GraphHopper

GraphHopper is a routing and route-optimization platform built around APIs and an open-source engine. It suits developers and transportation teams building location services or coordinating vehicle operations. Its range of planning tools is compelling, but the free plan is non-commercial and paid tiers have daily and per-request ceilings.

Overview

GraphHopper combines routing, route optimization, geocoding, and other location tools. Routing returns travel times, distances, and turn-by-turn directions, with vehicle-specific and custom profiles. Optimization can account for time windows, vehicle capacities, and service times, so it can support operational schedules as well as basic route calculation.

The commercial APIs use the Java-based, open-source GraphHopper routing engine and jsprit. The engine supports cloud servers, mobile devices, self-hosting, and offline use, giving development teams options beyond a hosted API. Routing and geocoding use OpenStreetMap data; GraphHopper also works with map providers such as Thunderforest and MapTiler. The engine began as an open-source project in 2014, and the company was founded in Munich in 2016.

Key features

Routing and location planning

Traffic-aware planning uses TomTom traffic data to account for travel times that vary during the day. Geocoding works in both directions between addresses and coordinates. Territory planning, GPS track processing, distance and time calculations, and service-area mapping make GraphHopper more than a turn-by-turn directions API. That breadth is useful when an application needs several location functions, though teams should check the plan’s quotas against their request volume and workload.

Development, support, and privacy

Java and JavaScript client libraries are documented, and GraphHopper recommends MapLibre Navigation SDK for turn-by-turn navigation on iOS or Android. All plans include online support, software updates, and at least weekly OpenStreetMap data updates. Paid plans add email support, while Premium includes telephone support. API requests are processed on Hetzner servers in Germany, stored for up to five weeks, and protected in transit with HTTPS, PFS, and similar techniques.

Pricing

GraphHopper is freemium, but its Free plan is limited to non-commercial use, has no guarantees, and does not support flexible mode. It allows 500 credits/day, 5 locations/request, and 1 vehicle/request, with forum-only support. Those limits make it suitable for non-commercial evaluation or small experiments, not a commercial service.

Paid plans are billed monthly, with annual payment available. Each step up raises daily credits and request capacity, but even Premium caps locations at 200/request and credits at 50,000/day. Teams should size a plan around both peak request complexity and total daily use, not just the number of users.

Platforms

GraphHopper supports Android, iOS, web, API, and self-hosted deployments. The self-hosted and offline options may suit teams that want more control over deployment; mobile and web support also makes it relevant to applications serving users directly.

Who it's for

GraphHopper is best for developers integrating routing into applications and transportation teams planning constrained, multi-vehicle work. Custom profiles, traffic-aware routes, time windows, and vehicle capacities give those users meaningful control. It is a poor fit for commercial users seeking a free API tier, or for anyone who needs requests beyond a plan’s caps without moving to a higher or custom-priced tier.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Routing, optimization, geocoding, and service-area tools sit in one platform, reducing the need to combine separate location APIs.
• Pros: An open-source Java engine supports self-hosting and offline use alongside commercial APIs.
• Pros: Time windows, vehicle capacities, and service times address real operational planning constraints.
• Cons: The free plan is non-commercial, lacks flexible mode and guarantees, and is capped at 500 credits/day.
• Cons: Per-request location, vehicle, and map-matching caps may constrain larger jobs even on paid plans.
• Cons: Basic starts at €69/mo, so commercial users cannot use the free tier as a production option.

Alternatives

For dedicated route planning or optimization comparisons, browse Route Planning Software and Route Optimization Software.

Route4Me is worth comparing for users who want a lower-cost route-planning option: its Monthly plan is $9.99 a month for unlimited stops, while its Free plan allows 10 stops and saves routes for seven days. Badger Maps offers a 14-day free plan with route optimization up to 120 stops and native iOS and Android apps, which may suit users prioritizing those mobile and stop-count terms. Navmii is another freemium option with SDK access.

Timemoz may fit users looking instead for a free time-tracking tool, with unlimited users and projects and a two-seat minimum. SalesRoute.ai has a free plan covering order and invoice management, analytics, purchase and inventory management, and expenses. Harpus Field Sales is an alternative for field-sales workflows, with a free plan for one user and one company. Moovit is a freemium choice for transit planning, real-time information, and directions. SalesRabbit Appointment Management offers a free single-user tier with limited core features and no full team management.

Verdict

Choose GraphHopper if you need configurable routing and constrained route optimization in an application or transportation operation, especially if self-hosting or offline use matters. Its broad API toolkit and open-source engine are the strongest reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need commercial use without a paid plan or expect workloads to exceed its request and daily-credit ceilings.