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Maps · head to head

OSRM vs Radar

O

OSRM

Maps

High-performance open-source routing engine designed for OpenStreetMap data, providing fast route calculations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Radar logo

Radar

Maps

Geofencing, trip tracking, and location-based search APIs that power location features in

From
$0.02/per monthly tracked user
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OSRM 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; Radar no free tier available
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OSRM and Radar actually diverge.

Attributes where OSRM and Radar differ
AttributeOSRMRadar
Starting priceFree$0.02/per monthly tracked user
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: 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 OSRM

Nothing recorded that Radar does not also cover.

Only in Radar

Nothing recorded that OSRM 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.

OSRM

  • Calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in millisecondsnot Radar
  • Building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructurenot Radar
  • Customizing route optimization for car, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modesnot Radar
  • Integrating OpenStreetMap data for real-time routing in web applicationsnot Radar

Radar

  • Detecting and preventing fraud with geolocation verificationnot OSRM
  • Tracking pickups and deliveries in real-time with geofencingnot OSRM
  • Engaging customers with location-based marketing campaignsnot OSRM
  • Managing geographic compliance and hyper-accurate location trackingnot 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

Radar

  • No free tier available
  • Annual contracts required with committed monthly quotas
  • Volume discounts applied manually; no public discount tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

OSRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OSRM review.

Radar

$0.02/per monthly tracked user

No published plan breakdown. See the Radar review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OSRM if

  • You want to start without paying.
OSRM review

Choose Radar if

  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
Radar review

Questions people ask

Is OSRM or Radar better?
Neither clearly leads. OSRM starts at Free and Radar at $0.02/per monthly tracked user, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OSRM or Radar?
OSRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OSRM and $0.02/per monthly tracked user for Radar.
Does OSRM or Radar run on more platforms?
OSRM runs on Web. Radar runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use OSRM for free?
Yes. OSRM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Radar starts at $0.02/per monthly tracked user.
What is OSRM best used for?
OSRM is most often used for calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in milliseconds, building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructure, customizing route optimization for car, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modes, integrating openstreetmap data for real-time routing in web applications. Of those, calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in milliseconds and building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructure are not what Radar is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OSRM: How much does Project OSRM cost?

Project OSRM is completely free and open source, distributed under the permissive 2-clause BSD license with no licensing costs or fees.

Source
Radar: What is Radar's core function?

Radar is an all-in-one location platform providing SDKs and APIs for geofencing, trip tracking, geocoding, and location search. It handles 100+ billion annual queries from 100+ million devices.

Source
Radar: Who uses Radar?

Companies like Sleeper, Panera, DICK's Sporting Goods, T-Mobile, and Zillow use Radar's geofencing SDKs and maps APIs for location-based solutions.

Source
Radar: How is Radar's pricing structured?

Radar does not publicly disclose pricing. Custom quotes are required based on usage and requirements, meaning pricing varies per customer.

Source
Radar: What are Radar's security and privacy features?

Radar prioritizes enterprise-level security, privacy, and customer support. It maintains high uptime, low latency connections for reliable monitoring of location data across platforms.

Source
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