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.

Feature	Google Map Maker	OpenStreetMap
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Travel & Location	Travel & Location

Product Overview

Google Map Maker

Description: 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.

OpenStreetMap

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

Google Map Maker Features

• Allowed users to add and edit maps
• Enabled crowdsourced mapping
• Improved accuracy of Google Maps
• Added missing roads, landmarks, and places

OpenStreetMap Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

Google Map Maker

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

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

Pricing Comparison

Google Map Maker

• Free

OpenStreetMap

• Open Source