TalkingMaps
TalkingMaps is a free, open-source tool for creating interactive story maps that combine maps, text, multimedia, charts and geospatial data.
What TalkingMaps is
TalkingMaps is a free, open-source tool for creating interactive story maps that combine maps, text, multimedia, charts and geospatial data. Stories can use 2D maps built with MapLibre GL JS or a 3D globe using CesiumJS, with 11 slide layouts to choose from. Map layers can use formats and services including GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, WMS, WFS, WMTS, XYZ tiles, vector tiles, Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF and 3D Tiles. Authors can add Chart.js charts, KPI dashboards and TimelineJS timelines. Its AI assistant can generate text, translations, chart configurations and images using OpenAI, Anthropic Claude or Google Gemini; provider API keys are encrypted and stored per user. Stories can be made public, shared by private link or embedded in another website. Registered users can contribute geolocated text, photos, video or audio, with contributions subject to moderation. The software is self-hosted with Docker, and the project identifies its license as GNU General Public License v3.0. Default limits include a 50 MB maximum media upload, 10 MB for participatory attachments and 1024 MB of storage per user; administrators can configure the upload limits.
Good
- Supports 2D maps and a 3D globe
- Offers 11 slide layouts
- Stories can be embedded or shared privately
- AI assistant supports three providers
- Open source under GNU GPL v3.0
Watch out
- Self-hosting with Docker is required
- Default media upload limit is 50 MB
- Participatory attachments default to 10 MB
- Per-user storage defaults to 1024 MB
Who it suits
It is intended for journalists, researchers, educators, planners and others who want to tell stories on maps. It suits users able to deploy and manage self-hosted software with Docker.
Verdict
TalkingMaps combines mapping, narrative layouts, charts, timelines and moderated audience contributions in a self-hosted package. Its Docker deployment and default file limits are important considerations for teams planning a project.
The facts
Each one read from TalkingMaps's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI key storage
- The documentation says AI provider API keys are encrypted and stored per user.checked 8 Oct 2026
- AI providers
- The AI assistant can generate text, translations, chart configurations, and images using OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, or Google Gemini.checked 8 Oct 2026
- API
- The maker documents auto-generated REST API documentation at /api/docs.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The documentation describes it for journalists, researchers, educators, planners and anyone telling a story on a map.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Charts and timelines
- Stories can include Chart.js charts, KPI dashboards, and interactive timelines powered by TimelineJS.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Stories support collaboration roles including editor and read-only viewer, alongside admin, editor and viewer account roles.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Data sources
- Map layers can use GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, WMS, WFS, WMTS, XYZ tiles, vector tiles, Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF and 3D Tiles.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- TalkingMaps is open source and self-hosted with Docker; the maker documents Docker Desktop for Windows or Mac and Docker Engine with Compose for Linux.checked 8 Oct 2026
- GIS services
- Users can save and reuse GeoServer, QGIS Server, MapServer and other OGC-compliant service endpoints in a service catalog.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The AI assistant supports OpenAI, Anthropic Claude and Google Gemini; the documentation says user API keys are encrypted and stored per user.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The project repository identifies its license as GNU General Public License v3.0.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The documented default maximum file upload is 50 MB, participatory attachments default to 10 MB, and per-user storage defaults to 1024 MB.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Maps and layouts
- It supports interactive 2D maps, a 3D globe, and 11 slide layouts, including full-map, navigable-image, and point-cloud layouts.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Notable limits
- The documentation lists a 50 MB default maximum media upload and a 10 MB default maximum attachment size for participatory contributions; administrators can configure both.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Participatory maps
- Registered users can add geolocated contributions with text, photos, video or audio, which the story owner or an admin can moderate.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- TalkingMaps creates interactive story maps that combine maps, text, multimedia, charts and geospatial data.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- TalkingMaps is self-hosted with Docker; the installation documentation lists Docker Desktop for Windows or Mac, or Docker Engine and Docker Compose for Linux.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Published stories can be public, shared through private links, or embedded in another website with an iframe.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation links to GitHub options to report a bug or request a feature.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Visualization
- Stories can include Chart.js charts, KPI dashboards and TimelineJS timelines.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The site credits Federico Gianoli and Martino Boni (Tenoli) and says the project was sponsored and redeveloped by StudioGIS.eu.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Mapping
- It supports 2D maps with MapLibre GL JS and a 3D globe with CesiumJS.checked 8 Oct 2026
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