Maps · head to head
Nominatim vs SW Maps
Nominatim
Maps
Open-source geocoding tool for OpenStreetMap data, providing address search and reverse geocoding capabilities
- 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: Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second; 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: Nominatim 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 Nominatim 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 Nominatim
- 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.
Nominatim
- Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot SW Maps
- Address lookup and location searchnot SW Maps
- OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot 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 Nominatim
- A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot Nominatim
- A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot Nominatim
- 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 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
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
Nominatim
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim 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 Nominatim or SW Maps better?
- Neither clearly leads. Nominatim 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, Nominatim or SW Maps?
- SW Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Nominatim and Free for SW Maps.
- Does Nominatim or SW Maps run on more platforms?
- Nominatim 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. Nominatim starts at On request.
- What is Nominatim best used for?
- Nominatim is most often used for geocoding and reverse geocoding services, address lookup and location search, openstreetmap-based geolocation data. Of those, geocoding and reverse geocoding services and address lookup and location search are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
- What can Nominatim do that SW Maps cannot?
- Nominatim 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
Nominatim: Is Nominatim free?
Nominatim is open source software built on OpenStreetMap data. It appears to be free to use, though commercial usage may require separate licensing or terms. Check the project repository or contact support for clarity on licensing.
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.
Nominatim: What is Nominatim's pricing model?
Nominatim does not publish a standard pricing model on its website. As open source software, it is available for free, but commercial or large-scale deployments may require reviewing their licensing terms or contacting project maintainers.
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.
SW Maps: Is there an iOS version?
No. Android only.
SW 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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