Software · head to head
MapQuest vs CARTO
M
MapQuest
Software
Free driving directions, live traffic updates, and road conditions for trip planning and navigation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only CARTO has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: MapQuest subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand; CARTO no prices are published; the committed tiers are all quote-only
- They diverge on capability: MapQuest covers Core Functionality, CARTO covers Spatial Analysis.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MapQuest and CARTO actually diverge.
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 MapQuest
- 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.
MapQuest
- Geocoding, routing and static maps over an APInot CARTO
- Adding directions and place search to an applicationnot CARTO
CARTO
- Spatial analysis over data already in a cloud warehousenot MapQuest
- Building interactive maps and location dashboardsnot MapQuest
- Geocoding and routing through location data servicesnot MapQuest
- Site selection and territory planningnot MapQuest
- Self-hosted geospatial analytics for regulated environmentsnot MapQuest
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MapQuest
- Subscription tiers cost more per transaction than the pay as you go rate at low volume, since $119 a month for 30,000 transactions is roughly $0.004 each against $0.0045 on demand
- The 50,000 free pay as you go transactions are described as available for a limited time rather than as a standing allowance
- Plan allowances are monthly and do not carry over
- Enterprise volume is custom priced
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
MapQuest
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the MapQuest review.
CARTO
Free- Professional$199/month
- Spatial Analysis
- Data Observatory
- Builder
Which should you pick?
Choose CARTO if
- You need spatial analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want interactive maps.
Questions people ask
- Is MapQuest or CARTO better?
- Neither clearly leads. MapQuest 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, MapQuest or CARTO?
- CARTO has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MapQuest and Free for CARTO.
- Does MapQuest or CARTO run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use CARTO for free?
- Yes. CARTO has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MapQuest starts at On request.
- What is MapQuest best used for?
- MapQuest is most often used for geocoding, routing and static maps over an api, adding directions and place search to an application. Of those, geocoding, routing and static maps over an api and adding directions and place search to an application are not what CARTO is typically brought in for.
- What can MapQuest do that CARTO cannot?
- MapQuest covers Core Functionality, User Interface. CARTO covers Spatial Analysis, Interactive Maps, Data Observatory, Workflows.