MapBox or Google Maps API?

If you want to use maps for your website, there are lots of services to choose from. Two major ones are

• Google Maps
• Mapbox

They both work in similar fashion. Obviously Google Maps is more ubiquitous. But from developers’ point of view, which is one is better?

There is slight price difference. If you are using it for very high volume application then you really need to evaluate both of them in details to understand which one serves your use cases better.

But if you are staying within free limits in either of these APIs then here are some quick tips to choose the best one.

Google Maps API

+ better driving direction

+ better geocoding e.g. if you put “Taj Mahal” it plots marker correctly

+ more detailed maps

- Mercator projection only

Mapbox API

+ different projections, including 3D glove view available

+ more customization, better tiling control e.g. you can easily create a map to show countries in different color

- relatively poor geocoding e.g. it thought Taj Mahal is a restaurant in USA unless it is fully qualified like “Taj Mahal, Agra, India”.

TL;DR

If you are working at city, state or country level maps then Google Maps is better. But if you are working at global level and cannot stand wrong Mercator projection then Mapbox globe view is lot more attractive.

Check both in our FlexiMap web page.