Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

QGIS VS Distance By Postcode

Compare QGIS VS Distance By Postcode and see what are their differences

QGIS logo QGIS

Spatial visualization and decision-making tools for everyone

Distance By Postcode logo Distance By Postcode

Calculate accurate driving distances between UK postcodes in bulk.
  • QGIS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-01-05

open source

  • Distance By Postcode Homepage
    Homepage //
    2026-01-07
  • Distance By Postcode Input Page
    Input Page //
    2026-01-07
  • Distance By Postcode Input Page With Examples
    Input Page With Examples //
    2026-01-07

Distance By Postcode is a postcode distance calculator that allows you to calculate accurate driving distances and journey times between postcodes in bulk.

Unlike "as the crow flies" tools, we use Google's Distance Matrix API and Routes API to calculate distances in miles using real road networks, ideal for delivery planning, logistics, travel estimates and route costing.

We have two tools available:

Point to point, which allows users to calculate the distance between parked of postcode in bulk. Multi-stop, allows users to calculate distances between routes in bulk, each route can have up to 25 stops.

QGIS

Website
qgis.org
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-

Distance By Postcode

$ Details
freemium ยฃ0.01 (Free if you use own API)
Release Date
2025 December

QGIS features and specs

  • Open Source
    QGIS is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and the source code is accessible to anyone. This allows for flexibility in customization and encourages community-driven enhancements.
  • Cross-Platform
    QGIS runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, making it accessible on almost any operating system.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    The software supports a wide range of plugins that enhance its functionality, allowing users to add specialized tools and automate tasks.
  • Active Community
    QGIS has a vibrant community of users and developers who contribute to forums, documentation, and plugin development, ensuring the software is continuously improving.
  • Comprehensive GIS Features
    It offers a wide array of tools for geospatial analysis, data visualization, cartographic presentation, and data management.
  • Frequent Updates
    QGIS is regularly updated, meaning new features and bug fixes are continually released, keeping the software current and reliable.

Possible disadvantages of QGIS

  • Learning Curve
    For new users unfamiliar with GIS software, QGIS can be daunting to learn due to its vast array of features and tools.
  • Variable Document Quality
    While there is extensive documentation available, the quality and completeness can vary, making it sometimes challenging to find concise and accurate information.
  • Performance Issues
    QGIS may experience performance lags when working with very large datasets or complex processing tasks.
  • Inconsistent Interface
    Due to its open-source nature and varied contributions, the user interface and experience might be inconsistent across different versions or plugins.
  • Limited Support
    Without formalized support structures typical of commercial software, users often rely heavily on community forums for troubleshooting.

Distance By Postcode features and specs

  • Free to use
    Distance By Postcode is a free online tool that allows users to calculate distances between postcodes without any subscription or payment required.
  • Simple and intuitive interface
    The website features a straightforward, minimalist design where users simply enter two postcodes and get results quickly, making it accessible even for non-technical users.
  • Multiple distance units
    The tool provides distance calculations in both miles and kilometers, catering to users who prefer different measurement systems.
  • Driving and straight-line distances
    The service offers both the straight-line (as the crow flies) distance and driving distance between postcodes, giving users more useful and contextual information.
  • No registration required
    Users can access the distance calculation tool immediately without needing to create an account or sign up, reducing friction and saving time.

Analysis of Distance By Postcode

Overall verdict

  • Distance By Postcode is a solid, straightforward tool for quickly calculating distances between UK postcodes, making it good for basic route-planning and logistics estimation needs, though it lacks the advanced features of full mapping platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Simple and easy-to-use interface for calculating point-to-point distances
  • Free to use for basic postcode distance lookups
  • Supports UK postcode format specifically, which is useful for local businesses
  • Provides both straight-line and driving distance options in many cases
  • No account or sign-up typically required for basic use

Recommended for

  • UK-based small businesses estimating delivery distances
  • Individuals planning trips between UK locations
  • Logistics coordinators needing quick distance checks
  • Real estate or service professionals calculating travel radius
  • Users who need a lightweight tool without complex mapping features

QGIS videos

Demo 1 - What is GIS, and why use QGIS?

