Tileserver PHP vs mod_tile
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted maps & gis options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Tileserver PHP | mod_tile |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 64 · Good |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | BSD-2-Clause | MIT |
| Language | PHP | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 593 | ★ 318 |
| First released | 2013 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Mapbox, Google Maps tiles | Mapbox Tiles, Google Maps tiles |
What are Tileserver PHP and mod_tile?
Tileserver PHP
Tileserver PHP is a lightweight server that hosts raster and vector map tiles, MBTiles, and UTFGrids over standard protocols. It is simple to deploy on common PHP hosting for serving custom maps.
- Serves MBTiles and UTFGrids
- TMS and WMTS protocols
- Runs on shared PHP hosting
- Raster and vector tiles
mod_tile
mod_tile is an Apache module that serves OpenStreetMap raster tiles, paired with the renderd daemon to render tiles on demand with Mapnik from PostGIS-stored OSM data. It caches rendered tiles and backs many self-hosted OSM tile servers.
- Raster tile rendering
- Mapnik-based
- Tile caching
- Serves slippy maps
Tileserver PHP vs mod_tile: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Tileserver PHP's repository is archived and no longer developed, while mod_tile is actively maintained. Tileserver PHP is written in PHP, while mod_tile is built with C++. Licensing differs — BSD-2-Clause for Tileserver PHP versus MIT for mod_tile. Tileserver PHP is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for mod_tile. Mod_tile is the more established project (first released 2008), while Tileserver PHP arrived in 2013. Mod_tile lists first-class Docker deployment; Tileserver PHP does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Tileserver PHP if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose mod_tile if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is Tileserver PHP or mod_tile better?
Tileserver PHP is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Tileserver PHP if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Tileserver PHP and mod_tile free and open-source?
Yes. Tileserver PHP is licensed under BSD-2-Clause and mod_tile under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tileserver PHP and mod_tile with Docker?
Tileserver PHP: check the project docs for container support. mod_tile: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Tileserver PHP or mod_tile?
Tileserver PHP has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for mod_tile. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.