Softwr

Maps & Navigation · head to head

Nominatim vs Citymapper

Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps & Navigation

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Citymapper logo

Citymapper

Maps & Navigation

The ultimate urban mobility app for city commuters

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Citymapper has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second; 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: Nominatim covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nominatim and Citymapper actually diverge.

Attributes where Nominatim and Citymapper differ
AttributeNominatimCitymapper
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebIos, Android, Web
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps & Navigation).

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 Nominatim

  • 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.

Nominatim

  • Geocoding addresses to coordinates from OpenStreetMap datanot Citymapper
  • Reverse geocoding coordinates to a place namenot Citymapper
  • Self hosting a geocoder over an OSM extractnot Citymapper

Citymapper

  • Daily commutingnot Nominatim
  • City explorationnot Nominatim
  • Trip planningnot Nominatim
  • Mobility as a servicenot Nominatim

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim 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 Nominatim if

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

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.
Citymapper review

Questions people ask

Is Nominatim or Citymapper better?
Neither clearly leads. Nominatim 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, Nominatim or Citymapper?
Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Nominatim and Free for Citymapper.
Does Nominatim or Citymapper run on more platforms?
Nominatim 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. Nominatim starts at On request.
What is Nominatim best used for?
Nominatim is most often used for geocoding addresses to coordinates from openstreetmap data, reverse geocoding coordinates to a place name, self hosting a geocoder over an osm extract. Of those, geocoding addresses to coordinates from openstreetmap data and reverse geocoding coordinates to a place name are not what Citymapper is typically brought in for.
What can Nominatim do that Citymapper cannot?
Nominatim covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Nominatim

More on Citymapper

Keep looking

Other head to heads