Software · head to head
Mapzen vs Citymapper
Mapzen
Software
Mapzen was an open-source mapping platform that provided geocoding, routing, and map rendering services
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Citymapper
Software
The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Citymapper has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Mapzen the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2018 priced its mobility APIs on a free tier plus overage model: Turn-by-Turn navigation free for the first 5,000 requests per month then 50 cents per additional 1,000 requests, and Isochrone and Optimized Route each free for the first 100 requests per month then $1.50 per additional 1,000 requests; Mapzen shut down as a project in 2018 shortly after this capture and this pricing no longer applies to any live service; Citymapper citymapper's own App Store listing states live transit and turn-by-turn features work only in a named list of specific cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and dozens of other listed cities), not globally, per the developer's own description.
- They diverge on capability: Mapzen covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mapzen and Citymapper actually diverge.
| Attribute | Mapzen | Citymapper |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Ios, Android, Web |
| Founded | Unknown | 2011 |
Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 Mapzen
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in Citymapper
- Multi-modal routing
- Real-time departures
- Live bus tracking
- Disruption alerts
- Walking directions
- Uber
- Lyft
- Lime
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Mapzen
No use cases recorded yet. See the Mapzen review.
Citymapper
- Daily commutingnot Mapzen
- City explorationnot Mapzen
- Trip planningnot Mapzen
- Mobility as a servicenot Mapzen
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Mapzen
- The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 2 January 2018 priced its mobility APIs on a free tier plus overage model: Turn-by-Turn navigation free for the first 5,000 requests per month then 50 cents per additional 1,000 requests, and Isochrone and Optimized Route each free for the first 100 requests per month then $1.50 per additional 1,000 requests; Mapzen shut down as a project in 2018 shortly after this capture and this pricing no longer applies to any live service
Citymapper
- Citymapper's own App Store listing states live transit and turn-by-turn features work only in a named list of specific cities (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and dozens of other listed cities), not globally, per the developer's own description.
Pricing, plan by plan
Mapzen
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Mapzen review.
Citymapper
Free- FreeFree
- Multi-modal routing
- Real-time departures
- Basic navigation
- Citymapper Premium$4.99/month
- Live location sharing
- Weather integration
- Widgets
Which should you pick?
Choose Citymapper if
- You need multi-modal routing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Ios, Android, Web.
- You also want real-time departures.
Questions people ask
- Is Mapzen or Citymapper better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mapzen starts at On request and Citymapper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mapzen or Citymapper?
- Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Mapzen and Free for Citymapper.
- Does Mapzen or Citymapper run on more platforms?
- Mapzen runs on Web. Citymapper runs on Ios, Android, Web.
- Can I use Citymapper for free?
- Yes. Citymapper has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mapzen starts at On request.
- What can Mapzen do that Citymapper cannot?
- Mapzen covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.