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OnlyMapJS and MapLibre

OnlyMapJS draws its basemaps with MapLibre, so this is not a choice between rivals. MapLibre GL JS renders and styles vector-tile maps. OnlyMapJS adds what a data map needs on top of one, written as HTML.

Not available not in MapLibre or its plugin list Plugin a separate plugin or custom layer Partly / Experimental in MapLibre, with the limit noted

Projections and print

Maps that have to look right on paper, in the projection a cartographer would choose.

Capability	MapLibre GL JS	OnlyMapJS
A map in a real projection, using ordinary web tiles	ExperimentalSince 6.15, `addProjection` registers a planar CRS, but every tile source must already be cut in that projection's grid. Tiles are not reprojected.	`crs="EPSG:5070"`. Standard web tiles, OpenFreeMap's vector basemaps and shaded relief are reprojected on the GPU. The projection switches live.
Data stored in a local grid (eastings and northings)	Not availableGeoJSON must be longitude and latitude. Convert it yourself.	Read from a shapefile `.prj` or a FlatGeobuf or GeoParquet header, or declared with `crs` on the layer.
Vector SVG export with editable labels	PluginExperimental in maplibre-gl-export. It exports a raster image by default.	`snapshot({ format: "svg" })`: paths stay paths, and labels are real text, following their line.
Print layouts measured in millimetres	Not available	`<om-cartograph>` sheets with legends, scale bars, graticules and north arrows, and `<om-atlas>` for one page per feature.
Print finishes on the rendered map	Not available	`<om-effect preset="vintage">`: grain, halftone, engraving, edge and tint looks, sized in millimetres.
Geometry generalised at draw time	PartlyContour lines from a DEM through maplibre-contour. GeoJSON is simplified only for tiling.	`<om-transform>`: simplify, smooth, buffer, dot density and contours.
Class breaks computed from the data	Not availableYou supply the breaks to `step` or `interpolate`.	`classify-scale="jenks"` (or quantile, equal interval) with a named colour ramp and a legend made for you.

Terrain and bathymetry

A seafloor or a survey of your own, not just the global elevation tiles.

Capability	MapLibre GL JS	OnlyMapJS
Several elevation datasets on one map	Not availableTerrain takes a single DEM source.	Rank `<om-terrain>` sources: a survey wins inside its extent, and a global grid fills the rest and shows through its gaps.
Gaps and datum differences between datasets	Not available	`nodata` turns empty cells into holes, and `vertical-offset` corrects a datum step. `onlymapjs inspect-terrain` measures both for you.
Your own GeoTIFF DEM as terrain tiles	Not available	`onlymapjs dem-tiles survey.tif` writes the tiles and prints the line to paste.
A camera that holds a set distance above the seabed	PartlyThe view centre can stay on the terrain, and the camera is kept above the surface. There is no clearance setting.	`camera-clearance="15"` holds the eye that many metres up, and `getCamera()` reads its depth.

Data

Point the map at the file you have.

Capability	MapLibre GL JS	OnlyMapJS
Formats read without conversion	PluginPlugins exist for CSV, KML, GPX, FlatGeobuf and Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF. None are listed for Shapefile, GeoArrow or Zarr.	`data="…"` reads CSV, Shapefile, KML, GPX, FlatGeobuf, GeoParquet, Arrow and GeoArrow, and CityJSON. Rasters come from Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF and Zarr.
Live feeds	Partly`updateData` merges changes by id. You write the WebSocket or polling code.	`data="wss://…" key="id"` upserts and reconnects. `refresh="5s"` polls and keeps the last good data through an outage.

3D and data visualization

deck.gl's layers, without wiring deck.gl to the map yourself.

Capability	MapLibre GL JS	OnlyMapJS
Hexagon and grid aggregation, arcs, animated trips	PluginThrough a deck.gl overlay that you set up.	Built in: OnlyMapJS is built on deck.gl, with 41 layer types.
glTF models, 3D Tiles and point clouds	PluginThrough three.js or babylon.js custom layers, or maplibre-gl-lidar.	`ScenegraphLayer`, `Tile3DLayer` (Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles included) and `PointCloudLayer`.
BIM: IFC files with per-element picking	Not available	`BIMLayer` parses IFC in the browser. Pick a wall or a window, and isolate, hide or ghost elements. Coarse clash detection is included.
A 3D clip box through every layer	Not available	`clip-box-min` and `clip-box-max` cut the whole scene, with a widget to move the box.

Authoring, interface and testing

What it takes to ship the page around the map.

Capability	MapLibre GL JS	OnlyMapJS
A whole map, written as HTML	Not availableThe style is declarative JSON, but the map needs JavaScript.	`<om-map>`, `<om-layer>` and `<om-widget>` elements. Edit an attribute and the map updates.
Legends, filter and time sliders, charts, measure and draw	PluginCore controls are navigation, scale, attribution, geolocate, fullscreen, terrain and globe. The rest are separate plugins.	Built-in widgets, including a legend generated from the layer's own styling.
Guided story tours with a player	Not available	`<om-story>` steps on a timeline, with play, pause and scrub.
Undo and redo of map edits	Not available	Built in, recorded from the page itself. Cmd or Ctrl-Z works.
A validator that says how to fix the page	PartlyThe style validator reports errors, without fixes.	`OmMap.validate()` reports errors and warnings, each with a fix.
Tests without a browser or GPU	Not availableSince 6.0 MapLibre requires WebGL2.	`mountForTest()` runs your page in vitest or jest, clicks included.

Compared with MapLibre GL JS 6.16.0 on 26 October 2026, using MapLibre's documentation, style specification, changelog and plugins page. MapLibre moves quickly: custom projections arrived in 6.15.0, eight days earlier. Corrections are welcome. MapLibre is a project of the MapLibre Organization. This comparison is independent and is not endorsed by or affiliated with MapLibre.