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Azure Maps VS OpenStreetMap

Compare Azure Maps VS OpenStreetMap and see what are their differences

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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
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Azure Maps logo Azure Maps

Add maps, search, routing, and traffic capabilities to your apps with Microsoft Azure Maps--geospatial services APIs that pair with IoT and Enterprise systems.

OpenStreetMap logo OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.
  • Azure Maps Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-13
  • OpenStreetMap Cover Photo
    Cover Photo //
    2024-01-08

Azure Maps features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    Azure Maps integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services like Azure IoT, Power BI, and Dynamics 365, providing a cohesive environment for developers using the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Global Coverage
    Azure Maps offers global geographic coverage, ensuring that users can access mapping data from virtually anywhere in the world.
  • High Scalability
    Built on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, Azure Maps can easily scale to accommodate large volumes of requests, making it suitable for enterprises with high demands.
  • Rich API and SDK Support
    Azure Maps offers a comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs, providing developers with advanced capabilities for geolocation, routing, and data visualization.
  • Security Features
    Azure Maps benefits from Microsoft's robust security features, including data encryption, compliance certifications, and secure access controls.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Maps

  • Cost Considerations
    Azure Maps may have higher costs compared to other mapping services, especially for businesses with extensive usage requirements.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    For users new to Microsoft's cloud services, the wide array of features and integration options in Azure Maps can be overwhelming and complex to implement effectively.
  • Limited Offline Support
    Azure Maps primarily relies on an online connection, and its offline capabilities are limited, which may be a downside for applications requiring offline access.
  • Dependence on Microsoft's Ecosystem
    While integration with Microsoft services is a pro for some, it can also be a con for businesses that do not use or wish to commit to the Microsoft ecosystem, as this may limit interoperability with non-Microsoft products.
  • Availability in Some Regions
    Although Azure Maps has global coverage, certain advanced features or data sets may not be available in all regions, which could be a limitation for some users.

OpenStreetMap features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenStreetMap (OSM) is an open-source project, allowing free access to map data and the ability to contribute and modify the maps. This encourages widespread collaboration and innovation.
  • Up-to-date Information
    Due to its large community of contributors, OSM often has up-to-date and detailed information, especially in urban areas. Users can quickly add new roads, businesses, and other updates.
  • Customization
    Users have the flexibility to customize maps for specific needs, such as creating specialized maps for hiking, cycling, or public transportation.
  • Global Coverage
    OSM offers extensive global coverage, which can be especially useful in regions where commercial map services might be limited or outdated.
  • Ethical and Transparent
    Being community-driven and open, OSM provides a more ethical choice compared to commercial alternatives that may have hidden data collection practices.

Possible disadvantages of OpenStreetMap

  • Data Quality Variability
    The quality and detail of the data can vary significantly between different regions depending on the number and expertise of local contributors.
  • Learning Curve
    For new users, especially those unfamiliar with GIS (Geographic Information System) concepts, there can be a learning curve to effectively use and contribute to OSM.
  • Lack of Professional Support
    Unlike commercial map services, OSM does not offer professional customer support, which can be a disadvantage for businesses requiring reliable assistance.
  • Potential for Inaccuracies
    As a crowd-sourced project, there is a potential for inaccuracies or vandalism, which might not be immediately corrected.
  • Performance
    Some users may experience slower performance when loading large datasets or using complex features, due to reliance on third-party servers and tools.

Azure Maps videos

+ Add

Introducing Azure Maps Creator

More videos:

  • Review - Indoor Maps with Azure Maps

OpenStreetMap videos

+ Add

OpenStreetMap: The map that saves lives | CNBC International

More videos:

  • Review - Switching away from Google Maps : Here Maps, Bing Maps, OpenStreetMap...
  • Review - OpenStreetMap Download / Installation On Garmin Edge 520 GPS Device. Bike Computer

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Azure Maps and OpenStreetMap)

Azure Maps

OpenStreetMap

Maps
8 8%
Maps
92% 92
Web Mapping
7 7%
Web Mapping
93% 93
Maps & Navigation
100 100%
Maps & Navigation
0% 0
Travel & Location
0 0%
Travel & Location
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Azure Maps and OpenStreetMap. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Azure Maps and OpenStreetMap

Azure Maps Reviews

Farewell, Google Maps
On the first glance, it seems that almost all providers would provide satisfactory experience as far as centre of Warsaw is concerned. One exception might be Azure Maps, which was made available just in the previous months. To be fair, Microsoft claims that perceived emptiness of its maps is intentional and for the benefit of its large corporate partners, who like to overlay...
Source: www.inderapotheke.de

