Mapbox alternative for WordPress – free, no access token
Mapbox’s vector maps are well made, but you need an account and an access token, and beyond the free tier every map load costs money. The open alternative below gives you vector maps without either. You will also see how to use it in WordPress without writing code.
- MapLibre GL JS is the open-source library that grew out of Mapbox GL JS. It shows vector maps, rotates, tilts and renders 3D buildings.
- With OpenStreetMap data and a free tile service such as OpenFreeMap, you need no account and no token.
- In WordPress, Map Studio is built on exactly that stack and adds map styles, your brand colour and 3D. It is free.
Why people look for a Mapbox alternative
- Account and access token: every Mapbox map needs a token from a Mapbox account.
- Costs: there is a free monthly allowance; beyond it, map loads are billed. Mapbox sets the details, so check its current pricing.
- Licence: since version 2 (December 2020), Mapbox GL JS is no longer open source, and using it requires a Mapbox account.
The open stack
| Part | Mapbox | Open alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Map library | Mapbox GL JS | MapLibre GL JS (open source, a community fork of Mapbox GL JS) |
| Map data | Mapbox’s data, largely based on OpenStreetMap | OpenStreetMap, free to use with attribution |
| Vector tiles | Mapbox tiles with a token | OpenFreeMap (free, no key), commercial services with free tiers such as MapTiler or Stadia Maps, or your own server with Protomaps (PMTiles) |
| Styles | Mapbox Studio | Open styles such as those of OpenFreeMap, or your own style JSON |
For developers, switching is often small: MapLibre GL JS understands the same style format, so many Mapbox GL JS maps run with MapLibre after changing the library and the tile source.
On WordPress: no code, no token
If your site runs on WordPress, Map Studio gives you this stack ready to use:
- MapLibre GL JS with OpenFreeMap: vector maps that stay sharp on every screen and can be rotated and tilted, with 3D buildings and light and sky.
- Six map styles: light, night, colourful, clear, fjord, and one that recolours the whole map in your brand colour.
- A full-screen editor: places with icons, photos and popups, areas, routes along real roads, a list with search.
- You need neither an account nor a token, and nothing is billed. With Map Studio Pro you can even host the map data of your region on your own server.
Frequently asked questions
Is MapLibre the same as Mapbox GL JS?
MapLibre GL JS started as a community fork of Mapbox GL JS when Mapbox changed its licence. It is open source, developed independently and works with any compatible tile service.
Do OpenStreetMap maps look as good as Mapbox?
That depends on the style, not the data. Open styles have come a long way; see the map styles in Map Studio for what is possible without Mapbox.
Can I keep using satellite imagery?
Map Studio Pro has satellite and hybrid styles (Esri, with your own key). The free version uses OpenStreetMap vector maps.
Is there a version without WordPress?
Map Studio is a WordPress plugin. Outside WordPress, use MapLibre GL JS directly with OpenFreeMap. See Google Maps API alternatives for the parts.
Vector maps without a token – free
Map Studio on WordPress.org: install, open, design. No account, no API key.