Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) vs Photon
Free API comparison
| Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) | Photon | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Information | Location Information |
| API key | Not needed | Not needed |
| Pricing | The public server is free to use but has a strict usage policy: at most one request per second, a User-Agent or Referer that identifies your app, no bulk geocoding, and attribution to OpenStreetMap. | The public server at photon.komoot.io is free for fair use; for heavy use you can host Photon yourself, as it is open source. |
| From the browser | Yes (CORS) | Yes (CORS) |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| Interface | REST, HTTP-GET | REST, HTTP-GET |
| Provider | nominatim.org | photon.komoot.io |
| Last checked | Working on November 1st, 2026 | Not stated |
| MCP server | No | No |
Which one to choose
Both search OpenStreetMap data for free without a key. Nominatim is the full geocoder, from address to coordinates and back, but its public server allows one request per second and no bulk work. Photon is built for search-as-you-type: typo-tolerant and fast, which makes it the better fit for address autocomplete in a form.
Each service's own page has its full description, a code example and what visitors report: Nominatim (OpenStreetMap), Photon.