Tangram vs Traccar
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted maps & gis options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Tangram | Traccar |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 50 · Fair | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Maps & GIS | Maps & GIS |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,334 | ★ 7,797 |
| First released | 2013 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Mapbox GL JS, Google Maps | Google Maps, Life360 |
What are Tangram and Traccar?
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
Traccar
Traccar is a powerful open-source GPS tracking system that supports a huge range of devices and protocols. It provides live tracking, geofencing, reports, and notifications through a web and mobile interface.
- Supports 200+ GPS protocols
- Live tracking and geofencing
- Reports and alerts
- Mobile apps
Tangram vs Traccar: key differences
Tangram is written in JavaScript, while Traccar is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Tangram versus Apache-2.0 for Traccar. Tangram is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Traccar. Traccar has the considerably larger community, at 7,797 GitHub stars versus 2,334. Traccar lists first-class Docker deployment; Tangram does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Tangram if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (2.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Traccar if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 7.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Tangram or Traccar better?
Neither is universally better. Traccar has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Tangram and Traccar free and open-source?
Yes. Tangram is licensed under MIT and Traccar under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tangram and Traccar with Docker?
Tangram: check the project docs for container support. Traccar: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Tangram or Traccar?
Tangram has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Traccar. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.