Maps & Navigation · head to head
PositionStack vs Citymapper
PositionStack
Maps & Navigation
Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage
- 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: PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month; 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: PositionStack covers Core Functionality, Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PositionStack and Citymapper actually diverge.
| Attribute | PositionStack | 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 PositionStack
- 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.
PositionStack
- Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot Citymapper
- Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot Citymapper
- Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot Citymapper
Citymapper
- Daily commutingnot PositionStack
- City explorationnot PositionStack
- Trip planningnot PositionStack
- Mobility as a servicenot PositionStack
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PositionStack
- The free plan allows only 100 requests per month
- The free plan is a personal licence, so commercial use requires a paid plan
- The free plan is rate limited, with an extended rate limit only from the Basic plan up
- Requests beyond the monthly quota are billed as overage, at $0.0003996 per request on Basic
- The lowest advertised rates require annual prepayment
- Enterprise volumes are priced by quote with no published rate
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
PositionStack
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack 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 PositionStack if
- You need core functionality.
- You also want user interface.
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 PositionStack or Citymapper better?
- Neither clearly leads. PositionStack 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, PositionStack or Citymapper?
- Citymapper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PositionStack and Free for Citymapper.
- Does PositionStack or Citymapper run on more platforms?
- PositionStack 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. PositionStack starts at On request.
- What is PositionStack best used for?
- PositionStack is most often used for forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api, reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses, batch geocoding location data in a backend service. Of those, forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api and reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses are not what Citymapper is typically brought in for.
- What can PositionStack do that Citymapper cannot?
- PositionStack covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Citymapper covers Multi-modal routing, Real-time departures, Live bus tracking, Disruption alerts.