Self-Hosted vs Hosted Geocoding
Should you run your own geocoding infrastructure or use a hosted API? Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Self-Hosted | Hosted API |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Days to weeks | Minutes |
| Upfront Cost | $100-500/month (servers) | Free to start |
| Maintenance | Ongoing (updates, scaling) | None |
| Data Updates | Manual process | Automatic |
| Scalability | Requires planning | Automatic |
| Control | Complete | Limited |
| Privacy | Data stays internal | Data sent to API |
Self-Hosted Geocoding
Running your own geocoding infrastructure using open-source tools like Nominatim or Photon.
Popular Self-Hosted Options
- Nominatim: The official OpenStreetMap geocoder, full-featured but resource-intensive
- Photon: Elasticsearch-based, faster searches, lower resource usage
- Pelias: Modular geocoder with multiple data sources
Pros of Self-Hosting
- Complete data privacy - queries never leave your network
- No per-request costs at high volumes
- Full control over data and updates
- Can customize for specific regions or use cases
- No dependency on third-party services
Cons of Self-Hosting
- Significant setup time (importing planet data takes days)
- Requires 64GB+ RAM for global coverage
- Ongoing maintenance burden
- Must handle scaling yourself
- OSM data updates require re-imports
Hosted API (LatLng)
Using a managed geocoding service that handles all infrastructure.
Pros of Hosted APIs
- Start in minutes, not days
- No infrastructure to manage
- Automatic data updates
- Built-in scaling and reliability
- Global edge network for low latency
- Free tier for development and small projects
Cons of Hosted APIs
- Per-request costs at scale
- Data leaves your network
- Dependent on third-party availability
- Less customization options
When to Choose Each
Choose Self-Hosted When:
- You have strict data privacy requirements
- You need 10M+ requests per month
- You have DevOps resources available
- You need custom data or processing
Choose Hosted API When:
- You want to start quickly
- You need less than 1M requests per month
- You don't want infrastructure overhead
- You need global low-latency access
- You're building a prototype or MVP
Not sure? Try our hosted API free - you can always migrate to self-hosted later if needed.