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Maps · head to head

Mapzen vs Motive

Mapzen logo

Mapzen

Maps

Mapzen was an open-source mapping platform that provided geocoding, routing, and map rendering services

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Motive logo

Motive

Fleet Management

ELD compliance, AI dashcams and spend management for North American commercial fleets

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mapzen no pricing information published on main product page describing services and features; Motive contracts are multi-year and per vehicle with hardware embedded, so a fleet that shrinks keeps paying for units that are sitting in a yard.
  • They diverge on capability: Mapzen covers Core Functionality, Motive covers ELD compliance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mapzen and Motive actually diverge.

Attributes where Mapzen and Motive differ
AttributeMapzenMotive
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMapsFleet Management

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Motive

  • ELD compliance
  • AI dashcams
  • GPS tracking
  • Driver safety scoring
  • Vehicle diagnostics
  • Spend management

What people use each for

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

Mapzen

  • Mapping platform with vector tiles and terrain datanot Motive
  • Search, routing, and navigation servicesnot Motive

Motive

  • A trucking fleet that must run FMCSA compliant electronic logs and wants cameras from the same vendornot Mapzen
  • An operator facing an insurance renewal that requires evidence of a driver coaching programmenot Mapzen
  • A construction fleet tracking both vehicles and unpowered assets such as trailers and generatorsnot Mapzen
  • A fleet suspecting fuel card misuse and wanting transactions matched against vehicle locationnot Mapzen

Where each one falls short

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

Mapzen

  • No pricing information published on main product page describing services and features
  • No clear indication of whether Mapzen is still actively maintained or in legacy status
  • No published tier structure or usage limits visible to potential customers

Motive

  • Contracts are multi-year and per vehicle with hardware embedded, so a fleet that shrinks keeps paying for units that are sitting in a yard.
  • Driver facing cameras generate real workforce resistance, and fleets in tight labour markets have lost drivers over the rollout rather than the technology.
  • Installation and calibration across a distributed fleet takes weeks of vehicle downtime, which is rarely costed into the comparison at the point of purchase.
  • The rebrand from KeepTruckin means older documentation, integration guides and third-party references are inconsistent, which slows technical work on connections.
  • Coverage depends on cellular networks, so remote route segments produce gaps in tracking and delayed log uploads that drivers then have to reconcile.

Pricing, plan by plan

Mapzen

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mapzen review.

Motive

On request
  • Motive$undefined/year
    • Per-vehicle subscription over a multi-year term
    • Hardware supplied within the agreement rather than purchased outright
    • Dashcams, asset trackers and spend management priced as separate lines

Which should you pick?

Choose Mapzen if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
Mapzen review

Choose Motive if

  • You need eld compliance.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want ai dashcams.
Motive review

Questions people ask

Is Mapzen or Motive better?
Neither clearly leads. Mapzen starts at On request and Motive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mapzen or Motive?
Mapzen starts at On request and Motive at On request.
Does Mapzen or Motive run on more platforms?
Mapzen runs on Web. Motive runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Mapzen best used for?
Mapzen is most often used for mapping platform with vector tiles and terrain data, search, routing, and navigation services. Of those, mapping platform with vector tiles and terrain data and search, routing, and navigation services are not what Motive is typically brought in for.
What can Mapzen do that Motive cannot?
Mapzen covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Motive covers ELD compliance, AI dashcams, GPS tracking, Driver safety scoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mapzen: What is Mapzen's pricing model for mapping and routing services?

Mapzen does not publish pricing information on its main website. The platform describes various services including map display, search, turn-by-turn navigation, routing (isochrone, map matching, optimized routes), and data products (vector tiles, terrain tiles, elevation data), but no cost details are disclosed.

Source
Motive: Is Motive the same company as KeepTruckin?

Yes. KeepTruckin renamed to Motive in 2022. The products and account relationships carried over.

Mapzen: What data products does Mapzen offer?

Mapzen offers vector tiles, terrain tiles, and elevation data products. Specific pricing for accessing these data products is not published on the website. Interested customers should contact Mapzen directly for commercial licensing information.

Source
Motive: Can hardware be bought outright?

It is normally supplied inside a multi-year subscription rather than sold, which is why the exit cost of a shrinking fleet is high.

Mapzen: Does Mapzen provide turn-by-turn navigation and routing services?

Yes, Mapzen includes turn-by-turn navigation and routing services including isochrone, map matching, and optimized routes functionality. Pricing and API rate limits for these services are not disclosed on the main website.

Source
Motive: Does it work outside the United States?

Canada and Mexico are supported, including Canadian electronic logging requirements. Coverage elsewhere is limited.

Motive: Are the driver facing cameras optional?

Yes, road facing only configurations are available, and fleets worried about driver retention often start there.

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