OpenRouteService

Best for: Prototypes and side projects - free to start, no sales call; Teams needing broad API coverage out of the box

Avoid if: You need transparent pricing up front; You have strict compliance requirements

• ██░░░░░░░░
  20 / 100
  Agent friendliness
• ███░░░░░░░
  30 / 100
  Pricing transparency
• ████████▒░
  85 / 100
  Setup speed
• ███▒░░░░░░
  35 / 100
  Docs quality
• ███████░░░
  70 / 100
  Procurement ease
• █▒░░░░░░░░
  15 / 100
  Trust readiness

Scores are computed deterministically from this profile's published, sourced fields (pricing, compliance, capabilities, docs and developer-surface signals) - not from reviews or paid placement. Each axis is 0-100; an unknown signal scores 0 for that axis. Procurement ease is the inverse of buying friction (higher = easier to adopt).

Pricing model

Subscription [2]ask.openrouteservice.org/t/price-for-commercial-use-of-ops/409“we don't offer commercial plans but please contact us at enquiry[at]openrouteservice.org with some additional details and we can increase the quota”account.heigit.org/info/plans“Standard Plan (free, recurring daily quotas) with Collaborative Plan available for eligible organizations — tiered subscription structure with no published commercial pricing”

Published pricing

✗ No [3]ask.openrouteservice.org/t/price-for-commercial-use-of-ops/409“we don't offer commercial plans but please contact us at enquiry[at]openrouteservice.org with some additional details and we can increase the quota”ask.openrouteservice.org/t/how-to-get-an-offer-for-extended-quota/1453“whether we can help with the endeavour depends heavily on the usecase, due to our legal restrictions as a gGmbH — no public price list”

Free tier

✓ Yes [4]openrouteservice.org/restrictions/“Standard Plan is available by default to all users”openrouteservice.org“all of them free to use and open source”

Free tier details

Standard Plan is free to all users with recurring daily quotas: Directions V2 10,000/day (60/min), Isochrones V2 2,500/day (40/min), Matrix V2 2,500/day (60/min), Geocoding 15,000/day (150/min), Optimization 2,500/day (60/min), POIs 2,500/day (90/min), Elevation 10,000/day (60/min), Snap V2 10,000/day (150/min), Export V2 500/day (10/min). Daily quota resets every 24h from first request. Collaborative Plan (higher quotas) available at no charge for humanitarian, academic, governmental, and not-for-profit organisations. [5]account.heigit.org/info/plans“Standard Plan: Directions V2 (10000 / 60), Export V2 (500 / 10), Isochrones V2 (2500 / 40), Matrix V2 (2500 / 60), Snap V2 (10000 / 150), Elevation (10000 / 60), Geocoding (15000 / 150), Optimization (2500 / 60), POIs (2500 / 90)”ask.openrouteservice.org/t/pricing-for-your-services/4286“Collaborative plan restricted to: humanitarian, academic, governmental, or non-for-profit organisations only!”

Self-serve signup

✓ Yes [6]giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/getting-started“signup to create an ORS account, then use the Dashboard to generate an API key — no sales contact required”

Requires sales call

✗ No

Enterprise plan

✓ Yes [7]ask.openrouteservice.org/t/how-to-get-an-offer-for-extended-quota/1453“To request higher quotas beyond the default, users must email enquiry@openrouteservice.org — extended quota arrangements are available on a case-by-case basis”

• Distance matrix
• Route optimization
• Isochrones
• Truck / HGV routing

Supported actions

directions, isochrones, matrix, optimization, geocoding, elevation, poi, snapping, export [8]giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/api-reference/endpoints/“Directions Service, Isochrones Service, Matrix Service, Snapping Service, Export Service, POI Service, Elevation Service, Geocoding Service, Optimization Service”

Regions

global coverage for directions (all profiles: driving-car, driving-hgv, cycling-regular, cycling-mountain, cycling-road, foot-walking, foot-hiking, wheelchair), global POI search, no live/real-time traffic; no transit routing