OpenStreetMap Reviews

7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a free, open-source, community-driven mapping and navigation app. OSM was created in 2005. It has grown to include a global mapping community with activists and thousands of volunteers.
Source: gisgeography.com
18 Top Google Places API Alternatives for Points of Interest Data in 2022
OpenStreetMap offers a free, open-source map of the world with which you can access information about businesses, transport and points of interest. Planet OSM is a feature of OpenStreetMap that lets you extract millions of points of interest for free.
Source: traveltime.com
Top 15 Google Maps Alternatives (2024 Edition)
Maps.me is an open-source mobile-only service and an excellent alternative to Google Maps. It uses the OpenStreetMap database and helps you download maps to use them offline. Therefore, you can save a lot on your mobile data if you use this service.
Source: blog.route4me.com
9 Google Maps Alternatives to Use in 2022
OpenStreetMap is a simple web mapping tool stuffed with all the features you would expect with any web mapping service. The vivid maps explain different layers, help in accurate route planning, and provide cycling and walking routes.
Source: geekflare.com
Top 5 Open-Source Google Maps Alternatives in 2022
Last but not least, Qwant Map is one of those Google Maps alternatives that is open source and free. Just like Google Maps, this interactive maps software offers rich search capabilities. In addition, you can search for places such as restaurants, hotels, markets, and more. Moreover, it lets you search for nearby places by tracking your location. Qwant Map is based on...
Source: blog.containerize.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenStreetMap seems to be a lot more popular than Azure Maps. While we know about 129 links to OpenStreetMap, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Azure Maps. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Azure Maps mentions (3)

  • Understanding Mapbox API Integration: A Deep Dive
    Azure Maps: Microsoft's enterprise mapping solution featuring strong integration with Azure services, robust geospatial analytics, competitive compliance certifications, and specialized capabilities for IoT applications. - Source: dev.to / 27 days ago
  • Do I get wet feeds? Draw a flood map using Azure Maps Elevation API
    To start, we need to know which areas of land are almost below sea level so that we can plan and take additional actions. To make this visible we can use Azure Maps and use the Azure Maps Elevation Service to make a basic flood map. The Azure Maps Elevation Service provides pole-to-pole coverage with <4M absolute and <2m relative accuracy. The elevation data represents a digital terrain model (DTM), man-made... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Create your own indoor maps using Azure Maps Creator
    By using the same technology for mapping outdoors we can use Azure Maps also for indoor mapping solutions. Azure Maps is a collection of geospatial services APIs and SDKs that use fresh mapping data to provide geographic context to web and mobile applications. Azure Maps Creator is the service that facilitates the creation of indoor maps using your own building drawings. Azure Maps has SDKs for Web, Android, and... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago

OpenStreetMap mentions (129)

  • Waterway Map
    You can go to https://openstreetmap.org/ , zoom in and enable the map data layer. From there history is accessible. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Bike rack capacity
    Hi! I am working on a project mapping bike racks around my city on OpenStreetMap. One of the attributes that I tag is the rack's capacity, but I haven't come to a conclusion about the capacity of these wave-shaped racks:. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Get full name of a admin unit in a admin unit hierarchy like Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, United States of America
    I need the bounding boxes of all adminstrative units in a specific region from the largest (e.g. The state) to the smallest (whatever this is called) including the full name of the district. What I mean by that is what is displayed on openstreetmap.org when I search for e.g. Brooklyn: it will be displayed in the search results as "Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, United States of America" – the names joined from... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Protomaps – A free and open source map of the world
    It's OpenStreetMap (ODbL) and Natural Earth (public domain) currently * http://openstreetmap.org * http://naturalearthdata.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Coffee Decor Pikmin
    Pikmin Bloom sources Decor locations from OpenStreetMap, it’s not always 100%, but it’s close enough. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Azure Maps and OpenStreetMap, you can also consider the following products

Esri ArcGIS - ArcGIS provides contextual tools for mapping and spatial reasoning so you can explore data & share location-based insights. ArcGIS is the heart of the Esri Geospatial Cloud. Try ArcGIS for free with 21-day trial.

Google Maps - Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Maptitude - Maptitude is a mapping software that is fitted with GIS features that avail maps and other forms of data regarding the surrounding geographical areas. Read more about Maptitude.

OsmAnd - Global mobile map viewing and navigation for online and offline OSM maps

ArcGIS Pro - Explore ArcGIS Pro resources such as tutorials, videos, documentation, instructor-led classes & more. Find answers, build expertise and connect with the ArcGIS Pro community.

Mapbox - An open source mapping platform for custom designed maps. Our APIs and SDKs are the building blocks to integrate location into any mobile or web app.

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