OpenMapTiles 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 | OpenMapTiles | TileServer GL |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 85 · Excellent |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | PLpgSQL | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,170 | ★ 2,905 |
| First released | 2016 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Mapbox | Mapbox |
What are OpenMapTiles and TileServer GL?
OpenMapTiles
OpenMapTiles is an open-source toolset for self-hosting the entire pipeline of generating vector map tiles from OpenStreetMap data. It produces ready-to-use tiles and styles for serving custom maps.
- Full vector tile pipeline
- OSM data import
- Multiple map styles
- Self-hosted tile generation
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
OpenMapTiles vs TileServer GL: key differences
OpenMapTiles is written in PLpgSQL, while TileServer GL is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for OpenMapTiles versus BSD-2-Clause for TileServer GL. TileServer GL is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 8,192 MB for OpenMapTiles.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenMapTiles if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in PLpgSQL
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 OpenMapTiles or TileServer GL better?
Neither is universally better. OpenMapTiles has the larger community, while TileServer GL is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenMapTiles and TileServer GL free and open-source?
Yes. OpenMapTiles is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and TileServer GL under BSD-2-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenMapTiles and TileServer GL with Docker?
OpenMapTiles: yes. TileServer GL: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenMapTiles or TileServer GL?
TileServer GL has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 8,192 MB for OpenMapTiles. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.