MCP Google Map vs OpenStreetMap
A side-by-side look at the MCP Google Map and OpenStreetMap MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Google Map for location services work as a local process; choose OpenStreetMap for location services as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Google Map when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY, GOOGLE_MAPS_ENABLED_TOOLS. - You want tools like
maps_search_nearby, maps_search_places, maps_place_details.
Choose OpenStreetMap when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
geocode, reverse_geocode, route.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Services | Location Services |
| Quality signal | 69/100 · Great | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | BYOK (pay the provider) | Not declared |
| Required env vars | GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEYGOOGLE_MAPS_ENABLED_TOOLS | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 478 | 4 |
| Directory activity | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 18 | 11 |
| Full listing | View MCP Google Map | View OpenStreetMap |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Google Map tools 18
maps_search_nearbyFind places near a location by type (restaurant, cafe, hotel, etc.). Supports filtering by radius, rating, and open status.maps_search_placesFree-text place search (e.g., "sushi restaurants in Tokyo"). Supports location bias, rating, open-now filters.maps_place_detailsGet full details for a place by its place_id — reviews, phone, website, hours. Optional `maxPhotos` param returns photo URLs.maps_geocodeConvert an address or landmark name into GPS coordinates.maps_reverse_geocodeConvert GPS coordinates into a street address.maps_distance_matrixCalculate travel distances and times between multiple origins and destinations. Driving mode supports `avoid_tolls` and `avoid_highways`.maps_directionsGet step-by-step navigation between two points with route details. Driving mode supports `avoid_tolls` and `avoid_highways`.maps_elevationGet elevation (meters above sea level) for geographic coordinates.maps_timezoneGet timezone ID, name, UTC/DST offsets, and local time for coordinates.maps_weatherGet current weather conditions or forecast — temperature, humidity, wind, UV, precipitation.maps_air_qualityGet air quality index, pollutant concentrations, and health recommendations by demographic group.maps_static_mapGenerate a map image with markers, paths, or routes — returned inline for the user to see directly.- +6 more on the listing page
OpenStreetMap tools 11
geocodeConverts a place name or address into coordinates using OpenStreetMap. Returns matching places with lat/lon, a display label and the OSM id. Provider "nominatim" (default) is best for addresses; "photon" is typo-tolerant and better for fuzzy place names.reverse_geocodeConverts coordinates into the nearest address or place name (Nominatim).routeCalculates the real-world travel distance and time between two or more places, walking, driving or cycling, on OpenStreetMap data. Waypoints are visited in the given order. Set include_steps for a turn-by-turn summary. Use route_matrix to compare many pairs, optimize_route to reorder stops.route_matrixComputes travel times and distances from every origin to every destination in one call — ideal for comparing options (e.g. 5 hotels against 3 sights). Cells are null where no route exists.optimize_routeFinds the best order to visit a set of stops (traveling-salesman optimization) and returns the optimized itinerary with total distance and time. With roundtrip (default) the tour returns to the first stop; without it the first stop is the start and the last stop the end.isochroneShows how far you can get from a place within a time or distance budget ("what is reachable in 15 minutes on foot?"). Returns a compact summary of the reachable area: bounding box and reach per compass direction. Give exactly one of minutes or kilometers.find_nearby_poisFinds points of interest near a location, sorted by distance. Category shortcuts: restaurant, cafe, bar, pub, fast_food, ice_cream, hotel, hostel, guest_house, apartment, camp_site, attraction, museum, gallery, viewpoint, information, artwork, castle, monument, ruins, supermarket, bakery, convenience, pharmacy, hospital, doctors, police, atm, bank, fuel, charging_station, parking, toilets, drinking_water, bus_stop, train_station, tram_stop, ferry_terminal, bicycle_rental, car_rental, playground, park, beach, swimming_pool. Any other OSM tag works as "key" or "key=value" (e.g. "diet:vegan=yes"). Use poi_details for the full record of one result.poi_detailsFetches the full OpenStreetMap record of one element — all tags (opening hours, website, phone, …), coordinates and a map link. Takes an OSM id as returned by find_nearby_pois or geocode, e.g. "node/240109189".suggest_meeting_pointSuggests a fair place to meet for people starting from different locations: finds venues around the geographic midpoint and picks the one with the most balanced travel times for everyone.straight_line_distanceGreat-circle ("as the crow flies") distance between two places. Instant and independent of any road network — use route for real travel distances.map_linkGenerates openstreetmap.org links to open in a browser: a marker link for a single place, or a directions link when from and to are given. Provide either "place", or both "from" and "to".
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
MCP Google Map
{
"mcpServers": {
"cablate-mcp-google-map": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cablate/mcp-google-map"
],
"env": {
"GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_MAPS_ENABLED_TOOLS": "YOUR_GOOGLE_MAPS_ENABLED_TOOLS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
OpenStreetMap
{
"mcpServers": {
"openstreetmap": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"osm-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Google Map is categorized under Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. OpenStreetMap belongs to Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Google Map for location services work and OpenStreetMap for location services.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
MCP Google Map is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. OpenStreetMap has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add cablate-mcp-google-map and openstreetmap as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Google Map has a quality signal of 69/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 478 GitHub stars. OpenStreetMap has 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 4 GitHub stars.