Maps & Navigation · head to head
OpenLayers vs Citymapper
OpenLayers
Maps & Navigation
High-performance, feature-packed JavaScript library for creating interactive maps on the web with
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Citymapper
Maps & Navigation
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: OpenLayers free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier; 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: OpenLayers covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenLayers and Citymapper actually diverge.
| Attribute | OpenLayers | 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 (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 OpenLayers
- 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.
OpenLayers
No use cases recorded yet. See the OpenLayers review.
Citymapper
- Daily commutingnot OpenLayers
- City explorationnot OpenLayers
- Trip planningnot OpenLayers
- Mobility as a servicenot OpenLayers
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
OpenLayers
- Free and open source under the 2-clause BSD License, with no commercial tier
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
OpenLayers
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the OpenLayers 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 OpenLayers or Citymapper better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenLayers 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, OpenLayers or Citymapper?
- Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OpenLayers and Free for Citymapper.
- Does OpenLayers or Citymapper run on more platforms?
- OpenLayers 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. OpenLayers starts at On request.
- What can OpenLayers do that Citymapper cannot?
- OpenLayers covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.