Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) vs OpenCage Geocoding API
Category: Geocoding · Updated July 2026
Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) has a more generous free tier (1 req/sec, must set User-Agent, no key) and requires no API key, making it the easier choice for getting started. Both show similar reliability — Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) at 100% uptime and OpenCage Geocoding API at 100% uptime over 30 days. Pick Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) for hobby projects; consider OpenCage Geocoding API if you need its specific feature set.
Side-by-side comparison
Nominatim (OpenStreetMap)
Free forward and reverse geocoding from OpenStreetMap data. Rate-limited.
| Status | 🟢 Online |
| 30-day uptime | 100% |
| Response time | 687 ms |
| Free tier | 1 req/sec, must set User-Agent, no key |
| Auth | No key required |
| Tier score | 0.7 — free key, no card |
OpenCage Geocoding API
Forward and reverse geocoding API aggregating multiple open data sources including OpenStreetMap and Geonames.
| Status | 🟢 Online |
| 30-day uptime | 100% |
| Response time | 773 ms |
| Free tier | 2,500 calls/day, free key, no credit card |
| Auth | API key |
| Tier score | 0.7 — free key, no card |
Which to choose?
- Pick Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) if…you want zero friction — no account, no key, just call the endpoint. Also good if geocoding data without signup is a hard requirement.
- Pick OpenCage Geocoding API if…its feature set (2,500 calls/day, free key, no credit card) fits your request volume and you're comfortable with a free API key.
- Use both if…one goes down — they serve the same geocoding use case from different data sources, so you can implement a quick fallback.
Or use these alternatives
Other top-ranked Geocoding APIs you might consider:
- ip-api.com — 🟢 Online · 45 calls/min (HTTP only), no key, no credit card
- IPinfo — 🟢 Online · 50,000 calls/month, no key (token extends limits)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) or OpenCage Geocoding API more reliable?
Both Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) and OpenCage Geocoding API show identical 30-day uptime (100%) in our monitoring. Either is a safe choice from a reliability standpoint.
Which one has a more generous free tier — Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) or OpenCage Geocoding API?
Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) has a more generous free tier. Its plan offers 1 req/sec, must set User-Agent, no key vs OpenCage Geocoding API's 2,500 calls/day, free key, no credit card. Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) also requires no API key at all, making onboarding instant.
Can I use Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) and OpenCage Geocoding API together?
Yes, and it's straightforward. Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) needs no key, while OpenCage Geocoding API needs a free registration. You can use one as primary and the other as fallback without significant complexity.
What's the cheapest paid alternative if both Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) and OpenCage Geocoding API fail?
If you need a paid fallback, OpenCage Geocoding is one of the more affordable options (from $50/mo). You can find the full list of paid alternatives on each API's detail page. Paid tiers typically offer SLA guarantees, higher rate limits, and dedicated support.
See full profiles: Nominatim (OpenStreetMap) · OpenCage Geocoding API · All Geocoding APIs