Public data APIs
OpenStreetMap
A community-built open map database for roads, trails, places, boundaries, and local geographic context.
- Pricing
- Free
- Login required
- No
- API available
- Yes
- License
- Open Database License; attribute OpenStreetMap and contributors.
- Last checked
- 2026-07-09
What it is
OpenStreetMap is useful when a question starts with place. It gives you a public map surface, but the real value is the inspectable data behind it: roads, trails, cafes, stations, boundaries, and other features maintained by people with local knowledge.
For a first pass, avoid treating it as a drop-in Google Maps replacement. Use it as source context: search a place, inspect nearby features, preserve attribution, and only then decide whether you need exports, tiles, Overpass queries, or a GIS workflow.
Why worth a look
A community-built open map database for roads, trails, places, boundaries, and local geographic context.
Good for
- Finding inspectable map data without starting from a commercial map product.
- Checking local geographic context before building a map, travel, civic, or research workflow.
How to start
- Open the map and search for one familiar neighborhood or landmark.
- Use the Export or History surfaces to understand what data sits behind the visible map.
Best first click
Open OpenStreetMap and start with the About page, then inspect one familiar place on the map.
Trust facts
- Pricing
- Free
- Login required
- No
- Open source
- No
- API available
- Yes
- License
- Open Database License; attribute OpenStreetMap and contributors.
- Risk
- Coverage and tagging quality vary by place because the map is community maintained.