Software · head to head
OSRM vs Citymapper
O
OSRM
Software
High-performance open-source routing engine designed for OpenStreetMap data, providing fast route calculations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Citymapper
Software
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: OSRM free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, 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: OSRM covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OSRM and Citymapper actually diverge.
| Attribute | OSRM | 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 (Unknown).
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 OSRM
- 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.
OSRM
No use cases recorded yet. See the OSRM review.
Citymapper
- Daily commutingnot OSRM
- City explorationnot OSRM
- Trip planningnot OSRM
- Mobility as a servicenot OSRM
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
OSRM
- Free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, 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
OSRM
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the OSRM 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 OSRM or Citymapper better?
- Neither clearly leads. OSRM 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, OSRM or Citymapper?
- Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OSRM and Free for Citymapper.
- Does OSRM or Citymapper run on more platforms?
- OSRM 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. OSRM starts at On request.
- What can OSRM do that Citymapper cannot?
- OSRM covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.