Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Leaflet VS OpenMapTiles

Compare Leaflet VS OpenMapTiles and see what are their differences

Leaflet logo Leaflet

Leaflet is a modern, lightweight open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps.

OpenMapTiles logo OpenMapTiles

Design and host maps with OpenStreetMap vector tiles and open-source tools. Maps are compatible with Leaflet, Mapbox GL SDKs, GIS, WMTS/WMS, XYZ map tiles, etc.
  • Leaflet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-13
  • OpenMapTiles Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-20

Leaflet features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Leaflet is designed to be easy on resources, making it fast to load and suitable for performance-critical applications.
  • Ease of Use
    The API is straightforward and well-documented, which makes it accessible for developers of all experience levels.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source means it is free to use and has a collaborative community contributing to its improvement.
  • Extensible
    Leaflet supports a wide range of plugins for additional functionality, allowing for customization and extension based on specific requirements.
  • Support for Mobile
    Leaflet is optimized for mobile browsers and touch devices, including multi-touch support.
  • Customizable
    It allows for extensive customization with a variety of map projections, tile layers, and interactive overlays.

Possible disadvantages of Leaflet

  • Limited Built-in Features
    Compared to some other mapping libraries, Leaflet has fewer built-in features out of the box.
  • Performance with Large Data Sets
    Rendering large data sets (such as many markers or complex geometries) can impact performance.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    While basic use is straightforward, more advanced customizations can be challenging and may require deeper knowledge of JavaScript and Leaflet's architecture.
  • Limited 3D Support
    Leaflet is primarily designed for 2D maps, and doesn't natively support 3D visualizations, which may be a limitation for some applications.
  • Dependence on Third-party Services
    For certain functionalities like tile layers, geocoding, and routing, you may need to rely on third-party services, which can involve additional costs and dependencies.

OpenMapTiles features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenMapTiles is open source, which means you can modify and distribute the code, offering flexibility and community-driven improvements.
  • Cost-Effective
    Being open source and having options for self-hosting, it can be a cost-effective solution compared to proprietary alternatives.
  • Customization
    Users can tailor maps to specific requirements, thanks to the flexibility in styling and data choices.
  • Wide Platform Support
    OpenMapTiles can be used with a variety of platforms and technologies, ensuring compatibility with most mapping applications and systems.
  • Regular Updates
    Frequent updates ensure that users have access to the latest data and features, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of the maps.

Possible disadvantages of OpenMapTiles

  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex, requiring significant technical expertise to implement and customize.
  • Limited Support
    While community support is available, users might face challenges in obtaining dedicated support, compared to proprietary solutions.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running and maintaining self-hosted tile servers can be resource-intensive, requiring sufficient computational and storage capabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a steep learning curve for new users unfamiliar with the open data formats and technologies used by OpenMapTiles.
  • Potential Data Gaps
    Reliance on open data sources might lead to occasional data gaps or inconsistencies, affecting map detail and accuracy in some regions.

Leaflet videos

leaflet review

More videos:

  • Review - Labour Party Leaflet Review
  • Demo - Liberal Democrats Party Leaflet Review

OpenMapTiles videos

OpenMapTiles: Vector tiles from OpenStreetMap

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Leaflet and OpenMapTiles)
Maps
83 83%
17% 17
Web Mapping
77 77%
23% 23
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Tool
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Leaflet and OpenMapTiles

