Web maps
What is *, and why would I want to use it?
Curiously it can be difficult to ascertain what these companies actually DO.
Carto
Not sure yet why they exist or what they do. They send me email from time to time.
Free and then expensive once you hit the limit.
MapBox
Provides some totally unusable tile sets that are dark and gloomy.
I think they want you to build your own tile sets and host them there. Provides a way to build tiles I guess.
Free and then expensive once you hit the limit.
Mapzen
Provides a version of Leaflet extended to add their own object.
Demo in "Getting Started" does not work. I was able to get it to display a generic OSM map, not very exciting. I have yet to see any of their tiles
Provider of several services including
- geocoding
- routing
- vector tiles
- 3D rendering engine which seems... of dubious value to me...
Free at this time, until you hit some invisible unstated limit I guess.
OpenStreetMap
Keeper of the streets database used by most everyone.
Just one tile style available.
Free always.
