GraphHopper vs React Leaflet Maps
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted maps & gis options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
GraphHopper
Fast and flexible open-source routing engine
VS
React Leaflet Maps
React components for embedding Leaflet maps
| Feature | GraphHopper | React Leaflet Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Hippocratic-2.1 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, binary | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,619 | ★ 5,598 |
| First released | 2012 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Google Directions API | Google Maps React, Mapbox React |
Why pick each one
Choose GraphHopper if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Java
Choose React Leaflet Maps if…
- Released under the Hippocratic-2.1 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 5.6k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is GraphHopper or React Leaflet Maps better?
Neither is universally better. GraphHopper has the larger community, while React Leaflet Maps is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are GraphHopper and React Leaflet Maps free and open-source?
Yes. GraphHopper is licensed under Apache-2.0 and React Leaflet Maps under Hippocratic-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GraphHopper and React Leaflet Maps with Docker?
GraphHopper: yes. React Leaflet Maps: check the project docs for container support.