OpenStreetMap vs Thinair Geo
A side-by-side look at the OpenStreetMap and Thinair Geo MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose OpenStreetMap for location services work as a local process; choose Thinair Geo 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 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.
Choose Thinair Geo when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Location Services domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You want tools like
geocode, reverse_geocode, batch_geocode.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Location Services | Location Services |
| Quality signal | 57/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | OAuth 2.0 |
| Pricing | Not declared | Freemium |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 2 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 11 | 19 |
| Full listing | View OpenStreetMap | View Thinair Geo |
Tools & capabilities
OpenStreetMap tools 11
geocodePlace name/address → coordinates (Nominatim or Photon)reverse_geocodeCoordinates → nearest addressrouteDistance and duration between 2+ waypoints, `foot`/`car`/`bike`; optional turn-by-turn summaryroute_matrixTravel time/distance from every origin to every destination in one calloptimize_routeBest visiting order for a set of stops (traveling-salesman, OSRM trip)isochroneReachable area within a time or distance budget (Valhalla, or ORS with key)find_nearby_poisPOIs around a location by category or raw OSM tag, sorted by distance (Overpass)poi_detailsFull OSM record of one element: opening hours, website, phone, …suggest_meeting_pointFair meeting venue for 2–8 people (balanced travel times)straight_line_distanceGreat-circle distance, computed offlinemap_linkopenstreetmap.org marker / directions links, computed offline
Thinair Geo tools 19
geocodeConvert addresses, place names, or intersections to coordinatesreverse_geocodeConvert coordinates to addressesbatch_geocodeGeocode up to 50 addresses in one call (returns `geojson` FeatureCollection)directionsTurn-by-turn routing — auto, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycleisochroneTravel-time / -distance reachability polygons (multi-band)trafficReal-time traffic conditionsweatherCurrent conditions and forecastssearch_placesFind nearby POIs by category (gas, charging, food, lodging, …)exploreBrowse cities, neighborhoods, and venues by regiongeocode_structuredGeocode from discrete address components (form / CRM fields) instead of free textresolve_intersectionResolve a named cross-street (street1 × street2) to a coordinate with a confidence scoredistance_matrixRoad distances + travel times for every origin → destination pair (≤ 625 pairs)- +7 more on the listing page
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.
OpenStreetMap
{
"mcpServers": {
"openstreetmap": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"osm-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Thinair Geo
{
"mcpServers": {
"thinairtelematics-thinair-geo": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@thinairtelematics/geo"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
OpenStreetMap is categorized under Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Thinair Geo belongs to Location Services and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick OpenStreetMap for location services work and Thinair Geo 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.
OpenStreetMap has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Thinair Geo is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: oauth 2.0. 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 openstreetmap and thinairtelematics-thinair-geo as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, OpenStreetMap has a quality signal of 57/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars. Thinair Geo has 61/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.