Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenStreetMap VS Google

Compare OpenStreetMap VS Google and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

OpenStreetMap logo OpenStreetMap

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

Google logo Google

Google Search, also referred to as Google Web Search or simply Google, is a web search engine developed by Google. It is the most used search engine on the World Wide Web
  • OpenStreetMap Cover Photo
    Cover Photo //
    2024-01-08
  • Google Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-09

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extensive global coverage, which can be especially useful in regions where commercial map services might be limited or outdated.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.

Google features and specs

  • Search Efficiency
    Google provides highly efficient and relevant search results due to its advanced algorithms and vast indexing capabilities.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface of Google is clean, simple, and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all ages and technical abilities.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Google seamlessly integrates with other Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Maps, providing a unified ecosystem.
  • Speed
    Search results on Google are delivered almost instantly, offering a smooth and efficient user experience.
  • Advanced Search Features
    Google offers numerous advanced search features like voice search, image search, and search filters that enhance user experience.

Possible disadvantages of Google

  • Privacy Concerns
    Google collects a significant amount of user data for ads and personalization, raising privacy concerns among users.
  • Ad Saturation
    The presence of multiple ads at the top of the search results can sometimes degrade the user experience by burying organic results.
  • Filter Bubble
    Google's search algorithms can create a 'filter bubble' effect where users are shown information that aligns with their previous searches, potentially limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.
  • Monopolistic Practices
    Critics argue that Google’s dominant market position stifles competition and limits choices for consumers.
  • Complexity of Search Commands
    While advanced search features are powerful, they can also be complex for the average user to utilize effectively.

Analysis of OpenStreetMap

Overall verdict

  • OpenStreetMap is widely regarded as a valuable resource due to its open-data approach, community-driven updates, and versatility. It is an excellent choice for those who need customizable, up-to-date maps and prefer open-source solutions.

Why this product is good

  • OpenStreetMap (OSM) is good because it is a collaborative project that provides freely accessible and editable map data. It is powered by a large community of volunteers who continually update and refine the information, ensuring that it remains current and comprehensive. The data from OSM can be used for various applications such as navigation, analysis, and even gaming, thanks to its open licensing (ODbL). It encourages innovation and accessibility, allowing developers and organizations to create and customize maps without the restrictions typically associated with proprietary alternatives.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking open-source map data for applications
  • Organizations looking for customizable and cost-effective mapping solutions
  • Individuals interested in contributing to open data projects
  • Researchers conducting spatial analysis
  • Anyone needing access to worldwide map data without licensing fees

OpenStreetMap videos

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

Google videos

Google — Year in Search 2019

More videos:

  • Review - Project Jacquard Smart Jacket: Levi's Commuter Trucker Review
  • Review - Project Jacquard: Levi’s smart jacket first look
  • Review - Get Google reviews for your business the fast and easy way
  • Review - Google — Year In Search 2018
  • Review - Project Jacquard | Hela Geek Review
  • Tutorial - Why Your Google Reviews Are Not Enough and How To Get More Easily!
  • Review - Google — Year In Search 2021

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenStreetMap and Google)
Maps
100 100%
0% 0
Search Engine
0 0%
100% 100
Web Mapping
100 100%
0% 0
Internet Search
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 OpenStreetMap and Google

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.
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.
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...

Google Reviews

  1. Exploring Google: A comprehensive review of the search giant

    Google has been an integral part of my digital life for many years. Its search engine is unparalleled in its ability to fine relevant information quickly and accurately. The user-friendly interface and wide range of services make it a go- to for everything from email to navigation.