Languages

Czech, German, English, Esperanto, Spanish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Chinese

Input types

origin/destination coordinates (longitude/latitude pairs), up to 50 waypoints per directions request, routing profile (driving-car, driving-hgv, cycling-regular, cycling-mountain, cycling-road, foot-walking, foot-hiking, wheelchair), avoid areas/polygons, vehicle characteristics (HGV dimensions/weight), isochrone range (time or distance), matrix locations array (up to 3500 per request), addresses for geocoding

Output types

JSON route geometry/polyline, turn-by-turn instructions, distance and duration, GeoJSON isochrone polygons, duration/distance matrix, elevation-enriched 3D geometry, snapped coordinates (JSON or GeoJSON), GeoJSON POI results, route optimization job result (VROOM)

Webhooks

✗ No

Sandbox / test mode

✗ No [9]giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/getting-started“try out the different endpoints instantly in the API Playground — no separate sandbox environment mentioned; same live API used for testing”

SDK languages

Python, JavaScript, R [10]github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice-py“The Python API to consume openrouteservice(s) painlessly! Official Python SDK for OpenRouteService APIs, maintained by GIScience.”github.com/GIScience/openrouteservice-js“The JavaScript API to consume openrouteservice(s) painlessly! Officially maintained by GIScience.”

MCP server

✗ No [11]mcpservers.org/servers/vemonet/openroute-mcp“This is not an official OpenRouteService MCP server. The author is vemonet (an independent developer), not GIScience/HeiGIT”

SOC 2

– Unknown

HIPAA

✗ No [12]heigit.org/privacy-policy/“we secure data transmissions using TLS encryption where necessary — no HIPAA, SOC2, ISO 27001, or PCI DSS certifications mentioned anywhere on privacy/terms pages”

GDPR

✓ Yes [13]heigit.org/privacy-policy/“for the performance of a contract with you according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR”heigit.org/privacy-policy/“your consent according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR”

ISO 27001

✗ No [14]heigit.org/privacy-policy/“No SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI DSS certifications mentioned”

PCI DSS

✗ No [15]openrouteservice.org/terms-of-service/“openrouteservice makes no representations or warranties regarding the security of the openrouteservice or the transmission of data — no compliance certifications referenced”

Published SLA

✗ No [16]openrouteservice.org/terms-of-service/“openrouteservice always ensures to only publish stable releases — no specific availability commitments stated”

Rate limits

Standard Plan: Directions V2 10,000/day, 60/min; Isochrones V2 2,500/day, 40/min; Matrix V2 2,500/day, 60/min; Geocoding 15,000/day, 150/min; Optimization 2,500/day, 60/min; POIs 2,500/day, 90/min; Elevation 10,000/day, 60/min; Snap V2 10,000/day, 150/min; Export V2 500/day, 10/min. Daily limit returns HTTP 403; minutely limit returns HTTP 429. Collaborative Plan available for eligible nonprofits/academic/government users with higher quotas. [17]account.heigit.org/info/plans“Standard Plan: Directions V2 (10000 / 60), Export V2 (500 / 10), Isochrones V2 (2500 / 40), Matrix V2 (2500 / 60), Snap V2 (10000 / 150), Elevation (10000 / 60), Geocoding (15000 / 150), Optimization (2500 / 60), POIs (2500 / 90) — format is daily/per-minute”giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/frequently-asked-questions.html“Daily limit resets after 24h from first request; minutely limit is a sliding window of 60 seconds. HTTP 403 = daily quota exceeded; HTTP 429 = minutely limit exceeded.”

