Cartes.io vs OpenStreetMap

Cartes.io is an open-source platform for creating and sharing custom maps with markers, letting anyone plot points, GeoJSON shapes, and metadata without running their own server. Reading public maps and markers needs no signup — write access is optional and controlled per map, either open to anyone or gated behind a token issued when the map or marker is created. The API returns JSON by default and GeoJSON on request, and the project ships official Python and NPM packages alongside its hosted instance at cartes.io.

The core OpenStreetMap API serves and edits the raw map database underlying OSM — nodes, ways, and relations — over HTTPS at api.openstreetmap.org. Reading map data requires no authentication at all, while creating or modifying data requires an OAuth 2.0 token tied to an OSM account (the older Basic Auth/OAuth 1.0a login methods were retired in June 2024). It's a general-purpose data API rather than a geocoding service specifically — OSM points address-lookup users to the separate Nominatim service, and bulk-read users to Overpass.