GeoMoose vs MapStore
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted maps & gis options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | GeoMoose | MapStore |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 69 · Good | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | MIT | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 64 | ★ 664 |
| First released | 2009 | 2015 |
| Replaces | ArcGIS Online | ArcGIS Online, Carto |
What are GeoMoose and MapStore?
GeoMoose
GeoMoose is an open-source web mapping framework for building geographic applications with layered data and query tools. It is widely used by local governments for parcel and infrastructure maps.
- Layered map applications
- Spatial query tools
- Parcel mapping support
- Lightweight framework
MapStore
MapStore is an open-source framework for building and sharing web mapping applications and dashboards. It lets users create maps from many data sources and publish interactive geoportals.
- Map and dashboard builder
- Multi-source data layers
- Geoportal publishing
- Plugin architecture
GeoMoose vs MapStore: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for GeoMoose versus BSD-2-Clause for MapStore. GeoMoose is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for MapStore. GeoMoose is the more established project (first released 2009), while MapStore arrived in 2015. MapStore has the considerably larger community, at 664 GitHub stars versus 64. MapStore lists first-class Docker deployment; GeoMoose does not.
Why pick each one
Choose GeoMoose if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in JavaScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose MapStore if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is GeoMoose or MapStore better?
Neither is universally better. MapStore has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are GeoMoose and MapStore free and open-source?
Yes. GeoMoose is licensed under MIT and MapStore under BSD-2-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GeoMoose and MapStore with Docker?
GeoMoose: check the project docs for container support. MapStore: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, GeoMoose or MapStore?
GeoMoose has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for MapStore. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.