leaflet vs mapbox-gl vs react-map-gl vs maplibre-gl vs deck.gl vs google-maps-react
Web Mapping Libraries Comparison
1 Year
leafletmapbox-glreact-map-glmaplibre-gldeck.glgoogle-maps-reactSimilar Packages:
What's Web Mapping Libraries?

Web mapping libraries are tools that enable developers to create interactive maps and visualizations on the web. They provide functionalities to display geographical data, integrate with various mapping services, and customize the appearance and behavior of maps. These libraries are essential for applications that require location-based services, data visualization, and user interaction with geographical information.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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License
leaflet1,512,52742,9433.74 MB5292 years agoBSD-2-Clause
mapbox-gl1,349,22111,66054.8 MB1,387a month agoSEE LICENSE IN LICENSE.txt
react-map-gl625,1588,136390 kB722 months agoMIT
maplibre-gl562,4237,75139 MB39010 days agoBSD-3-Clause
deck.gl131,06912,7674.71 MB441a month agoMIT
google-maps-react59,5611,636-2955 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: leaflet vs mapbox-gl vs react-map-gl vs maplibre-gl vs deck.gl vs google-maps-react

Rendering Performance

  • leaflet:

    Leaflet is lightweight and performs well for standard mapping tasks. It is suitable for applications with moderate data loads but may struggle with performance when rendering a large number of markers or layers.

  • mapbox-gl:

    mapbox-gl is built for high-performance rendering of vector tiles and supports complex visualizations. It is capable of rendering large datasets smoothly, especially when using WebGL features.

  • react-map-gl:

    react-map-gl offers performance optimizations for React applications using Mapbox GL JS. It manages rendering efficiently and allows for smooth interactions with the map.

  • maplibre-gl:

    maplibre-gl maintains high rendering performance similar to mapbox-gl, focusing on vector tiles and providing smooth interactions, making it suitable for dynamic map applications.

  • deck.gl:

    deck.gl is optimized for rendering large datasets efficiently using WebGL. It can handle millions of points without sacrificing performance, making it ideal for data visualization applications that require real-time updates and interactions.

  • google-maps-react:

    google-maps-react leverages the Google Maps API, which is highly optimized for performance. However, it may not handle extremely large datasets as efficiently as specialized libraries like deck.gl.

Customization and Extensibility

  • leaflet:

    Leaflet is highly extensible with a rich ecosystem of plugins that enhance its functionality. Developers can easily create custom layers and controls, making it suitable for a variety of mapping needs.

  • mapbox-gl:

    mapbox-gl offers powerful styling options for maps, allowing developers to customize the appearance of every element. It supports custom data layers and interactions, making it ideal for unique mapping experiences.

  • react-map-gl:

    react-map-gl simplifies the integration of Mapbox GL JS into React applications, providing components that can be easily customized and extended to fit specific project requirements.

  • maplibre-gl:

    maplibre-gl inherits the customization capabilities of mapbox-gl, allowing for extensive styling and integration of custom data sources without vendor restrictions.

  • deck.gl:

    deck.gl provides extensive customization options for visualizations, allowing developers to create unique layers and styles. It supports a wide range of data formats and integrates well with other libraries for enhanced functionality.

  • google-maps-react:

    google-maps-react allows for customization of Google Maps components, including markers and overlays. However, it is limited to the features provided by the Google Maps API, which may restrict some advanced customizations.

Ease of Use

  • leaflet:

    Leaflet is known for its simplicity and ease of use. Developers can quickly set up interactive maps with minimal code, making it a great choice for beginners.

  • mapbox-gl:

    mapbox-gl has a moderate learning curve, requiring some familiarity with WebGL concepts. However, its documentation is comprehensive, aiding developers in getting started.

  • react-map-gl:

    react-map-gl is designed for React developers, making it easy to use within React applications. Its components and hooks simplify map integration and management.

  • maplibre-gl:

    maplibre-gl is similar to mapbox-gl in terms of complexity. Developers familiar with Mapbox GL JS will find it easy to transition to maplibre-gl due to similar APIs and functionalities.

  • deck.gl:

    deck.gl has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features and capabilities. Developers may need to invest time in understanding its API and how to effectively visualize data.

  • google-maps-react:

    google-maps-react is user-friendly and easy to integrate into React applications. Its API is straightforward, making it accessible for developers familiar with Google Maps.

Community and Support

  • leaflet:

    Leaflet has a large and active community, with extensive documentation and a wealth of plugins available. It is well-supported and widely used in various applications.

  • mapbox-gl:

    mapbox-gl has strong community support and extensive documentation, along with a variety of tutorials and resources available online. It is widely adopted in the industry.

  • react-map-gl:

    react-map-gl has a supportive community and is well-documented, making it easy for developers to find help and examples for integrating Mapbox into their React applications.

