Comparison
MapCrafter compared with maps.co
maps.co combines location plotting with territory and data-analysis tools. MapCrafter focuses on importing geometry, styling it on ten vector themes and exporting PNG or GeoJSON. Its current editor is free, while maps.co publishes a PRO plan at $29 per month or $290 per year. Compare the workflow and limits as well as the price.
maps.co pricing
PRO $29/month or $290/year
Verified 2026-10-20 from maps.co/plans/
Across 9 criteria
0 MapCrafter·2 maps.co·7 even
Counted from the table below, not asserted
What maps.co is
A map maker for plotting locations and exploring them with layers, territories, data analysis and geocoding.
The short version. Choose maps.co when its territory and analysis workflows or a published monthly geocoding allowance fit your work.
Feature by feature
9 criteria across data import, rendering, analysis, sharing and price. The Edge column is our own reading and is meant to be contested — 2 rows go to maps.co.
| Criterion | MapCrafter | maps.co | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data | |||
| Location plotting | Coordinate columns or explicit address geocoding | Location plotting and geocoding workflows | |
| GIS file workflow | KML, KMZ, GPX, GeoJSON, TopoJSON and zipped Shapefile | See its documentation for supported import types | |
| Analysis | |||
| Territories and drawings | Displays imported polygons; no drawing or travel-time analysis tools | Territory and drawing tools | |
| Data analysis | Styling and layer visibility; no general data-filter editor | Documented data-analysis workflow | |
| Rendering | |||
| Basemap styling | Ten original vector themes with language and projection controls | Location-focused map editor; see the live tool for basemap options | |
| Export and sharing | |||
| Exports | PNG at up to 3× and GeoJSON | Screenshots included in PRO | |
| Share and embed | Public link and iframe | Share and embed included in PRO | |
| Price | |||
| Current price | Free current editor; no subscription or trial | $29/month or $290/year for PRO; seven-day trial | |
| Geocoding allowance | Rate-limited built-in lookup, or your own provider key and quota | 3,000 geocodes/month in PRO | |
maps.co details read from maps.co/plans/ on 2026-10-20. The published PRO plan includes 3,000 geocodes per month and unlimited maps, layers, locations, drawings, territories and screenshots, with a seven-day trial. Check the provider for current terms.
Where maps.co is the better choice
Territory and analysis workflow
Choose its documented territory, drawing and analysis tools when your task extends beyond displaying and styling supplied geometry.
A published PRO geocoding allowance
The plan lists 3,000 monthly geocodes, which makes its allowance explicit for recurring location work.
Where MapCrafter is the better choice
Import your own geometry
Read Excel (.xlsx/.xlsm), CSV/TSV, KML, KMZ, GPX, GeoJSON, TopoJSON or zipped Shapefile, with geometry and attributes kept together.
Style the data on vector basemaps
Choose from 16 basemaps, colour by a column, scale symbols and line widths, or apply a heatmap to point data.
Export geometry as well as an image
The current editor includes PNG at 1×, 2× and 3× and GeoJSON export. Required third-party attribution still applies.
The longer answer
maps.co’s published plan bundles maps, layers, locations, drawings, territories, screenshots, sharing and embedding, plus a monthly geocoding allowance. Its help pages document location and analysis workflows.
MapCrafter reads geometry in the browser. It supports points, lines and polygons, data-driven styling, point heatmaps and chart overlays. It can display prepared catchment and grid polygons, but does not calculate drive-time territories, road routes or hexbin grids in the studio.
The built-in address lookup is rate-limited and best suited to small batches. A MapTiler or Mapbox key uses your own provider account and quota. MapCrafter has no paid priority geocoding queue or team workspace today.
maps.co vs MapCrafter: common questions
- Does MapCrafter have a $12 Pro subscription?
- No. The current editor is free. Paid subscriptions are planned and are not yet available. Higher-resolution PNG export is already included.
- Does MapCrafter calculate territories or routes?
- It renders imported line and polygon geometry. It does not currently calculate road routes, drive-time areas or point-to-polygon catchments in the studio.
- Which one should I use?
- Try MapCrafter for browser-based GIS file viewing, data styling and PNG or GeoJSON export. Review maps.co’s live tool and documentation if you need territory and data-analysis workflows.
Still deciding? Try it with your own file.
The free tier includes every import format, all 16 basemap choices, share links and both PNG and GeoJSON export. No card, and nothing to install.
Also see: MapCrafter compared with MapChart
Last checked 2026-10-20. Competitor details were read from their own sites on the date shown and may have changed since.