Alternatives to google maps api

Google maps API is great for developing location based services for mobile phones. But for some reason, the use of it is restricted for me in a special project.

E.g. if your project is in conflict with the general terms and conditions of google it is not recommended to use google maps API.

In my app, both Android and iOS, I want to display a location on a map by retrieving GPS information. Overall the API should offer a similar scope of operation like google maps API.

Which alternatives do you know? Maybe there are open source API's? Any other suggestions?

To get the best possible answer to this question I combine all given answers.

Alternatives to google maps api:

• MapTiler Cloud: https://cloud.maptiler.com/

• Microsoft Maps API: http://www.microsoft.com/maps/developers/web.aspx

• Yahoo Maps API (discontinued as of Sept 13,2011 in favor of Nokia Maps): http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/

  (provided by Vic)

• TomTom Map Toolkit API which includes SDKs for Android, iOS and JavaScript http://developer.tomtom.com/

  (provided by SoWeLie)

• CloudMade: http://developers.cloudmade.com/projects

  (provided by Adolfo)

• MapQuest: http://developer.mapquest.com/

  (provided by TuxGeek)

• OpenStreetMap API: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/API_v0.6

• Here.com Maps (Formerly Nokia Maps / Ovi Maps): http://developer.here.com/

• Osmdroid: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Osmdroid

• OpenStreetMap Android http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android

  (provided by AGrunewald)

• Route-Me: https://github.com/route-me/route-me

  (provided by kiteloop)

• OpenLayers: http://openlayers.org/

  (provided by Arman)

• Trimaps: http://trimaps.com/en/

• MapBox http://mapbox.com/

  (provided by Stot)

• Nutiteq http://www.nutiteq.com/

  (provided by Martijn M)

• GraphHopper Directions and Matrix API https://graphhopper.com/#directions-api

  (provided by karussell)

2 more suggestions:

OpenStreetMap API: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/API_v0.6

Mobile Maps: https://labs.ericsson.com/apis/mobile-maps/ (powered by Idevio with map data provided by OpenStreetMap)

1. Microsoft Maps API: http://www.microsoft.com/maps/developers/web.aspx
2. Yahoo Maps API: http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/

To name a few, unless I totally misunderstood your question.

I would have a look at the Openstreetmap stuff http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android especially this http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Osmdroid a replacement for Androids Map View

For your iOS project you could use Route-Me (link). This is an open source framework that pretty much provides the same functionality as MapKit, but allows to integrate different map sources (e.g. Open Street Map, Cloudmade etc.). As far as I know, this is the only alternative you have on iOS.

For Android, there are various alternatives that allow you to use alternate map sources. See this link for a good list of options.

If you are looking for just Geocoding and reverse geocoding you could check out tinygeocoder. I haven't used it myself, but it could be an option to review.

Great list of alternatives to Google Maps being generated here. Good question. Not sure about your appliation - but one more from Nokia - Ovi Maps http://api.maps.ovi.com/ . They have some excellent data (they own Navtech) and incredible 3D visualization.

What about SimpleGeo?

TomTom has just released it's Map Toolkit API which includes SDKs for Android, iOS and JavaScript. See http://developer.tomtom.com/.

DISCLAIMER: I work for TomTom and I created the JavaScript SDK.

Another one is MapBox

http://mapbox.com/

In their video there was foursquare shown as a user.

Another nice one http://www.skyhookwireless.com/localfaves/

There's Sasha Maps, which I happened to write :-)

http://www.maryanovsky.com/sasha/maps/

Written in GWT, supports all desktop browsers, iOS and Android. You will need to provide your own tiles (or find someone who will let you use theirs).

Some location-based APIs (not map tiles) - don't know if it would be useful for your project - travel time calculations, public transit data and walkability (Walk Score) for maps.

http://www.walkscore.com/professional/walk-score-apis.php

(Disclaimer: I didn't write them, but I work there as front end dev - so let me know if any documentation is unclear! :D)