Google Maps VS Mapbox

Compare Google Maps VS Mapbox and see what are their differences

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Google Maps

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

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.

Image date //
2024-01-08

Landing page //
2023-03-06

Google Maps

Website: google.com
Pricing URL: -
$ Details: -
Release Date: -

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Mapbox

Website: mapbox.com
Pricing URL: Official Mapbox Pricing
$ Details: freemium
Release Date: 2010 January
Startup details
Country: United States
State: District of Columbia
City: Washington D.C.
Founder(s): Bonnie Bogle
Employees: 500 - 999

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Google Maps features and specs

Detailed Information
Google Maps provides extensive details about locations, including photos, reviews, operating hours, and contact information.
User-Friendly Interface
The platform boasts an intuitive design that is easy to navigate for both casual users and professionals.
Real-Time Updates
Offers real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and road closures to help users avoid delays.
Multi-modal Directions
Supports directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation, offering flexibility for different commuting needs.
Street View
Provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, enabling users to virtually explore neighborhoods before visiting.
Offline Maps
Allows users to download maps for offline use, which is useful in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
Integration with Other Services
Easily integrates with other Google services like Google Calendar, making it convenient to plan trips and appointments.

Possible disadvantages of Google Maps

Privacy Concerns
The service collects extensive user data, raising privacy issues regarding how this information is used and shared.
Battery Consumption
Real-time features and GPS usage can significantly drain the battery life of mobile devices.
Inaccuracies
Despite frequent updates, some information may be outdated or inaccurate, such as business hours or road conditions.
Data Usage
Uses a considerable amount of data, which can be problematic for users with limited data plans.
Overreliance
Users may become overly dependent on the service for navigation, potentially reducing their ability to navigate without digital assistance.
Ad Integration
Contains sponsored content and ads, which can sometimes disrupt the user experience.
Complexity
Additional features and layers of information can make it overwhelming for users who just need basic navigation.

Mapbox features and specs

Customization
Mapbox offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to create highly tailored map experiences, including custom styles and data visualizations.
User Experience
Mapbox provides high-performance, interactive maps, ensuring a smooth and engaging user experience with quick response times and fluid animations.
Data Integration
Mapbox supports integration with various data sources, enabling real-time updates and complex data overlays, which are beneficial for applications requiring dynamic data visualization.
Developer Tools
Mapbox offers comprehensive developer tools, documentation, and SDKs for multiple platforms (web, iOS, Android), facilitating ease of development and deployment.
Community and Support
Mapbox has a vibrant community and strong support system, including forums, tutorials, and direct support options, which help developers troubleshoot and innovate more effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Mapbox

Cost
Mapbox can become expensive as usage scales, potentially increasing costs significantly for high-traffic applications or those requiring advanced features.
Learning Curve
Due to its extensive customization features and capabilities, Mapbox may have a steeper learning curve for new developers compared to simpler mapping solutions.
Data Privacy
There are concerns regarding data privacy and storage, as using external APIs may involve sharing user data with third-party services, which may not align with all privacy policies.
Dependency on Third-Party Service
Relying on an external service like Mapbox for critical application functionality can pose risks related to service outages, changes in service terms, or API updates that require code modifications.
Offline Capabilities
Although Mapbox provides some offline capabilities, these are limited compared to online functionalities, which may affect apps that require reliable offline access.

Google Maps videos

+ Add

New Apple Maps Features That Beat Google Maps!

Mapbox videos

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MAP Mapbox Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Maps and Mapbox)

Google Maps

Mapbox

Maps

66 66%

Maps

34% 34

Web Mapping

67 67%

Web Mapping

33% 33

Mapping And GIS

57 57%

Mapping And GIS

43% 43

Travel & Location

73 73%

Travel & Location

27% 27

User comments

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

Reviews

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

Google Maps Reviews

Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland in 2025

Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.

Source: irelandonabudget.com

8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries

If you appreciated the ability to sync Google Trip Summaries with Google Maps, the closing of Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can no longer sync itineraries to Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export any itinerary you create within the app to Google Maps, allowing you to see the location of every attraction you want to visit and gain information on how to travel between...

Source: wanderlog.com

The 8 Best Bike Navigation Apps Ridden & Rated

UX-wise, we’ve given Google Maps a near-perfect nine. The clutter-free layout and recognisable graphics. How would they score a ten? We’d love Google Maps to expand its immersive view (a flyby 3D model of a given route) beyond major cities like London.

