Thunderforest Maps

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

Avoid if: You have strict compliance requirements

• ███░░░░░░░
  30 / 100
  Agent friendliness
• ██████████
  100 / 100
  Pricing transparency
• ████████▒░
  85 / 100
  Setup speed
• █▒░░░░░░░░
  15 / 100
  Docs quality
• ██████████
  100 / 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]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Enterprise and Premium Service pricing available upon request.”thunderforest.com/pricing/“Solo Developer: 1,500,000 tile requests/month USD: $125/month | Small Business: 15,000,000 tile requests/month USD: $255/month | Large Business: 150,000,000 tile requests/month USD: $525/month”

Published pricing

✓ Yes [3]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Solo Developer USD: $125 | EUR: €115 | GBP: £95; Small Business USD: $255 | EUR: €235 | GBP: £195; Large Business USD: $525 | EUR: €475 | GBP: £395”

Free tier

✓ Yes [4]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Hobby Project (Free) — 150,000 tile requests/month — Test out your ideas while trying our APIs for free”thunderforest.com/pricing/“Global coverage, automatic updates, no surge charges, limited quota. No payment required.”

Free tier details

Hobby Project plan: 150,000 tile requests/month at no cost, recurring monthly. Includes global coverage and automatic updates. Attribution to Thunderforest and OpenStreetMap required. No payment required. [5]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Hobby Project (Free): 150,000 tile requests/month. Features: Global Coverage, Automatic Updates, No Surge Charges, limited quota. No payment required; designed for testing.”

Self-serve signup

✓ Yes [6]thunderforest.com/docs/apikeys/“API Keys are pre-generated and available in the dashboard immediately upon account creation.”

Requires sales call

✗ No

Enterprise plan

✓ Yes [7]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Enterprise and Premium Service pricing available upon request.”

• Vector tiles
• Static map images

Supported actions

raster_tiles, vector_tiles, static_map_image, vector_styles, vector_sources, custom_cartography, map_tile_api, static_maps_api, vector_styles_api, vector_sources_api [8]thunderforest.com/docs/“Map Tiles API – Web map tiling service; Static Maps API – Static map generation; Vector Sources API – Vector data provision; Vector Styles API – Vector styling capabilities”thunderforest.com/docs/vector-sources-api/“All our vector tilesets are available in the MVT format, so they are compatible with a wide range of rendering libraries, including Mapbox, MapLibre and other libraries.”

Regions

global, OpenStreetMap data source, updates from OSM within a few hours [9]thunderforest.com/about/openstreetmap/“OpenStreetMap provides global coverage, extensive detail, and continuous volunteer updates. Updates from OSM mappers appear on Thunderforest maps within a few hours of the mappers adding them to OSM.”

Languages

local languages, English, map labels in local language and English per tile style

Input types

center coordinates (longitude/latitude), zoom level (0-22), tile coordinates (z/x/y), map style identifier, API key, image scale modifier (@2x for HiDPI), image dimensions (width x height, max 2560px), vector tileset identifier

Output types

raster tiles (PNG), raster tiles (JPG), static map image (PNG/JPG), vector tiles (MVT/PBF), MapLibre Style Specification JSON

Webhooks

✗ No

Sandbox / test mode

✗ No [10]thunderforest.com/pricing/“Hobby Project (Free): Test out your ideas while trying our APIs for free”

SDK languages

JavaScript (Leaflet), JavaScript (MapLibre GL JS), Flutter [11]thunderforest.com/docs/“Tutorials cover integration with: OpenLayers (JavaScript), Leaflet (JavaScript), flutter_map (Flutter), MapLibre using Vector Styles API (JavaScript), MapLibre using Map Tiles API (JavaScript)”

MCP server

✗ No

SOC 2

– Unknown

HIPAA

✗ No [12]thunderforest.com/about/security/“No formal security certifications (SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS) are mentioned on this page.”

