Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
OpenStreetMap Review
The community-built, openly licensed map of the world
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
OpenStreetMap suits people who want map data that is open, editable and reusable, from hobby mappers to developers. The trade-off is that the main site is not a full navigation app, and data quality depends on the local community.
Best for: Developers and organisations that need openly licensed map data
Skip it if: Anyone who just wants a ready-made navigation app with live traffic
Pros
- Data under the ODbL can be copied, adapted and distributed with attribution
- Anyone can contribute, with editors such as iD and JOSM
- No fees for viewing or editing
Cons
- Coverage and quality vary by region, depending on the local community
- The standard tile servers are restricted: no bulk download, no offline use, no availability guarantee
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- Large services such as Apple, Mapbox, Uber and Strava reuse the data, per TechCrunch
Cons
- The foundation is tiny: one employee plus a few contractors, per TechCrunch (August 2024)
Best for
- People who want to add roads and places to a shared map themselves
- Humanitarian and research projects that need freely editable data
Skip it if
- Apps that need offline downloads from the standard tile servers
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a project to create and provide free geographic data. Steve Coast started it in 2004 while at University College London, according to Wikipedia. The OpenStreetMap Foundation, a UK not-for-profit set up in 2006, supports the project without controlling it.
Volunteers map roads, railway stations, cafes and much more. HeiGIT says almost 2.4 million people have contributed, with around 50,000 active mappers a month in 2025. Registered accounts are far higher: Wikipedia lists 10.6 million.
The data is licensed under the ODbL: you may copy, distribute and adapt it if you credit OpenStreetMap and its contributors, and derivative databases must stay under the same licence. The tile policy bans bulk downloading and offline use, and allows access to be blocked without notice.
The openstreetmap.org site is mainly for viewing, editing and exporting map data, not a consumer navigation service. Many companies build on OSM data, including Apple, Mapbox, Uber and Strava per TechCrunch. That makes OSM a fit for people who want base data or want to contribute, rather than those who only need a route-finding app.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Dữ liệu mở / Open data
PersonalFree
Free to view the map and contribute data. The standard tile server has its own usage policy and no availability guarantee.
- Free plan limits
- Data is free to use under the ODbL if you credit OpenStreetMap and its contributors. The tile policy prohibits bulk downloading and offline use from the standard servers.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Not applicable, since the service is free. Donations and OSM Foundation membership (GBP 15 a year) are voluntary.
Privacy
The OpenStreetMap Foundation's privacy policy says each edit is recorded with the user ID and a timestamp, and this is generally visible to everyone on the website. Public GPS traces show the uploader's display name along with the timestamps in the GPX file. Area downloads of GPS data through the API include points from non-public traces, without saying who uploaded them. If an account with contributions is deleted, the contributions are kept under a user-ID-based name and the email address is retained non-publicly. Piwik analytics shortens IP addresses to two bytes and keeps detailed usage data for 180 days.
OpenStreetMap alternatives
8.1/10Wikipedia
The free, ad-free encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers
7.8/10Google Maps
The free all-rounder map: navigation, traffic, places and Gemini AI
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenStreetMap free?
Yes. Viewing the map and contributing data are free, and the data is under the ODbL. Donations and OSM Foundation membership are voluntary: GBP 15 a year, which can be waived for active contributors.
Can I use OSM data in a commercial product?
The ODbL lets you copy, distribute and adapt the data if you credit OpenStreetMap and its contributors. Derived databases must keep the same licence. Read the full legal text.
Can I use OSM's tile servers for my app?
Within the policy: use HTTPS, show attribution clearly, send a User-Agent that names your app and honour caching. Bulk downloading and offline use are prohibited and availability is not guaranteed. High-volume needs should self-host or use a commercial provider.
Are my edits removed if I delete my account?
No. Per the privacy policy, contributors are renamed to a user-ID-based name and their contributions and changeset comments are kept, while the diary and user page are removed.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 6.5
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 9.0
- Performance
- 6.5
- Support
- 6.0
- Privacy & security
- 7.0
Why this score
Viewing the map is simple, but contributing means learning an editor and tagging conventions. The main site is not a full navigation app.
Why this score
It offers an API, several editors, GPS traces, diaries and local communities, and the data is widely reused. Navigation and traffic rely on third-party services.
Why this score
Free, with an open licence that allows reuse, including commercial use, with attribution. Costs only arise if you need your own infrastructure or a commercial tile provider.
Why this score
The tile policy says availability is best-effort with no guarantee, and access may be blocked without notice. Heavy users are better served by self-hosting or a commercial provider.
Why this score
Help comes from the wiki, forums and local communities, with no customer-support team. The foundation has a single employee per TechCrunch.
Why this score
The policy is clear, and Piwik truncates IP addresses and keeps detailed data for only 180 days. On the other hand, edits are public and tied to usernames, and contributions remain after account deletion, which is inherent to an open dataset.
Sources
- Vendor-providedOpenStreetMap copyright and license pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOSMF tile usage policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOSMF privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOpenStreetMap Foundation main pageNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: OpenStreetMapNov 10, 2026
- pressTechCrunch (2024-08-10)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedHeiGIT: new user statistics in ohsomeNowNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOSMF membership pageNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
Change history
- Update.Map tiles on the website stop being licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Update.Registered users pass one million.
- Update.The data licence changes from CC BY-SA to the ODbL.
Full change history (5)
- Company.The OpenStreetMap Foundation is established to support free geospatial data.
- Launch.Steve Coast launches OpenStreetMap while at University College London.
About the author
Reviews & comments
Written by readers with a verified email address.
No reviews yet. Have you used OpenStreetMap? Share your real experience.
Reader reviews are counted separately and do not affect the Editorial Team’s score.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Comments are readers’ opinions, not content from the AppDuo Editorial Team.