OpenStreetMap
The free map of the world that volunteers edit and most of the tools here are built on.
Instead of Google Maps
Screenshot from www.openstreetmap.org, taken 2026-10-23, shown to help you recognise the tool. It belongs to its maker. Ask us to remove it.
OpenStreetMap is a map of the world that volunteers edit and anyone may use, started by Steve Coast in 2004. The OpenStreetMap Foundation, a not-for-profit, supports the project but says it does not control it or own the data, which is why so many of the maps in this category are built on it. You can browse it in a browser, download all the underlying data, or start editing straight away.
It is a map and not a navigation app, so for turn-by-turn directions on your phone you want one of the apps built on it. Coverage is uneven from place to place, and business listings and live traffic trail Google's. The Foundation is funded by memberships, donations and corporate members, and we have not looked into how that money splits.
- A map of the world that volunteers edit and anyone may use
- The Foundation says it does not control the project or own the data
- You can download all the underlying data, or start editing in the browser
What stands out
Do you make OpenStreetMap? Get the badge for your site
This badge reports a dated review. It is not a certification and it costs nothing. Link it to this page and leave the numbers alone: the image always shows the current score.
For dark backgrounds, use openstreetmap-dark.svg in place of openstreetmap-light.svg.
For comparison, we also reviewed Google Maps (17/30) as a benchmark.