More videos:

  • Review - The Most Popular QGIS Plugin๐Ÿ˜Ž(and Why You Need It)
  • Review - QGIS Release: 3.40 review

Distance By Postcode videos

No Distance By Postcode videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to QGIS and Distance By Postcode)
Mapping And GIS
100 100%
0% 0
Maps
94 94%
6% 6
APIs
0 0%
100% 100
Web Mapping
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing QGIS and Distance By Postcode.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Distance By Postcode's answer:

It offers both a free version for users who have their own Google Distance Matrix API, or they can use our pay-per-use, which we are transparent with and is only ยฃ0.01 per pair of postcodes calculated.

What makes your product unique?

Distance By Postcode's answer:

Allows users to calculate the distance between pairs of postcodes in bulk, and does so using road networks, not "as the crow flies" which can be inaccurate.

What's the story behind your product?

Distance By Postcode's answer:

I built Distance by Postcode after a logistics manager at work needed to calculate driving distances between a few hundred UK postcodes. Most tools we tried were either manual one by one, only offered โ€œas-the-crow-fliesโ€ distances, or hid pricing behind opaque plans.

So I built a tool using the Google Distance Matrix API that calculated driving distance and estimated travel time between postcode pairs at scale, specifically using the roads, just like inputting a pair of postcodes into Google Maps and it picking the shortest distance by default. After it proved useful internally, I decided to turn it into a simple public website and keep everything as straightforward and transparent as possible.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Distance By Postcode's answer:

Google Distance Matrix API, Python, GitHub, JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Distance By Postcode's answer:

It is ideal for delivery drivers, couriers, e-commerce businesses, logistics planners and anyone needing bulk accurate UK postcode distances.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare QGIS and Distance By Postcode

QGIS Reviews

Top 10 GIS Software Tools And Solutions
QGIS stands as one of the most significant community-driven efforts in the history of GIS, showcasing the power of open-source innovation. QGIS 2 set a high standard, and full support has now shifted to QGIS 3, continuing its legacy of excellence. Despite being completely open-source, QGIS rivals the best commercial GIS software with its extensive features.
Source: em360tech.com
30 Best GIS Software Applications [Rankings]
QGIS 2 was one of the largest community efforts and open source progress in the history of GIS. And because it was community-driven, it became wildly innovative and inventive. Even though QGIS 2 is completely open source, it still rivals the best. But now, full support has shifted to QGIS 3.

Distance By Postcode Reviews

We have no reviews of Distance By Postcode yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, QGIS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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.

QGIS mentions (2)

  • Deploy your own open-source Web GIS server instance on a VPS in 15 minutes with Docker
    NextGIS Web takes a different approach. It is a complete, integrated solution covering everything from data storage and user management to data publishing and a built-in web map engine. It is a mature open-source product with over 12 years of development. One of its key strengths is deep integration with QGIS, the leading open-source desktop GIS application. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Rekichizu: A Modern Take on Japan's Historical Maps
    To transform this static image into the interactive web service seen today, Kato began a labor-intensive process of creating the digital data. He corrected and adjusted those data by referencing the Geospatial Information Authority Map (ๅœฐ็†้™ขๅœฐๅ›ณ). Then actual drawing and data creation was performed using QGIS, a free and open-source geospatial information system (GIS) software. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago

Distance By Postcode mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Distance By Postcode yet. Tracking of Distance By Postcode recommendations started around Jan 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing QGIS and Distance By Postcode, you can also consider the following products

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.

Distance Matrix API - The API for computing distances, that accounts for traffic conditions, has different travel modes, forecasting features, and unlimited matrix size

Google Maps API - Choose Google Maps Platform to create immersive location experiences and make better business decisions with accurate real time data & dynamic imagery.

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.

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.

MapInfo Pro - Next generation analytics made easy.