GraphHopper
Fast routing library and server using OpenStreetMap.
GraphHopper vs Nominatim
Two self-hosted Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| GraphHopper | Nominatim | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Fast routing library and server using OpenStreetMap. | Server application for geocoding (address -> coordinates) and reverse geocoding (coordinates -> address) on OpenStreetMap data. |
| GitHub stars | 6,755 | 4,549 |
| Forks | – | – |
| Open issues | – | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 307 | 551 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-03 |
| Latest release | 11.1 (2026-09-29) | v5.3.3 (2026-10-14) |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language / platform | Java | C |
| Docker Hub image | – | – |
| Docker pulls | – | – |
| Est. server size | ~2 GB, 1 vCPU | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $10/mo | $3.5/mo |
| Categories | Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) | Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- GraphHopper is more popular on GitHub: 6.8k stars vs 4.5k for Nominatim.
- Nominatim had more commits in the last 12 months (551 vs 307).
- Nominatim published a release more recently (v5.3.3 on 2026-10-14; GraphHopper's latest is 11.1 on 2026-09-29).
- GraphHopper is licensed under Apache-2.0, Nominatim under GPL-2.0. GraphHopper's license is permissive; Nominatim's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
- GraphHopper is written in Java; Nominatim in C.
- Our rough hardware estimate is lighter for Nominatim (~512 MB server) than GraphHopper (~2 GB); this is an estimate from the stack and category, not a benchmark.
Summary: GraphHopper leads on GitHub popularity; Nominatim leads on commit activity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-05. It does not rate features or quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is GraphHopper or Nominatim more popular?
GraphHopper has more GitHub stars (6,755 vs 4,549 for Nominatim, as of 2026-11-05). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, GraphHopper or Nominatim?
Nominatim had more commits over the last 12 months (551 vs 307). The last recorded activity was 2026-11-04 for GraphHopper and 2026-11-03 for Nominatim. Our health labels: GraphHopper is “Active”, Nominatim is “Active”.
What licenses do GraphHopper and Nominatim use?
GraphHopper: Apache-2.0. Nominatim: GPL-2.0. GraphHopper's license is permissive; Nominatim's is copyleft (changes you distribute must stay open).
Can I run GraphHopper and Nominatim with Docker?
We did not detect a Docker Hub image for either app. Check each project's documentation for install options.
Read more
Nominatim
Server application for geocoding (address -> coordinates) and reverse geocoding (coordinates -> address) on OpenStreetMap data.
Browse all self-hosted Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) apps.