    🏁 Competitors: Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo
    👍 Pros:    Google's search engine consistently delivers highly relevant results
    👎 Cons:    Google's data collection practices have raised privacy concerns among users, as the company collects vast amounts of personal information for targeted advertising.
  2. My Search Companion

    Google is the most reliable source for me to find the correct information. Its user-friendly interface and speedy results make searching much easier. From answers to random questions and finding locations, Google has never let me down. Its the first app I turn to when I need information. Highly recommended

    👍 Pros:    Feature rich|Speedy performance|Intuitive user interface
    👎 Cons:    Minor glitches|Ads
  3. The Lead Market
    Best Search Engine

    Best Search Engine


Alternative search engines
Startpage lies at the opposite side of the spectrum from Mojeek in that it is simply a proxy for Google Search. So, Startpage lets you use Google Search without handing over any personal data to Google. If you just want Google Search with better privacy, Startpage is your best bet.
"The Rise of Online Learning Platforms in India"
Udemy: A popular platform with a wide range of course offerings from various instructors. Google and Google Digital Garage: Offers a variety of online courses, workshops, and training programs with the added advantage of choosing from different learning options. DomainRacer Tutor LMS Hosting: Provides a comprehensive solution for creating and selling online courses, with...
Best DuckDuckGo Alternative: Private Search Engines in 2024
Startpage obtains its search results from Google Search, but still maintains privacy by not tracking users or storing personal information or search history. As a result of using Google’s web index, Startpage provides high-quality search results. One of its distinguishing features is its “anonymous view,” which masks your identity via a proxy while you visit websites...
Best and Worst Hotel Booking Sites for 2024
#1: Google.com/travel/hotels Our top spot goes to the mightiest of search engines, which has built the most nimble hotel aggregator in the business. Sure, you can Google a hotel’s name directly to see rates from various sites, but type the less-than-catchy Google.com/travel/hotels, and you get Google’s full-fledged aggregator interface.
The 8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries
The full Google Trips service eventually shut down, leaving only a remnant of the original app, Google Trip Summaries. This part of the app allowed you to review past and upcoming trips, add reservations to your Google calendar, and review some activity, transport, and accommodation suggestions. However, Google Trip Summaries has now been shut down, leaving users looking for...
Source: wanderlog.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google seems to be a lot more popular than OpenStreetMap. While we know about 3737 links to Google, we've tracked only 129 mentions of OpenStreetMap. 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.

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

Google mentions (3737)

  • Automate Website Monitoring with Python and Crontab on Linux
    Sends a simple HTTP request to https://google.com using curl. Captures the response and determines whether the request was successful. Logs the result (either SUCCES, FAILURE, or an error message) along with the current date and time to a log file located in your home directory. Before automating the script, it’s important to test that it works as expected. Open your terminal and run the Python script manually... - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • Build a Clickstream Analytics API with Tinybird
    { "event_id": "ev_14742", "user_id": "user_742", "session_id": "sess_4742", "event_type": "page_view", "page_url": "https://example.com/contact", "page_title": "Contact Page", "referrer": "https://google.com", "timestamp": "2025-05-07 11:02:40", "device_type": "desktop", "browser": "Safari", "properties": "{\"browser_version\":\"13.0\", \"screen_size\":\"1766x1010\"}" }. - Source: dev.to / 24 days ago
  • How to Launch Chrome with Default Profile in Selenium?
    From selenium import webdriver # Create instance of ChromeOptions Options = webdriver.ChromeOptions() # Specify the user data directory path Options.add_argument("user-data-dir=C:/Users/Me/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data") # Launch Chrome with the specified options Try: driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options) Except Exception as e: print(f"Error launching Chrome: {e}") # Open Google as a... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • QUIC: The Future Network Protocol, Already Here Today
    QUIC is a transport protocol developed by Google to improve the performance of web applications. It relies on UDP (User Datagram Protocol) instead of TCP, allowing it to reduce latency and optimize data flow management. QUIC was designed to address the classic problems of TCP, such as the 3-way handshake latency and head-of-line blocking, where the loss of a single packet blocks the entire connection. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Introducing IntentJS - A delightful NodeJS Framework
    Import { MailMessage } from '@intentjs/core'; Const mail = MailMessage.init() .greeting('Hey there') .line( 'We received your request to reset your account password.', ) .button('Click here to reset your password', 'https://google.com') .line('Alternative, you can also enter the code below when prompted') .inlineCode('ABCD1234') .line('Rise & Shine,') .line('V') .subject('Hey there from... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

DuckDuckGo - The Internet privacy company that empowers you to seamlessly take control of your personal information online, without any tradeoffs.

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

Bing - Bing helps you turn information into action, making it faster and easier to go from searching to doing.

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.

YouTube - Our mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world.