Softwr

Maps · head to head

OpenLayers vs SW Maps

OpenLayers logo

OpenLayers

Maps

High-performance, feature-packed JavaScript library for creating interactive maps on the web with

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SW Maps logo

SW Maps

Maps

Free Android GIS data collector that pairs with external RTK GNSS receivers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OpenLayers no commercial support included; community-driven library; 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: OpenLayers 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 OpenLayers and SW Maps actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenLayers and SW Maps differ
AttributeOpenLayersSW Maps
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWebAndroid

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 OpenLayers

  • 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.

OpenLayers

  • Embedding interactive maps showing store locations on retail websitesnot SW Maps
  • Visualizing GPS tracking data for delivery routes on web dashboardsnot SW Maps
  • Creating choropleth maps displaying regional sales performancenot SW Maps
  • Building mapping interfaces for real estate property searchesnot 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 OpenLayers
  • A survey team pairing a low-cost RTK receiver with Android tablets to collect centimetre-accurate attributed features without buying field software seatsnot OpenLayers
  • A university field course teaching GNSS data collection where every student needs the tool on their own devicenot OpenLayers
  • 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 OpenLayers

Where each one falls short

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

OpenLayers

  • No commercial support included; community-driven library

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

OpenLayers

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenLayers review.

SW Maps

Free
  • SW MapsFree
    • All features included
    • External RTK GNSS support
    • Unlimited layers and exports

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenLayers if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want user interface.
OpenLayers review

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.
SW Maps review

Questions people ask

Is OpenLayers or SW Maps better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenLayers starts at Free and SW Maps at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenLayers or SW Maps?
OpenLayers starts at Free and SW Maps at Free.
Does OpenLayers or SW Maps run on more platforms?
OpenLayers runs on Web. SW Maps runs on Android.
Can I use OpenLayers for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenLayers best used for?
OpenLayers is most often used for embedding interactive maps showing store locations on retail websites, visualizing gps tracking data for delivery routes on web dashboards, creating choropleth maps displaying regional sales performance, building mapping interfaces for real estate property searches. Of those, embedding interactive maps showing store locations on retail websites and visualizing gps tracking data for delivery routes on web dashboards are not what SW Maps is typically brought in for.
What can OpenLayers do that SW Maps cannot?
OpenLayers 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

OpenLayers: How much does OpenLayers cost?

OpenLayers is completely free, open source JavaScript library released under the 2-clause BSD License (FreeBSD License) with no cost for use, modification, or distribution.

Source
SW 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.

OpenLayers: What license does OpenLayers use?

OpenLayers is released under the 2-clause BSD License (also known as the FreeBSD License), allowing free use, modification, and distribution.

Source
SW Maps: Does it support RTK receivers?

Yes, over Bluetooth or USB serial, with NTRIP correction support, antenna height and per-point fix quality recording.

OpenLayers: Can I use OpenLayers commercially?

Yes, OpenLayers is free to use commercially without any licensing fees. The open source license permits commercial use without restriction.

Source
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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