Google Map Maker vs OpenStreetMap

Struggling to choose between Google Map Maker and OpenStreetMap? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Google Map Maker is a Travel & Location solution with tags like crowdsourcing, maps, local-knowledge.

It boasts features such as Allowed users to add and edit maps, Enabled crowdsourced mapping, Improved accuracy of Google Maps, Added missing roads, landmarks, and places and pros including Increased coverage of Google Maps, Leveraged local knowledge to improve maps, Enabled public participation in mapping, Free to use for anyone.

On the other hand, OpenStreetMap is a Travel & Location product tagged with open-source, crowdsourced, map, navigation.

Its standout features include Crowd-sourced map data, Open data licensed under ODbL, Worldwide geographic data, Ability to edit and update data, Variety of data types like roads, buildings, points of interest, Customizable map rendering, and it shines with pros like Free to use and open source, Frequent data updates from large volunteer community, Very detailed maps, especially in urban areas, Data can be downloaded for use in other projects, Active local mapping communities.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Google Map Maker

Google Map Maker

Google Map Maker was a crowdsourced mapping service that allowed users to edit and update Google Maps with local knowledge. It helped improve the accuracy and coverage of Google Maps by enabling public map edits and additions.

Categories:
crowdsourcing maps local-knowledge

Google Map Maker Features

  1. Allowed users to add and edit maps
  2. Enabled crowdsourced mapping
  3. Improved accuracy of Google Maps
  4. Added missing roads, landmarks, and places

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Increased coverage of Google Maps

Leveraged local knowledge to improve maps

Enabled public participation in mapping

Free to use for anyone

Cons

Potential for inaccurate user contributions

Required moderation to maintain quality

Limited controls over what users could edit

Discontinued in 2017


OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a free, open-source, crowd-sourced map of the world. Volunteers collect map data using GPS devices, aerial imagery, local knowledge, and other free sources to create and update the map database.

Categories:
open-source crowdsourced map navigation

OpenStreetMap Features

  1. Crowd-sourced map data
  2. Open data licensed under ODbL
  3. Worldwide geographic data
  4. Ability to edit and update data
  5. Variety of data types like roads, buildings, points of interest
  6. Customizable map rendering

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free to use and open source

Frequent data updates from large volunteer community

Very detailed maps, especially in urban areas

Data can be downloaded for use in other projects

Active local mapping communities

Cons

Data quality varies by region

Limited coverage in rural/unmapped areas

Less specialized than commercial alternatives

Relies on volunteers for updates so some areas may be outdated

Limited quality control over edits