Protomaps 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 | Protomaps | TileServer GL |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 85 · Excellent |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,051 | ★ 2,904 |
| First released | 2021 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Mapbox, Google Maps | Mapbox |
What are Protomaps and TileServer GL?
Protomaps
Protomaps is an open-source project for displaying maps from a single static file in the PMTiles format. It enables serverless map hosting on object storage or a CDN with no tile server required.
- Single-file map archives
- Serverless hosting
- Works on object storage
- Cheap to operate
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
Protomaps vs TileServer GL: key differences
Protomaps is written in TypeScript, while TileServer GL is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Protomaps versus BSD-2-Clause for TileServer GL. Protomaps is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for TileServer GL. TileServer GL is the more established project (first released 2016), while Protomaps arrived in 2021. TileServer GL lists first-class Docker deployment; Protomaps does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Protomaps if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Active community (3.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
- 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 Protomaps or TileServer GL better?
Neither is universally better. Protomaps has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Protomaps and TileServer GL free and open-source?
Yes. Protomaps 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 Protomaps and TileServer GL with Docker?
Protomaps: check the project docs for container support. TileServer GL: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Protomaps or TileServer GL?
Protomaps 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.