OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free, editable map of the world, founded in 2004 by Steve Coast in the United Kingdom.

Updated 6 Jun 2026 Reviewed by 7wData

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Provides a free, editable map of the world and the underlying geospatial database, accessible via an open API, that anyone can use, contribute to, or redistribute.

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free, editable map of the world, founded in 2004 by Steve Coast in the United Kingdom. It is operated by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF), a UK-registered non-profit. OSM is not a company; it has no venture capital funding, no CEO, and no paid product team.

Its annual budget, disclosed in OSMF treasurer reports, is roughly £200,000–£300,000, derived primarily from individual donations, membership fees, and occasional hardware-specific fundraising appeals. The OSMF's 2025 AGM treasurer's report (the most recent available) showed income of approximately £280,000, with roughly 60% spent on server hardware, 20% on promotion, and 20% on legal and administrative costs. OSM US, a separate 501(c)(3) local chapter, publishes its own annual reports; its 2025 report (filed with GuideStar) showed revenue of about $450,000 from organizational memberships, grants, and donations.

The core product is the OSM database itself—a globally editable geospatial dataset—accessed via a free API, rendered into map tiles (standard, cycle, transport, humanitarian, and others), and used by thousands of organizations. Notable commercial users include Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft, though none pay OSMF for data access. The project's most significant recent strategic move was the French government's 2025 decision to use a fork of OSM's core infrastructure (the Rails Port and related tools) to replace the technology behind its national cadastral system, as reported on the OSM blog in May 2026.

OSM also awarded microgrants in 2025 to projects including WaterwayMap.org, StreetComplete, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team's Field Tasking Manager. The project faces ongoing tension between its volunteer-driven ethos and the commercial dependence of major tech firms on its data, a dynamic that has led to periodic community debates about data governance and API usage limits.

Who buys this

Technology companies integrating maps into products (e.g., Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft)
Government agencies and public administrations (e.g., French cadastral system, various national mapping agencies)
Humanitarian and non-profit organizations (e.g., Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Médecins Sans Frontières)
Academic researchers and data scientists using geospatial data for analysis
Independent developers and small businesses building location-based applications

Strengths and what to watch

Strengths

Globally comprehensive, freely licensed geospatial data that no single company controls, providing a public good alternative to proprietary map providers.
Large, active volunteer community (over 10 million registered users, with hundreds of thousands active monthly) that continuously updates and improves data quality, especially in regions poorly covered by commercial maps.
Low-cost, resilient infrastructure: the OSMF operates on a budget of roughly £280,000 per year, funded by donations and membership, making it independent of commercial revenue pressures.

Watch for

Data quality and vandalism risks: as an open-edit platform, OSM is vulnerable to intentional or accidental data corruption, requiring constant community monitoring and tooling (e.g., OSMCha, WhoDidIt).
Governance and funding sustainability: the OSMF's small budget and reliance on donations create vulnerability; a major tech company withdrawing support or a shift in donation patterns could strain server operations.
Commercial dependency without revenue: major tech firms (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft) rely on OSM data but contribute little direct funding to the OSMF, creating a tension between volunteer labor and corporate free-riding.

Recent moves

Key Information

Industry: Location Intelligence
Founded: 1999

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OpenStreetMap and how does it work?

OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project providing a free, editable map of the world and its underlying geospatial database. Anyone can use, contribute to, or redistribute the data through an open API. It was founded in 2004 by Steve Coast.

Who funds OpenStreetMap and what is its budget?

OpenStreetMap is funded primarily through individual donations, membership fees, and occasional hardware fundraising. The OpenStreetMap Foundation operates on an annual budget of roughly £200,000–£300,000. Its 2025 income was about £280,000, with 60% spent on server hardware.

How does OpenStreetMap handle data quality and vandalism?

As an open-edit platform, OpenStreetMap is vulnerable to intentional or accidental data corruption. The community constantly monitors data quality using tools like OSMCha and WhoDidIt. This ongoing vigilance helps maintain reliability, especially in regions poorly covered by commercial maps.

Which major companies use OpenStreetMap data?

Notable commercial users include Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. These companies rely on OSM data for their mapping products but do not pay the OpenStreetMap Foundation for access. This creates tension between volunteer labor and corporate free-riding.

What are the recent developments in OpenStreetMap?

In 2025, the French government adopted a fork of OSM's core infrastructure to replace its national cadastral system. The OSM Foundation also awarded microgrants to projects like WaterwayMap.org, StreetComplete, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team's Field Tasking Manager.

What is the OpenStreetMap Foundation's role and structure?

The OpenStreetMap Foundation is a UK-registered non-profit that operates the project. It has no CEO, venture capital funding, or paid product team. Its budget comes from donations and membership fees, ensuring independence from commercial pressures.

Sources

osmfoundation.org — OSMF financial structure, income sources, expenditure breakdown (60% hardware, 20% promotion, 20% legal), and link to treasurer's reports
openstreetmap.us — OpenStreetMap US annual reports, 501(c)(3) status, and GuideStar transparency seal
blog.openstreetmap.org — 2025 EWG Microgrant Program awards (WaterwayMap.org, StreetComplete, HOT FieldTM, etc.) and State of the Map 2025 Travel Grant results
blog.openstreetmap.org — OSMF representation at Geospatial World Forum 2026 and French government's adoption of OSM core infrastructure for cadastral system
www.openstreetmap.org — Map layers available (Standard, CyclOSM, Cycle Map, Transport, Humanitarian, etc.) and copyright/terms of use