GDPR

✓ Yes [13]thunderforest.com/about/security/“We are fully compliant with The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).”thunderforest.com/privacy/“The UK Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018); The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR); The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)”

ISO 27001

✗ No [14]thunderforest.com/about/security/“No formal security certifications (SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS) are mentioned on this page.”

PCI DSS

✗ No [15]thunderforest.com/about/security/“You provide your payment card information to our payment partner (Stripe) and we do not store the card number ourselves.”

Published SLA

✗ No [16]thunderforest.com/terms/“We provide no warranties or guarantees of any kind as to the correctness or usability of the data or the availability of our services.”

Known restrictions

Attribution to Thunderforest and OpenStreetMap contributors required on all maps (cannot be removed), OpenStreetMap data licensed under ODbL; map images under CC-BY-SA 4.0, Caching proxies and redistribution are not permitted, In-browser and on-device caching for offline use is allowed, Bulk downloading requires Small Business plan or above, Applications must provide honest HTTP Referer and User-Agent headers, Static Maps API and Vector Tiles API requests count as 10 Map Tile API requests each for quota purposes [17]thunderforest.com/terms/“Attribution to both Thunderforest and OpenStreetMap contributors with working links. Caching proxies or other redistribution methods are not permitted. Tiles may be cached in-browser and on-device for offline use.”thunderforest.com/articles/using-your-quota/“Static Maps API requests = 10 Map Tile API requests equivalent. Vector Tiles API requests = 10 Map Tile API requests equivalent.”

• Docs

Docs rendering: static

API style

rest

Base URL

https://api.thunderforest.com/

Versioning

none

Stability

ga

Auth methods

api_key

SDKs

• JavaScript (Leaflet) leaflet · repo
• JavaScript (MapLibre GL JS) maplibre-gl · repo
• Flutter flutter_map · repo

• Auth docs
• Quickstart

Launched

2007-01-01

Notable customers

NATS, FCMQ, Pedometer++, Panintelligence

• Azure Maps Render (Map Tiles)

  "Azure Maps is a collection of geospatial services and SDKs that use fresh mapping data to provide geographic context to web and mobile applications."

  Usage · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Google Maps Platform (Maps JavaScript API, Static Maps & Map Tiles API)

  "Make the world your platform. Develop AI-powered insights and build with maps in over 250 countries and territories, powered by data updated 100 million times daily."

  Hybrid · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Esri ArcGIS Basemap Styles & Map Tiles

  "A location service that provides basemap styles and data for the world. It returns styles as Mapbox styles and web maps, and data as vector tiles and/or map tiles."

  Usage · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Mapbox Maps (GL JS, Static Images & Vector Tiles)

  "Bring location data to life with beautiful base maps, versatile upload and design tools and cross-platform rendering."

  Usage · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• Jawg Maps

  "Integrate maps and geocoding in your websites and mobile apps" - Jawg Maps is a map design and data geolocation platform offering customizable interactive and static maps, geocoding, routing, and elevation APIs built on OpenStreetMap data.

  Subscription · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

• LocationIQ

  "Affordable Google Maps alternative for your website or app"

  Subscription · free tier · public pricing · self-serve

Thunderforest Maps alternatives · Thunderforest Maps vs Azure Maps Render (Map Tiles) · All Maps APIs APIs

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

1. ↑Description: thunderforest.com
2. ↑Pricing model: thunderforest.com · thunderforest.com
3. ↑Published pricing: thunderforest.com
4. ↑Free tier: thunderforest.com · thunderforest.com
5. ↑Free tier details: thunderforest.com
6. ↑Self-serve signup: thunderforest.com
7. ↑Enterprise plan: thunderforest.com
8. ↑Supported actions: thunderforest.com · thunderforest.com
9. ↑Regions: thunderforest.com
10. ↑Sandbox: thunderforest.com
11. ↑SDK languages: thunderforest.com
12. ↑HIPAA: thunderforest.com
13. ↑GDPR: thunderforest.com · thunderforest.com
14. ↑ISO 27001: thunderforest.com
15. ↑PCI DSS: thunderforest.com
16. ↑Published SLA: thunderforest.com
17. ↑Known restrictions: thunderforest.com · thunderforest.com