Known restrictions

Maximum 50 waypoints per directions request, Matrix: max 3,500 locations per request (e.g. 50x50); max 25 locations with dynamic arguments (e.g. 5x5), Isochrones: max 5 locations, max 10 intervals, max 1 hour range for driving, Optimization: max 50 routes, max 3 vehicles per request, Export endpoint: 10 km² bbox (Standard Plan), 50 km² (Collaborative Plan), Snap: max 5,000 locations per request, Elevation: max 2,000 vertices, No live/real-time or historical traffic data, Attribution required: '© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors', API results licensed under CC-BY 4.0, API keys must not be exposed client-side, One account per person only, Matching endpoint not available in live/public API (self-hosted only), Extended quotas beyond Standard Plan require email contact (enquiry@openrouteservice.org); no published commercial pricing [18]openrouteservice.org/terms-of-service/“© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors; API results obtained from openrouteservice in any context are licensed under CC-BY 4.0”openrouteservice.org/restrictions/“Route waypoints: 50; Locations standard: 3.500 (e.g. 50 x 50) per request; Locations with dynamic arguments: 25 (e.g. 5 x 5) per request; Isochrones Locations: 5; Intervals: 10; Range time (Driving): 1 hour; Routes: 50; Vehicles: 3”

• Docs
• API reference
• Status page

Docs rendering: static

API style

rest

Base URL

https://api.openrouteservice.org

Version

v2

Versioning

url

Stability

ga

Auth methods

api_key

Idempotency keys

✗ No

Error format

vendor-specific JSON: {"error":{"code":6002,"message":"..."}, "info":{"engine":{...},"timestamp":...}}

Rate limit

2000 / day

SDKs

• Python openrouteservice · repo
• JavaScript openrouteservice-js · repo
• R openrouteservice · repo

• Auth docs
• Quickstart
• Deprecation policy

Launched

2008-01-01

Notable customers

The New York Times, rbb (German broadcaster), SWR, BKG (Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie), Stadt Mannheim, Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart

• Azure Maps Route

  "Use to get the best route between an origin and destination for automobile, commercial trucks and walking routes."

  Usage · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Route4Me

  "Industrial Grade Route Planning And Route Optimization Software" that "automates and integrates mission-critical last mile workflows, empowering route planners, dispatchers, drivers, and managers to take your business to the next level."

  Subscription · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• HERE Routing API

  "Plan stress-free journeys" with routing solutions "for various modes of transport" enabling last-mile delivery, fleet management, and freight logistics.

  Hybrid · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Radar Geocoding API

  "Use Radar's geocoding APIs to convert addresses to latitude and longitude coordinates, or vice versa."

  Hybrid · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Routific

  "Delivery management for growing businesses"

  Subscription · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Google Routes API

  "Compute Routes returns the ideal route between two locations, and Compute Route Matrix returns distances and travel times for a matrix of routes between different origin and destination locations."

  Usage · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

OpenRouteService alternatives · OpenRouteService vs Azure Maps Route · All Routing APIs APIs

Each field above carries a numbered source - hover for a preview, click to jump here.

1. ↑Description: openrouteservice.org
2. ↑Pricing model: ask.openrouteservice.org · account.heigit.org
3. ↑Published pricing: ask.openrouteservice.org · ask.openrouteservice.org
4. ↑Free tier: openrouteservice.org · openrouteservice.org
5. ↑Free tier details: account.heigit.org · ask.openrouteservice.org
6. ↑Self-serve signup: giscience.github.io
7. ↑Enterprise plan: ask.openrouteservice.org
8. ↑Supported actions: giscience.github.io
9. ↑Sandbox: giscience.github.io
10. ↑SDK languages: github.com · github.com
11. ↑MCP server: mcpservers.org
12. ↑HIPAA: heigit.org
13. ↑GDPR: heigit.org · heigit.org
14. ↑ISO 27001: heigit.org
15. ↑PCI DSS: openrouteservice.org
16. ↑Published SLA: openrouteservice.org
17. ↑Rate limits: account.heigit.org · giscience.github.io
18. ↑Known restrictions: openrouteservice.org · openrouteservice.org

Every field change, who made it, and when - from our audited data pipeline and editors.

