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Maps · head to head

Nominatim vs TomTom Developer Portal

Nominatim logo

Nominatim

Maps

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
T

TomTom Developer Portal

Maps

TomTom provides mapping and traffic APIs, SDKs, and data products for developers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second; TomTom Developer Portal default rate limits on self-serve plans are modest at approximately 5 requests per second; higher limits require contracts
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nominatim and TomTom Developer Portal actually diverge.

Attributes where Nominatim and TomTom Developer Portal differ
AttributeNominatimTomTom Developer Portal
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), 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

Nothing recorded that TomTom Developer Portal does not also cover.

Only in TomTom Developer Portal

Nothing recorded that Nominatim does not also cover.

Both cover

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Nominatim

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot TomTom Developer Portal
  • Address lookup and location searchnot TomTom Developer Portal
  • OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot TomTom Developer Portal

TomTom Developer Portal

No use cases recorded yet. See the TomTom Developer Portal review.

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

TomTom Developer Portal

  • Default rate limits on self-serve plans are modest at approximately 5 requests per second; higher limits require contracts
  • Limited POI rich media compared to Google Places; no reviews, photos, or user-generated content
  • Smaller developer community with fewer tutorials and Stack Overflow answers than Google or Mapbox
  • No official Flutter SDK; developers must use third-party plugins for Flutter integration
  • Maps SDK for Web v6 deprecated as of February 2026 with migration required to newer SDK

Pricing, plan by plan

Nominatim

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim review.

TomTom Developer Portal

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TomTom Developer Portal review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Nominatim if

Nothing in the data separates Nominatim from TomTom Developer Portal on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Nominatim review

Choose TomTom Developer Portal if

  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
TomTom Developer Portal review

Questions people ask

Is Nominatim or TomTom Developer Portal better?
Neither clearly leads. Nominatim starts at On request and TomTom Developer Portal at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nominatim or TomTom Developer Portal?
Nominatim starts at On request and TomTom Developer Portal at On request.
Does Nominatim or TomTom Developer Portal run on more platforms?
Nominatim runs on Web. TomTom Developer Portal runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 TomTom Developer Portal is typically brought in for.

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.

Source
TomTom Developer Portal: Does TomTom Developer Portal have a free tier?

Yes. TomTom offers a freemium plan with 50,000 tile requests plus 2,500 non-tile requests daily at no cost with no credit card required, and commercial use is permitted.

Source
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.

Source
TomTom Developer Portal: What APIs does TomTom provide?

TomTom provides REST APIs for Maps (display raster or vector maps), Navigation (routing and turn-by-turn), Places (geocoding and POI search), and Traffic (real-time flow and incidents), plus JavaScript SDK and mobile SDKs.

Source
TomTom Developer Portal: What JavaScript SDKs are available?

TomTom provides Maps SDK for JavaScript with TypeScript support, a Services library as a wrapper for REST APIs, and mobile integration through NativeScript WebView for iOS and Android.

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