Protomaps
An open-source system for publishing interactive world maps from a single PMTiles file on static storage.
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About Protomaps
Protomaps lets you host your own web maps without running a tile server. Map tiles are packed into one PMTiles archive, placed on ordinary cloud storage such as S3, and read by the browser with HTTP range requests. The project maintains a basemap built from OpenStreetMap and other open data, which you can download for the whole planet or cut to an area with the command line tool.
It also provides a MapLibre plugin, themes and languages for the basemap, and a hosted tiles API that is free for noncommercial use. It suits frontend developers who want OSM maps without server setup.
Strengths
- Serves maps from a single static file with no tile server
- Free OpenStreetMap basemap for the whole planet
- CLI can extract just the area you need
- Works with MapLibre through a plugin
Limitations
- Aimed at developers building web maps, not end users
- Commercial use of the hosted API requires sponsorship
Details
- Pricing
- FreemiumSoftware and planet download are free; the hosted API is free for noncommercial use and needs GitHub sponsorship for commercial use.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- Protomaps
- Platforms
- Web, Self-hosted, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app, Self-hosted, Hosted service
- Best suited for
- Web developers self-hosting OpenStreetMap basemaps cheaply
- Categories
- Developer tools, Maps & navigation
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Protomaps
Compare allSoftware that can replace Protomaps for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
OpenMapTiles
An open-source schema, map styles and tools for generating OpenStreetMap vector tiles to self-host.
OpenMapTiles provides a documented vector tile schema and free styles for self-hosting, but generating tiles for large areas takes significant resources and needs a tile server.
TileServer GL
A self-hosted map tile server for vector and raster tiles with server-side rendering of GL styles.
TileServer GL serves both vector and raster tiles with server-side rendering of GL styles, requiring your own tile data and a running server.
Martin
Lightweight vector tile server that serves map tiles from PostGIS, MBTiles and PMTiles sources.
Martin is a lightweight tile server that serves PostGIS, MBTiles and PMTiles sources, so it needs a running server rather than static file storage.
Mapbox Studio
A browser-based design tool for building custom vector map styles and publishing them to apps.
Mapbox Studio is a proprietary hosted service for styling and publishing maps, with styles tied to the Mapbox platform and heavier use moving into paid tiers.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Maputnik
An open source browser-based visual editor for MapLibre map styles.
pg_tileserv
A lightweight Go server that turns PostGIS tables and functions into Mapbox Vector Tiles over HTTP.
Tegola
An open source vector tile server written in Go that slices geospatial data into tiles.
OpenStreetMap
A collaboratively edited world map you can browse, search, route on and edit in a browser.
GeoServer
An open-source server that publishes geospatial data from common spatial sources through open OGC standards.
kepler.gl
An open-source WebGL web application for visualizing and exploring large geospatial datasets.
