A Mapbox alternative with free map tiles

Mapricot and Mapbox both offer vector maps, geocoding, place search, and routing. Mapricot's map tiles are free and need no API key, and its APIs cost $0.10 per 1,000 requests after 250,000 free every 30 days, with one price for every endpoint.

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Equivalent APIs

Each Mapricot API next to the Mapbox product that does the same job. Mapricot's API isn't compatible with any other provider's, so switching means changing requests and response handling.

What you need
Mapricot
Mapbox

Forward geocoding

Mapricot GET /v1/search
Mapbox Geocoding API

Reverse geocoding

Mapricot GET /v1/reverse
Mapbox Geocoding API, reverse

Autocomplete

Mapricot GET /v1/autocomplete
Mapbox Search Box API suggestions

Nearby places by category

Mapricot GET /v1/nearby
Mapbox Search Box API category search

Place lookup by ID

Mapricot GET /v1/places/{id}
Mapbox Search Box API retrieve

Driving, cycling, and walking routes

Mapricot POST /v1/route
Mapbox Directions API

IP geolocation

Mapricot GET /v1/ip/{ip}
Mapbox Not listed

Vector map tiles

Mapricot Free, no API key, for MapLibre
Mapbox Vector tiles and Mapbox GL JS, priced per map load

Mapbox products, from its documentation, checked October 22, 2026.

When to choose each

Where Mapricot is stronger

  • Free map tiles with no key. Mapbox GL JS costs $5.00 per 1,000 map loads after 50,000 free a month.
  • One price for every endpoint, with no separate session pricing for autocomplete.
  • IP geolocation under the same key and price.
  • MapLibre, the open-source fork of Mapbox GL JS, so most map code carries over.

Where Mapbox is stronger

  • Traffic-aware driving times, plus the Matrix, Isochrone, and Optimization APIs.
  • Custom map styles designed in Mapbox Studio.
  • Navigation SDKs with turn-by-turn guidance.
  • Permanent geocoding, for results you're licensed to store.

Mapbox pricing

Mapbox is free up to each product's monthly allowance, including 50,000 web map loads and 100,000 temporary geocoding requests. Past that, each product has its own rate, which falls with volume.

What you pay for
Mapbox

Map display

Mapbox GL JS: 50,000 map loads free a month, then $5.00 per 1,000

Geocoding

Temporary: 100,000 free a month, then $0.75 per 1,000. Permanent: $5.00 per 1,000, with no free tier

Places and autocomplete

Search Box: 50,000 requests free a month, then $1.00 per 1,000

Routing

Directions: 100,000 free a month, then $2.00 per 1,000

Each rate is the first paid tier. The Search Box rate is Mapbox's introductory price; its standard rate is $1.70 per 1,000 after 25,000 free. Source: Mapbox pricing, last checked October 22, 2026. Mapricot charges $0.10 per 1,000 requests after 250,000 free every 30 days, shared by every API, and its map tiles are free with no key.

Differences to plan for

  • Maps: MapLibre GL JS began as a fork of Mapbox GL JS, so map code usually carries over. Mapbox-hosted styles and custom styles made in Mapbox Studio don't.
  • Polylines: Mapricot encodes route lines with six decimal places, the same as Mapbox's polyline6 format.
  • Routes: Mapricot returns distance, travel time, and a line for driving, walking, and cycling. It doesn't include traffic, turn-by-turn instructions, or route matrices.
  • Pricing: Mapricot has no separate session pricing for autocomplete and no per-field charges. Every request costs the same.

Start with 250,000 free requests

Sign in with your email, create an API key, and make your first request in a few minutes. No credit card required.

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