Nominatim API vs OpenCage API

Two free Geocoding APIs compared on access, reliability and developer ratings, using data from our daily health checks.

The verdict

Choose Nominatim API if you want to start without an API key.
Choose OpenCage API for its data: Forward and reverse geocoding using open data.

Side by side

	Nominatim API	OpenCage API
What it does	Provides worldwide forward / reverse geocoding.	Forward and reverse geocoding using open data.
Provider	Nominatim 5.3.3 Manual	OpenCage
API key	Not needed	Required
HTTPS	Yes	Yes
CORS (browser calls)	Yes	Yes
Status today	Online · 637 ms	Online · 702 ms
Uptime (30 days)	Up	Up
Developer rating	Not rated yet	Not rated yet
Price	Free / free tier	Free / free tier

Nominatim docs ↗OpenCage docs ↗

Nominatim API

Provides worldwide forward / reverse geocoding.

Strengths

No API key needed
Callable from the browser (CORS)
HTTPS

Ratings, reviews and FAQ →

OpenCage API

Forward and reverse geocoding using open data.

Easy-to-use forward and reverse geocoding API. Worldwide coverage. Affordable, predictable pricing. GDPR-compliant, made with open data, and trusted by thousands of developers

Strengths

Callable from the browser (CORS)
HTTPS

Ratings, reviews and FAQ →

How to choose between them

Prototyping or a tutorial? Pick the one that needs no API key.
Calling from a web page? You need CORS. Otherwise route requests through your own server or a serverless function.
Going to production? Favour HTTPS, a strong uptime record and a provider with clear rate limits and terms. Check each API's docs before you commit.
Still unsure? Both are free to try: send one request to each and compare the data you get back.

Nominatim vs OpenCage FAQ

Which needs an API key, Nominatim API or OpenCage API?

OpenCage API requires an API key; Nominatim API doesn't, so Nominatim API is quicker to try.

More comparisons

Nominatim API alternatives · OpenCage API alternatives · best Geocoding APIs