SHSelfHostIndex

openstreetmap-tile-server vs Tangram

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?
OP openstreetmap-tile-server Dockerized OpenStreetMap raster tile server VS TA Tangram Flexible WebGL map rendering engine
Featureopenstreetmap-tile-serverTangram
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
Health score15 · At risk51 · Fair
CategoryMaps & GISMaps & GIS
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageShellJavaScript
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM4,096 MB128 MB
Deploymentdockersource
GitHub stars★ 1,449★ 2,334
First released20172013
ReplacesGoogle MapsMapbox GL JS, Google Maps

What are openstreetmap-tile-server and Tangram?

openstreetmap-tile-server

openstreetmap-tile-server is a Docker image that bundles everything needed to run an OpenStreetMap raster tile server. It imports OSM data and renders standard map tiles with a single container.

  • All-in-one tile server
  • OSM data import
  • Standard map rendering
  • Single Docker container

Tangram

Tangram is an open-source map rendering engine that draws 2D and 3D maps using WebGL with fully customizable styling. It works with vector tiles and is designed for creative cartographic experiments.

  • WebGL rendering
  • 2D and 3D maps
  • Custom styling
  • Vector tile support

openstreetmap-tile-server vs Tangram: key differences

Openstreetmap-tile-server is written in Shell, while Tangram is built with JavaScript. Tangram is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for openstreetmap-tile-server. Tangram is the more established project (first released 2013), while openstreetmap-tile-server arrived in 2017. Openstreetmap-tile-server lists first-class Docker deployment; Tangram does not.

Why pick each one

Choose openstreetmap-tile-server if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
  • Written in Shell
openstreetmap-tile-server details

Choose Tangram if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Active community (2.3k GitHub stars)
  • Written in JavaScript
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Tangram details

Frequently asked questions

Is openstreetmap-tile-server or Tangram better?

Neither is universally better. Tangram has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are openstreetmap-tile-server and Tangram free and open-source?

Yes. openstreetmap-tile-server is licensed under MIT and Tangram under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run openstreetmap-tile-server and Tangram with Docker?

openstreetmap-tile-server: yes. Tangram: check the project docs for container support.

Which is lighter on resources, openstreetmap-tile-server or Tangram?

Tangram has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for openstreetmap-tile-server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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