Tileserver PHP vs TileServer GL
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 | TileServer GL |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 85 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | BSD-2-Clause | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 593 | ★ 2,904 |
| First released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Mapbox, Google Maps tiles | Mapbox |
What are Tileserver PHP and TileServer GL?
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
TileServer GL
TileServer GL is an open-source map tile server that serves vector and raster tiles, styles, and rendered images. It is the standard self-hosted solution for delivering MapLibre and Mapbox-style maps.
- Vector and raster tiles
- Server-side rendering
- MBTiles support
- MapLibre compatible
Tileserver PHP vs TileServer GL: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Tileserver PHP's repository is archived and no longer developed, while TileServer GL is actively maintained. Tileserver PHP is written in PHP, while TileServer GL is built with JavaScript. Tileserver PHP is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for TileServer GL. Tileserver PHP is the more established project (first released 2013), while TileServer GL arrived in 2016. TileServer GL has the considerably larger community, at 2,904 GitHub stars versus 593. TileServer GL 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 TileServer GL if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Tileserver PHP or TileServer GL better?
Neither is universally better. TileServer GL has the larger community, while Tileserver PHP is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Tileserver PHP and TileServer GL free and open-source?
Yes. Tileserver PHP is licensed under BSD-2-Clause and TileServer GL under BSD-2-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tileserver PHP and TileServer GL with Docker?
Tileserver PHP: check the project docs for container support. TileServer GL: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Tileserver PHP or TileServer GL?
Tileserver PHP has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for TileServer GL. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.