and Nominatim actually diverge.

Attributes where Mapillary and Nominatim differ
AttributeMapillaryNominatim

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

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 Mapillary

Nothing recorded that Nominatim does not also cover.

Only in Nominatim

Nothing recorded that Mapillary 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.

Mapillary

  • Street-level imagery for map editing and verificationnot Nominatim
  • Crowdsourcing photos to keep a map currentnot Nominatim
  • Extracting map features automatically with computer visionnot Nominatim
  • Embedding street imagery with MapillaryJSnot Nominatim

Nominatim

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot Mapillary
  • Address lookup and location searchnot Mapillary
  • OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot Mapillary

Where each one falls short

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

Mapillary

  • No pricing information published on main website pages, suggesting either free service or hidden pricing model
  • Unclear monetization strategy makes it difficult for businesses to understand licensing costs for commercial use
  • No published tier structure or feature limits visible to potential customers

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

Mapillary

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mapillary review.

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Mapillary if

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

Mapillary review

Choose Nominatim if

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

Nominatim review

Questions people ask

Is Mapillary or Nominatim better?
Neither clearly leads. Mapillary starts at On request and Nominatim at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mapillary or Nominatim?
Mapillary starts at On request and Nominatim at On request.
Does Mapillary or Nominatim run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Mapillary best used for?
Mapillary is most often used for street-level imagery for map editing and verification, crowdsourcing photos to keep a map current, extracting map features automatically with computer vision, embedding street imagery with mapillaryjs. Of those, street-level imagery for map editing and verification and crowdsourcing photos to keep a map current are not what Nominatim is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mapillary: What is the pricing model for Mapillary?

Mapillary does not publish pricing information on its main website pages. The platform focuses on features like street-level imagery access, map updating through computer vision, and open data sharing, but specific costs and licensing tiers are not disclosed publicly.

Source
Nominatim: Is Nominatim free?

Nominatim is open source software built on OpenStreetMap data. It appears to be free to use, though commercial usage may require separate licensing or terms. Check the project repository or contact support for clarity on licensing.

Source
Mapillary: Can I use Mapillary for commercial purposes?

Specific details about commercial licensing for Mapillary are not published on the main website. Interested businesses should contact Mapillary directly through their support channels to discuss commercial use cases and licensing options.

Source
Nominatim: What is Nominatim's pricing model?

Nominatim does not publish a standard pricing model on its website. As open source software, it is available for free, but commercial or large-scale deployments may require reviewing their licensing terms or contacting project maintainers.

Source
Mapillary: Is Mapillary free to use for individual contributors?

Mapillary emphasizes open data sharing and community contributions but specific details about free vs. paid access for individuals are not clearly stated on the main website. Contact Mapillary support for clarification on access terms.

Source
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