Updated August 2026
    Actively maintained
    Real momentum
    2.8k

    OpenStreetMap: Maintenance, Licence and Alternatives

    Collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world.

    TL;DR • OpenStreetMap • as of August 2026

    OpenStreetMap is an open-source maps and global positioning system (gps) project, with 2.8k GitHub stars and a health score of 92/100. It committed 1548 times in the last twelve months across 12 of those months, and its status is actively maintained. Licence: GPL-2.0. It has real momentum, so treat it as a live competitor rather than a stale repository.

    2.8k
    GitHub stars
    92/100
    Health score
    1548
    Commits (12 mo)
    12/12
    Active months

    Maintenance health

    Status Actively maintained — Committed within the last 45 days.
    Last commit 2026-08-13
    Days since last commit 4
    Commits, last 3 months 338
    Commits, last 12 months 1548
    Months with activity 12 of 12
    Last release None detected
    Archived No
    Licence GPL-2.0
    Category Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    Health score combines commit recency, twelve-month commit volume, months with activity, release recency and archive state. Metadata refreshed August 2026.

    What the licence lets you do

    GPL-2.0

    Copyleft (GPL, AGPL, MPL): derivative work must stay open. AGPL also covers software offered over a network, which blocks most closed SaaS wrappers.

    This matters most when you plan to sell a hosted version. A permissive licence means anyone — including a competitor with more capital — can do the same, so your defensibility has to come from distribution, support or data, not from the code.

    What OpenStreetMap means for your idea

    OpenStreetMap is shipping code consistently, so a buyer comparing your product will find a maintained free option. Price and position against the total cost of self-hosting it, not against the paid incumbent's list price.

    Winnable, but differentiation is not optional. Pick one underserved segment and be visibly better for it rather than competing feature-for-feature with a free tool.

    OpenStreetMap: common questions

    Is OpenStreetMap still maintained in 2026?

    Actively maintained. OpenStreetMap recorded 1548 commits over the last twelve months, with activity in 12 of those months and 338 commits in the last quarter. Last commit: 2026-08-13. No recent release was detected. Committed within the last 45 days.

    Can I use OpenStreetMap commercially?

    OpenStreetMap is published under GPL-2.0. Copyleft (GPL, AGPL, MPL): derivative work must stay open. AGPL also covers software offered over a network, which blocks most closed SaaS wrappers.

    How crowded is the Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS) category?

    18 open-source implementations, 13 of them actively maintained, led by Dawarich at 10k stars. Saturation score 42/100 — Contested. Several maintained alternatives exist, but no one owns the category.

    OpenStreetMap alternatives in Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    Dawarich

    Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    10k

    Visualize your location history, track your movements, and analyze your travel patterns with complete privacy and control (alternative to Google Timeline a.k.a. Google Location History).

    Actively maintained
    Real momentum
    AGPL-3.0

    Nominatim

    Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    4.4k

    Server application for geocoding (address -> coordinates) and reverse geocoding (coordinates -> address) on OpenStreetMap data.

    Actively maintained
    Real momentum
    GPL-2.0

    wanderer

    Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    3.8k

    Trail database where you can upload your recorded tracks or create new ones and add various metadata to build an easily searchable catalogue.

    Actively maintained
    Real momentum
    AGPL-3.0

    AdventureLog

    Maps and Global Positioning System (GPS)

    3.5k

    Travel tracker and trip planner.

    Actively maintained
    Real momentum
    GPL-3.0

    Competing with free? Check the market first.

    IdeaProof scores your idea against live competitors, market size and 1,000+ documented startup failures in about two minutes.