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Maps · head to head

OsmAnd vs Potree

OsmAnd logo

OsmAnd

Maps

Open-source map and navigation application based on OpenStreetMap data

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Potree logo

Potree

Maps

Open source WebGL viewer for publishing very large point clouds in a browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OsmAnd free version limited to only 7 map downloads at once, restricting users who need multiple regional maps; Potree there is no vendor, no support contract and no service level, so anything you build on Potree is your organisation’s responsibility to maintain when a browser update breaks rendering.
  • They diverge on capability: OsmAnd covers Core Functionality, Potree covers Octree streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OsmAnd and Potree actually diverge.

Attributes where OsmAnd and Potree differ
AttributeOsmAndPotree
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGalleryWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
Founded2010Unknown

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 OsmAnd

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

Only in Potree

  • Octree streaming
  • Large dataset rendering
  • Measurement tools
  • Clipping and profiles
  • Annotations
  • Attribute colouring
  • PotreeDesktop
  • Self-hosting

What people use each for

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

OsmAnd

  • Offline navigation in areas with no data connectionnot Potree
  • Turn-by-turn voice guided drivingnot Potree
  • Bicycle and pedestrian routingnot Potree
  • Hiking and trail running navigationnot Potree
  • Motorcycling and travel using per-country or per-region offline mapsnot Potree

Potree

  • A drone survey firm delivering a point cloud to a client who has no desktop software, by publishing a browser viewer link instead of a 40 GB LAZ filenot OsmAnd
  • A heritage or archaeology project publishing a scanned site for public access without paying per-gigabyte hosting to a commercial platformnot OsmAnd
  • An engineering consultancy embedding a point cloud viewer inside its own client portal without licensing a commercial web viewernot OsmAnd
  • A university or research group that needs measurement and profiling in a shareable viewer for a dataset too large to emailnot OsmAnd

Where each one falls short

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

OsmAnd

  • Free version limited to only 7 map downloads at once, restricting users who need multiple regional maps
  • Poor performance with slow map rendering and navigation lag reported on older devices
  • Route calculation limited to approximately 200 kilometers or less for offline calculation
  • Map accuracy issues due to reliance on community OpenStreetMap data which may contain outdated information

Potree

  • There is no vendor, no support contract and no service level, so anything you build on Potree is your organisation’s responsibility to maintain when a browser update breaks rendering.
  • Conversion is a separate manual step with PotreeConverter, and building an automated publishing pipeline around it is engineering work the project does not provide.
  • Rendering quality and performance depend on the client machine and WebGL support, so a client on a locked-down corporate laptop with poor graphics may see a viewer that stutters or fails outright.
  • A WebGPU rewrite, Potree-Next, is in progress and is not a drop-in upgrade, so current integrations face an eventual migration with no vendor to manage it.
  • There is no access control, user management or audit layer; anyone with the URL sees the data unless you build authentication around the static files yourself, which is a real problem for confidential sites.

Pricing, plan by plan

OsmAnd

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OsmAnd review.

Potree

Free
  • PotreeFree
    • BSD-style open source licence
    • Unlimited datasets and viewers
    • Self-hosted on any static web server

Which should you pick?

Choose OsmAnd if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGallery.
  • You also want user interface.
OsmAnd review

Choose Potree if

  • You need octree streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large dataset rendering.
Potree review

Questions people ask

Is OsmAnd or Potree better?
Neither clearly leads. OsmAnd starts at Free and Potree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OsmAnd or Potree?
OsmAnd starts at Free and Potree at Free.
Does OsmAnd or Potree run on more platforms?
OsmAnd runs on iOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGallery. Potree runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use OsmAnd for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OsmAnd best used for?
OsmAnd is most often used for offline navigation in areas with no data connection, turn-by-turn voice guided driving, bicycle and pedestrian routing, hiking and trail running navigation. Of those, offline navigation in areas with no data connection and turn-by-turn voice guided driving are not what Potree is typically brought in for.
What can OsmAnd do that Potree cannot?
OsmAnd covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Potree covers Octree streaming, Large dataset rendering, Measurement tools, Clipping and profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OsmAnd: Does OsmAnd work offline?

Yes. OsmAnd works fully offline after downloading maps for specific regions. Route calculation, turn-by-turn navigation, and POI search all work without an internet connection.

Source
Potree: Does Potree cost anything?

No. It is open source and free. You supply the hosting, which for a static viewer is inexpensive.

OsmAnd: What is OsmAnd's pricing?

OsmAnd Free version is available with limitations including only 7 map downloads allowed at once and no 3D map views. OsmAnd Pro subscription costs 2.99 euros per month or 29.99 euros per year, offering 3D maps, hourly map refreshes, and cloud storage.

Source
Potree: Is there commercial support?

No. There is no vendor and no support contract. Support is GitHub issues and the community.

OsmAnd: What maps does OsmAnd use?

OsmAnd uses free OpenStreetMap data, which is updated monthly or hourly through OsmAnd Live. Wikipedia POI data is available for sightseeing, and users can add optional online tile map overlays.

Source
Potree: Who maintains it?

It originated at TU Wien and is maintained principally by Markus Schütz, with community contributions.

OsmAnd: Can I use OsmAnd on iOS and Android?

Yes. OsmAnd is available on both iOS via Apple App Store and Android via Google Play Store, with identical offline functionality on both platforms.

Source
Potree: Can it handle very large clouds?

Yes, hundreds of millions of points, because PotreeConverter builds a multi-resolution octree that streams only what is visible.

Potree: Is my data private?

Only if you make it so. Potree serves static files with no built-in authentication, so access control is entirely your responsibility.

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