Source: loop.cc

The Best Travel Apps for 2025

My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. On the ground, it shows you where you are and how to get to where you need to go, whether by foot, public transit, car, or bicycle. Google Maps is equally helpful when you want to explore what's around, including hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. Often, the listing for sites and businesses include hours of operation,...

Source: www.pcmag.com

7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation

Google Maps is often the go-to navigation app for many of us. But what if you’re looking for something a little different? There are many alternatives to Google Maps that provide similar features and functions.

Source: gisgeography.com

Mapbox Reviews

6 Best GIS Software 2024

While Mapbox boasts an array of impressive features, it's essential to note that some functionalities are exclusive to the paid versions. Furthermore, the software primarily targets programmers who develop customized solutions. Programmatically harnessing Mapbox might pose a steep learning curve while engaging third parties for development work could incur extra costs....

Source: www.caliper.com

7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation

One major advantage of Mapbox is the ability to make personalized maps with markers, routes, and buildings. Mapbox has many other advantages, such as access to good satellite images worldwide and advanced geocoding abilities.

Source: gisgeography.com

5 Best Tools For Creating Your Own Interactive Maps

Mapbox is particularly constructed to optimize custom maps for portable devices. The tool gives you a strong free tier for almost all of its features even if you didn’t opt for a paid service. If you’re planning to develop an app or want to build a more suitable mobile site, Mapbox guarantees that your map is ready for phone users. Mapbox utilises the location feature on...

Source: www.techiexpert.com

The Best Map Makers For 2022

One important thing to know: Mapbox Studio is the only map maker in this article that does not use Google Maps. Instead Mapbox uses Open Street Maps, a free, open-source wiki map of the world. Because of this you might notice different results when you search for an address on Google Maps and on Mapbox— they use a completely different data set.

Source: www.sitebuilderreport.com

5 Best Web Mapping Platforms – The Battle of Web GIS

MBTiles is the backbone for storing tilesets. Mapbox has a ton of customization features for personalized maps. But if you fully want to experience Mapbox, it’s all about the APIs. By using APIs, you can programmatically access Mapbox tools and services. Finally, Mapbox Studio is how to convert your data to tilesets and create styles. This is where Mapbox really knocks it...

Source: gisgeography.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Mapbox seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. 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.

Google Maps mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Maps yet. Tracking of Google Maps recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Mapbox mentions (12)

Ask HN: Side project of more that $2k monthly revenue what's your project?
Yeah domain knowledge/network is definitely needed, I am working with a friend who has that, it's a must in this field because it's almost set in the stone age. Google maps was crazy expensive I went with Mapbox[1] for now which seems to have enough features and is less expensive. [1] https://mapbox.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
"Next Valley" My single-screen Windows theme
|Developer Notes| |:-| |Optional Power Shortcuts - Provides shortcuts to deeper links. Example: I wanted a one-touch button that opens the Developer Options menu. This app does this. Not required for core functionality of the theme.| |Allows 4 custom wallpapers, either local files or web links. Includes 2 add'l wallpapers pulled from Bing Daily and r/earthporn.| |The location and weather panel has a live map... Source: over 2 years ago
NEXT VALLEY - A single-screen Windows theme for KLWP [Sharing the whole damn thing]
The location and weather panel has a live map displayed. Well, it won't for you, unless you grab a free API key from mapbox.com and paste it in the 1st global. Source: over 2 years ago
QGIS in PowerBI
If you want to show polygons it is a bit more difficult. With the above map functions you can create a Choropleth map by using predefined regions (like countries, states etc.). But for custom polygons it won't work. You can either use ArcGIS Online in combination with the ArcGIS Maps for Power BI viz or use the Mapbox Visual function (you need to install this one first by pressing "Get more visuals"). You can... Source: over 2 years ago
How is this map made?
They are using mapbox.com service and their API to build this map. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Maps and Mapbox, you can also consider the following products

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

OSGeo - QGIS is a desktop geographic information system, or GIS.

ArcGIS - ArcGIS software is a data analysis, cloud-based mapping platform that allows users to customize maps and see real-time data ranging from logistics support to overall mapping analysis.

Google Earth Pro - Google Earth Pro allows you fly anywhere around the earth to view satellite imagery, maps, 3D building, and terrain, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean.

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

Mapwize - A user-friendly indoor mapping platform

OpenStreetMap vs Google Maps

OpenStreetMap vs Mapbox

OSGeo vs Google Maps

OSGeo vs Mapbox

ArcGIS vs Google Maps

ArcGIS vs Mapbox

Google Earth Pro vs Google Maps

Google Earth Pro vs Mapbox

OsmAnd vs Google Maps

OsmAnd vs Mapbox