Leaflet Reviews

Top 15 Price Monitoring Tools For E-Commerce In 2022
Leaflet.js is the most popular open-source JavaScript library for providing mobile-friendly interactive maps. With a simple, easy-to-use interface, it is the perfect solution for all of your data management needs. It operates well right out of the box on all major platforms and devices. The platform offers the following services:
Source: adscale.com
Top 5 Open-Source Google Maps Alternatives in 2022
The Leaflet is another open source interactive maps software that comes with self-hosting capabilities. This map application is lightweight and easy to use. Above all, it is available for all desktop and mobile platforms such as Android, IOS, and web. Further, this offline maps app is highly extensible and offers a well-documented API for third-party integrations. This open...
The Best Data Visualization Tools - Top 30 BI Software
Leaflet leverages OpenStreetMap data and adds HTML5/CSS3 visualizations and interactivity on top to ensure everything is responsive and mobile ready. Its extensive plugin repository lets you add heatmaps , masks and animated markers. Leaflet is open source JavaScript library designed for creating interactive mobile-friendly maps and ships at only 33kb. This Javascript...
Source: improvado.io
Farewell, Google Maps
On a positive note we were impressed by the quality of open source code for operating maps (Leaflet). Some advanced functions which we had implement ourselves on Google side were readily available in Leaflet.
Survey of the Best Online Mapping Tools for Web Developers: The Roadmap to Roadmaps
It is safe to say that Leaflet was born as a reaction to OpenLayers’ bloat, clutter and complexity. Vladimir Agafonkin was asked to build a wrapper around OpenLayers, but he instead created a simple and lightweight OpenLayers alternative, and in May 2011 Leaflet was born. Vladimir focused on simplicity, performance and usability for this online map tool. The core library...
Source: www.toptal.com

OpenMapTiles Reviews

We have no reviews of OpenMapTiles yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Leaflet should be more popular than OpenMapTiles. It has been mentiond 133 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.

Leaflet mentions (133)

  • Understanding Mapbox API Integration: A Deep Dive
    Leaflet with OpenStreetMap: Cost-effective open-source solution with no vendor lock-in, lightweight JavaScript library perfect for basic mapping needs, though lacking some advanced features found in commercial options. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • Data viz library built with Apache ECharts, Leaflet, and shadcn
    This is a terrible title. Info on what leaflet.js is here: https://leafletjs.com/. Took me a lot longer than I'd like to find that, and I'm still not sure what it has to do with the majority of those examples. - Source: Hacker News / 25 days ago
  • Show HN: Leaflet.pub a web app for delightful documents
    Just as an FYI: "leaflet" is the name of a popular web mapping JS library. https://leafletjs.com/ May or may not be relevant for you, but if you're releasing client libraries of any sort, it might be good to be aware of. Either way, looks nifty!! - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • The Tools and APIs That Made My GeoGuessr 🌍 Project Possible
    For the map interface, I chose Leaflet.js. It’s an open-source JavaScript library for interactive maps. I liked it because it’s lightweight and easy to use. With Leaflet, I could display the map, add markers, and let users interact with it seamlessly. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How can I integrate Leaflet to React Native
    Hi, I am very new with React Native. I built a smartphone app with Cordova but I want to migrate to Reat Native. My App use and need Leaftlet and Chartjs and I need to find a way to use those feature with my new Reat Native 7.6 and Expo App. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
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OpenMapTiles mentions (14)

  • VersaTiles – a complete FLOSS map stack
    Functionally they are rather similar in what they're aiming for. Architecturally there are some differences. OpenFreeMap uses the MapTiles format [1] which is an open source format for vector tiles that does require the attribution of the OpenMapTiles page for every map generated from it (CC-BY license). Versatiles uses the Shortbread format instead [2] which is published under a CC0 license. Instead of the SQLite... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • I honestly don't like using most Openstreetmap websites: slow, clunky. Is there a better way to do this faster on my own desktop?
    The docs of https://openmaptiles.org is probably enough and they also offer a tileset. Creating your own vectortiles from openstreetmap is a bit of a rabbit hole as well as resource demanding task. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How would you build something like this?
    Something like https://openmaptiles.org/ to host map server. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Synology Photos HEIC support after 7.1.1-42962 Update 4
    Custom tiles are doable (see also https://openmaptiles.org/), but then you need some people dedicated to maintain the data and serving them; your costs would shift from buying the service to your own operations. Thi would be still non-zero (compared to current state). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Any websites that make world maps for board games?
    Https://openmaptiles.org/ - usable with copyright attribution and a bit of effort on your part. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Leaflet and OpenMapTiles, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

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

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

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

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

OpenLayers - A high-performance, feature-packed library for all your mapping needs.