Maps · head to head
MapQuest vs SW Maps
MapQuest
Maps
Free driving directions, live traffic updates, and road conditions for trip planning and navigation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
SW Maps
Maps
Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only SW Maps 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; SW Maps android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- They diverge on capability: MapQuest covers Core Functionality, SW Maps covers Custom feature layers.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MapQuest and SW Maps actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 MapQuest
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in SW Maps
- Custom feature layers
- External GNSS support
- Offline basemaps
- Geospatial PDF layers
- Vector import
- Photo and media capture
- Export formats
- NTRIP client
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 SW Maps
- Adding directions and place search to an applicationnot SW Maps
SW Maps
- An NGO or municipal utility mapping water points, pipe networks or road assets on a budget that cannot absorb per-user GIS subscriptionsnot MapQuest
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot MapQuest
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot MapQuest
- A consultant doing a one-off asset inventory who needs shapefile or GeoPackage output and does not want to start an annual subscription for a three-week jobnot 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
SW Maps
- Android only. There is no iOS version and no sign of one, which rules it out for organisations that issue iPhones and iPads to field staff.
- There is no back end: no user management, no central project sync, no audit trail. Data lives on the device until someone exports it, and a lost tablet is lost data.
- No commercial support contract exists, so an organisation with a compliance requirement for vendor support cannot use it for regulated work regardless of technical fit.
- It is maintained by a small consultancy as a side product of its own project work, so the roadmap follows Softwel’s needs and a feature you depend on may never be prioritised.
- Form logic is basic compared with dedicated survey platforms: no meaningful skip logic, validation or multi-user assignment, so complex questionnaires quickly outgrow it.
Pricing, plan by plan
MapQuest
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the MapQuest review.
SW Maps
Free- SW MapsFree
- All features included
- External RTK GNSS support
- Unlimited layers and exports
Which should you pick?
Choose SW Maps if
- You need custom feature layers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android.
- You also want external gnss support.
Questions people ask
- Is MapQuest or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. MapQuest starts at On request and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MapQuest or SW Maps?
- SW Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MapQuest and Free for SW Maps.
- Does MapQuest or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- MapQuest runs on Web. SW Maps runs on Android.
- Can I use SW Maps for free?
- Yes. SW Maps 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 SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can MapQuest do that SW Maps cannot?
- MapQuest covers Core Functionality, User Interface. SW Maps covers Custom feature layers, External GNSS support, Offline basemaps, Geospatial PDF layers.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MapQuest: What is the cheapest way to use MapQuest APIs?
The MapQuestGO plan offers 50,000 free transactions for a limited time, then charges $0.0045 per transaction. Monthly subscription plans start at $119/month for 30,000 transactions.
SourceSW Maps: Is SW Maps really free?
Yes. It is free with no advertising and no paid tier. There is no subscription and no feature paywall.
MapQuest: Can I cache or store geocoding results on a monthly MapQuest plan?
No. Storing or caching geocodes is not allowed on monthly plans. Only Enterprise accounts can store geocodes off-map with the Extended Rights Geocoding feature.
SourceSW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?
Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.
MapQuest: What happens if I exceed my MapQuest monthly transaction limit?
The MapQuest pricing page does not specify overage charges. Users can modify their plan selection from their account dashboard at any time to scale up.
SourceSW Maps: Is there an iOS version?
No. Android only.
MapQuest: Can I change my MapQuest plan mid-cycle?
Yes. Users can modify their plan selection from their account dashboard at any time, making it easy to scale as needs evolve.
SourceSW Maps: Who maintains it?
Softwel, an engineering consultancy in Kathmandu, Nepal, which built it for its own infrastructure projects.
SW Maps: Can we get support?
Not contractually. There is no commercial support agreement, which is the main reason organisations with compliance obligations choose a paid alternative.
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