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

1. 2026-06-15 Score Docs Quality: 0 → 15
2. 2026-06-15 Score Agent Friendliness: 10 → 30
3. 2026-06-14 Robots Allows Agents: (none) → Yes
4. 2026-06-14 Has Structured Data: (none) → Yes
5. 2026-06-14 Rendering: (none) → static
6. 2026-06-14 Llms Txt Present: (none) → No
7. 2026-06-14 Docs URL: (none) → https://www.thunderforest.com/docs/
8. 2026-06-14 Capabilities: {} → {"static_maps":true,"vector_tiles":true}
9. 2026-06-14 Summary Md: (none) → Thunderforest Maps is a REST-based map tile API serving raster tiles, vector ti…
10. 2026-06-14 Score Agent Friendliness: (none) → 10
11. 2026-06-14 Scoring Methodology: (none) → Scores are computed deterministically from this profile's published, sourced fi…
12. 2026-06-14 Avoid If: (none) → You have strict compliance requirements
13. 2026-06-14 Best For: (none) → Prototypes and side projects - free to start, no sales call, Teams needing broa…
14. 2026-06-14 Score Trust Readiness: (none) → 15
15. 2026-06-14 Score Procurement Friction: (none) → 100
16. 2026-06-14 Score Docs Quality: (none) → 0
17. 2026-06-14 Score Setup Speed: (none) → 85
18. 2026-06-14 Score Pricing Transparency: (none) → 100
19. 2026-06-14 Free Tier Available: set to Yes
20. 2026-06-14 Free Tier Details: set to Hobby Project plan: 150,000 tile requests/month at no cost, recurring monthly. …
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 Data Retention Policy URL: set to https://www.thunderforest.com/privacy/
30. 2026-06-14 Known Restrictions: set to Attribution to Thunderforest and OpenStreetMap contributors required on all map…
31. 2026-06-14 Auth Methods: set to api_key
32. 2026-06-14 Auth Docs URL: set to https://www.thunderforest.com/docs/apikeys/
33. 2026-06-14 API Style: set to rest
34. 2026-06-14 Base URL: set to https://api.thunderforest.com/
35. 2026-06-14 Versioning Scheme: set to none
36. 2026-06-14 Stability: set to ga
37. 2026-06-14 Quickstart URL: set to https://www.thunderforest.com/docs/
38. 2026-06-14 Requires Verification: set to No
39. 2026-06-14 Starting Price Usd: set to 125
40. 2026-06-14 Price Basis: set to month
41. 2026-06-14 Free Tier Limit: set to 150,000 tile requests/month
42. 2026-06-14 Slug: set to thunderforest
43. 2026-06-14 Notable Customers: set to NATS, FCMQ, Pedometer++, Panintelligence
44. 2026-06-14 Fields Not Found: set to soc2, documented_rate_limits, webhooks_supported (confirmed absent), mcp_server…
45. 2026-06-14 Source Confidence: set to high
46. 2026-06-14 Extractor: set to claude-subagent:sonnet
47. 2026-06-14 Last Verified At: set to 2026-06-14T00:00:00.000Z
48. 2026-06-14 Status: set to published
49. 2026-06-14 Launched At: set to 2007-01-01
50. 2026-06-14 Name: set to Thunderforest Maps

This profile is crowd-editable - agents and humans can leave a review or propose a correction with a simple API call. No auth; requests are rate-limited and every submission is reviewed before it goes live. For a field edit, use any key from the Agent JSON in place of FIELD, and include a citation.

curl -X POST https://apio.sh/api/feedback/thunderforest \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"kind":"review","rating":5,"body":"Your experience with this API…"}'

curl -X POST https://apio.sh/api/suggest/thunderforest/FIELD \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"value":"corrected value","citations":[{"url":"https://source.example/page","excerpt":"supporting quote"}],"note":"what changed and why"}'

All the ways to contribute →