1. 2026-06-15 Score Agent Friendliness: 10 → 20
2. 2026-06-15 Score Docs Quality: 0 → 35
3. 2026-06-14 API Reference URL: (none) → https://openrouteservice.org/dev/#/api-docs
4. 2026-06-14 Docs URL: (none) → https://docs.openrouteservice.org/docs
5. 2026-06-14 Has Structured Data: (none) → No
6. 2026-06-14 Robots Allows Agents: (none) → Yes
7. 2026-06-14 Capabilities: {} → {"truck":true,"isochrones":true,"optimization":true,"distance_matrix":true}
8. 2026-06-14 Summary Md: (none) → OpenRouteService is an open-source geospatial API built on OpenStreetMap data b…
9. 2026-06-14 Scoring Methodology: (none) → Scores are computed deterministically from this profile's published, sourced fi…
10. 2026-06-14 Avoid If: (none) → You need transparent pricing up front, You have strict compliance requirements
11. 2026-06-14 Score Agent Friendliness: (none) → 10
12. 2026-06-14 Score Pricing Transparency: (none) → 30
13. 2026-06-14 Score Setup Speed: (none) → 85
14. 2026-06-14 Score Docs Quality: (none) → 0
15. 2026-06-14 Score Procurement Friction: (none) → 70
16. 2026-06-14 Score Trust Readiness: (none) → 15
17. 2026-06-14 Best For: (none) → Prototypes and side projects - free to start, no sales call, Teams needing broa…
18. 2026-06-14 Llms Txt Present: (none) → No
19. 2026-06-14 Status Page URL: (none) → https://status.openrouteservice.org
20. 2026-06-14 Rendering: (none) → static
21. 2026-06-14 Self Serve Signup: set to Yes
22. 2026-06-14 Requires Sales Call: set to No
23. 2026-06-14 Enterprise Plan Available: set to Yes
24. 2026-06-14 HIPAA: set to No
25. 2026-06-14 GDPR: set to Yes
26. 2026-06-14 ISO 27001: set to No
27. 2026-06-14 PCI DSS: set to No
28. 2026-06-14 SLA Published: set to No
29. 2026-06-14 Documented Rate Limits: set to Standard Plan: Directions V2 10,000/day, 60/min; Isochrones V2 2,500/day, 40/mi…
30. 2026-06-14 Rate Limit Requests: set to 2000
31. 2026-06-14 Rate Limit Window: set to day
32. 2026-06-14 Known Restrictions: set to Maximum 50 waypoints per directions request, Matrix: max 3,500 locations per re…
33. 2026-06-14 Auth Methods: set to api_key
34. 2026-06-14 Auth Docs URL: set to https://giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/frequently-asked-questions
35. 2026-06-14 API Style: set to rest
36. 2026-06-14 Base URL: set to https://api.openrouteservice.org
37. 2026-06-14 API Version: set to v2
38. 2026-06-14 Versioning Scheme: set to url
39. 2026-06-14 Stability: set to ga
40. 2026-06-14 Deprecation Policy URL: set to https://openrouteservice.org/terms-of-service/
41. 2026-06-14 Quickstart URL: set to https://giscience.github.io/openrouteservice/getting-started
42. 2026-06-14 Idempotency Supported: set to No
43. 2026-06-14 Error Format: set to vendor-specific JSON: {"error":{"code":6002,"message":"..."}, "info":{"engine":…
44. 2026-06-14 Requires Verification: set to No
45. 2026-06-14 Free Tier Limit: set to 2,000 directions requests/day; 40 directions requests/minute; 500 isochrones/da…
46. 2026-06-14 Slug: set to openrouteservice
47. 2026-06-14 Notable Customers: set to The New York Times, rbb (German broadcaster), SWR, BKG (Bundesamt für Kartograp…
48. 2026-06-14 Fields Not Found: set to published pricing for paid/commercial tiers (no public price list; contact sale…
49. 2026-06-14 Source Confidence: set to high
50. 2026-06-14 Extractor: set to claude-subagent:sonnet

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