  • maplibre-gl:

    maplibre-gl is a community-driven project that has gained traction as an open-source alternative. While it is newer, it is rapidly growing in support and resources.

  • deck.gl:

    deck.gl has a growing community and is backed by Uber, which provides solid documentation and examples. However, its community is smaller compared to more established libraries.

  • google-maps-react:

    google-maps-react benefits from the extensive Google Maps community and documentation. Developers can find numerous resources and examples to assist with implementation.

Licensing and Cost

  • leaflet:

    Leaflet is completely open-source and free, with no licensing fees, making it a cost-effective choice for developers.

  • mapbox-gl:

    mapbox-gl is free to use for low-volume applications, but it has usage limits and may require a subscription for higher usage tiers, depending on the Mapbox pricing model.

  • react-map-gl:

    react-map-gl is free to use, but it is dependent on Mapbox GL JS, which may incur costs based on usage, similar to mapbox-gl.

  • maplibre-gl:

    maplibre-gl is open-source and free to use, providing a cost-effective alternative to Mapbox GL JS without the risk of vendor lock-in.

  • deck.gl:

    deck.gl is open-source and free to use, making it an attractive option for developers looking for powerful visualization tools without licensing fees.

  • google-maps-react:

    google-maps-react is free to use but relies on the Google Maps API, which has usage limits and may incur costs based on the number of requests made to the API.

How to Choose: leaflet vs mapbox-gl vs react-map-gl vs maplibre-gl vs deck.gl vs google-maps-react
  • leaflet:

    Select Leaflet if you require a lightweight, open-source library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. Leaflet is easy to use and highly extensible, making it suitable for simple mapping needs without the overhead of larger libraries.

  • mapbox-gl:

    Choose mapbox-gl for high-performance, customizable vector maps. It allows for advanced styling and interaction with 3D terrain and buildings, making it ideal for applications that demand rich visual experiences and detailed geographical data.

  • react-map-gl:

    Opt for react-map-gl if you're building a React application that requires Mapbox integration. It simplifies the use of Mapbox GL JS in React, providing components and hooks for easy map management and interaction.

  • maplibre-gl:

    Use maplibre-gl if you want an open-source alternative to Mapbox GL JS. It provides similar capabilities for rendering vector tiles and is suitable for projects that require customization without vendor lock-in.

  • deck.gl:

    Choose deck.gl if you need to visualize large datasets with advanced rendering capabilities. It excels in creating complex visualizations like heatmaps, 3D scatter plots, and other data-driven graphics on top of maps.

  • google-maps-react:

    Opt for google-maps-react if you want to integrate Google Maps easily into your React application. It provides a straightforward way to use Google Maps features, including markers, info windows, and custom overlays, while leveraging the Google Maps API.

README for leaflet

Leaflet was created 11 years ago by Volodymyr Agafonkin, a Ukrainian citizen living in Kyiv.

Russian bombs are now falling over Volodymyr's hometown. His family, his friends, his neighbours, thousands and thousands of absolutely wonderful people, are either seeking refuge or fighting for their lives.

The Russian soldiers have already killed tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and are committing mass war crimes like gang rapes, executions, looting, and targeted bombings of civilian shelters and places of cultural significance. The death toll keeps rising, and Ukraine needs your help.

As Volodymyr expressed a few days before the invasion:

If you want to help, educate yourself and others on the Russian threat, follow reputable journalists, demand severe Russian sanctions and Ukrainian support from your leaders, protest war, reach out to Ukrainian friends, donate to Ukrainian charities. Just don't be silent.

Ukrainians are recommending the Come Back Alive charity. For other options, see StandWithUkraine.

If an appeal to humanity doesn't work for you, I'll appeal to your egoism: the future of Ukrainian citizens is the future of Leaflet.

It is chilling to see Leaflet being used for documenting Russia's war crimes, factual reporting of the war and for coordination of humanitarian efforts in Romania and in Poland. We commend these uses of Leaflet.

If you support the actions of the Russian government (even after reading all this), do everyone else a favour and carry some seeds in your pocket.

Yours truly,
Leaflet maintainers.


Leaflet

Leaflet is the leading open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. Weighing just about 39 KB of gzipped JS plus 4 KB of gzipped CSS code, it has all the mapping features most developers ever need.

Leaflet is designed with simplicity, performance and usability in mind. It works efficiently across all major desktop and mobile platforms out of the box, taking advantage of HTML5 and CSS3 on modern browsers while being accessible on older ones too. It can be extended with a huge amount of plugins, has a beautiful, easy to use and well-documented API and a simple, readable source code that is a joy to contribute to.

For more info, docs and tutorials, check out the official website.
For Leaflet downloads (including the built main version), check out the download page.

We're happy to meet new contributors. If you want to get involved with Leaflet development, check out the contribution guide. Let's make the best mapping library that will ever exist, and push the limits of what's possible with online maps!

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