kepler.gl vs MapTiler Server
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?
kepler.gl
Open-source geospatial data visualization tool
VS
MapTiler Server
Host OpenStreetMap vector tiles, satellite imagery, own geodata and
| Feature | kepler.gl | MapTiler Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | MIT | ⊘ Proprietary |
| Language | TypeScript | Unknown |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,954 | — |
| First released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Tableau, ArcGIS | — |
Why pick each one
Choose kepler.gl if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Mature project with 12k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose MapTiler Server if…
- Released under the ⊘ Proprietary license
- Written in Unknown
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is kepler.gl or MapTiler Server better?
Neither is universally better. kepler.gl has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are kepler.gl and MapTiler Server free and open-source?
Yes. kepler.gl is licensed under MIT and MapTiler Server under ⊘ Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run kepler.gl and MapTiler Server with Docker?
kepler.gl: check the project docs for container support. MapTiler Server: check the project docs for container support.