Leaflet 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?
Leaflet
Lightweight JavaScript library for interactive maps
VS
MapTiler Server
Host OpenStreetMap vector tiles, satellite imagery, own geodata and
| Feature | Leaflet | MapTiler Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | BSD-2-Clause | ⊘ Proprietary |
| Language | JavaScript | Unknown |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 45,461 | — |
| First released | 2011 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Google Maps JavaScript API | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Leaflet if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 45.5k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Choose MapTiler Server if…
- Released under the ⊘ Proprietary license
- Written in Unknown
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Leaflet or MapTiler Server better?
Leaflet is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider MapTiler Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Leaflet and MapTiler Server free and open-source?
Yes. Leaflet is licensed under BSD-2-Clause and MapTiler Server under ⊘ Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Leaflet and MapTiler Server with Docker?
Leaflet: check the project docs for container support. MapTiler Server: check the project docs for container support.