Routing
Radar Routing is a set of APIs for distance, matrix, route optimization, route matching, and directions, designed as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps and Mapbox.
Publisher review
Radar Routing is a set of APIs for distance, matrix, route optimization, route matching, and directions, designed as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps and Mapbox. It targets developers and businesses that need accurate, global routing for driving, walking, cycling, and public transit without the high per-request costs of the major incumbents. Radar processes over 1 billion API calls per day from hundreds of millions of devices with over 99.99% API uptime, making it suitable for high-volume production use cases such as logistics, delivery, and fleet management. The APIs are part of Radar's all-in-one location platform, which also includes geocoding, search, geofencing, and location tracking.
Radar Routing provides multimodal routing with real-time traffic data, supporting driving, walking, cycling, and public transit. The distance API calculates straight-line or road distance between points, while the matrix API computes travel times and distances for up to 25 origins and destinations in a single call. Route optimization solves the traveling-salesman problem for up to 25 stops, and route matching snaps GPS traces to the road network. Directions return turn-by-turn instructions with estimated time of arrival. Radar uses both open and commercial datasets to achieve global coverage, and its pricing is usage-based with no upfront commitments.
In the routing API market, Radar competes directly with Google Maps API, Mapbox, and HERE Maps. Google Maps API charges $7 per 1,000 additional map loads after a $200 monthly credit, and its per-SKU pricing can lead to unpredictable costs — for example, 40,000 geocodes cost $150/month under the post-March 2025 model. Mapbox offers extensive map customization but has variable traffic data quality by region. Radar differentiates on cost: it is explicitly positioned as more affordable than both Google Maps and Mapbox, with no per-map-load fees and a simpler pricing structure. However, Radar has a smaller developer community and less brand recognition than Google Maps.
The honest trade-offs: Radar offers limited customization of map colors, markers, and controls compared to Mapbox, and has no AR/VR support. Its interface is less familiar to users accustomed to Google Maps. While Radar's routing is accurate for most use cases, Google Maps has more frequent traffic data updates and a larger point-of-interest database. For teams that need deep map styling or augmented reality features, Radar is not the right fit. But for developers who prioritize cost, simplicity, and high-volume reliability, Radar Routing is a strong choice.
How it works
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Distance API
Calculates straight-line or road distance between two or more points, supporting both driving and walking profiles.
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Matrix API
Computes travel times and distances for up to 25 origins and destinations in a single request, enabling efficient fleet planning.
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Route Optimization
Solves the traveling-salesman problem for up to 25 stops, minimizing total travel time or distance for multi-stop routes.
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Route Matching
Snaps raw GPS traces to the road network, correcting for signal noise and providing accurate path reconstruction.
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Directions API
Returns turn-by-turn navigation instructions with estimated time of arrival, supporting driving, walking, cycling, and transit.
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Real-Time Traffic Data
Incorporates live traffic conditions into route calculations, adjusting estimated times based on current congestion.
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Multimodal Routing
Supports driving, walking, cycling, and public transit modes, each with mode-specific speed and road restrictions.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Processes over 1 billion API calls per day from hundreds of millions of devices, demonstrating enterprise-grade scalability.
- Maintains over 99.99% API uptime, ensuring high reliability for mission-critical routing applications.
- Offers a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps API, which charges $7 per 1,000 additional map loads after a $200 monthly credit.
- Provides global coverage using both open and commercial datasets, with accurate routing for driving, walking, cycling, and public transit.
Trade-offs
- Limited customization of map colors, markers, and controls compared to Mapbox, which offers extensive styling options.
- No AR/VR support, whereas Mapbox has growing support for augmented and virtual reality applications.
- Less familiar interface compared to Google Maps, which has a larger developer community and more extensive documentation.
- Google Maps has more frequent traffic data updates and a larger point-of-interest database, potentially offering more accurate real-time routing.
Pricing context
Usage-based with no upfront commitments; positioned as more affordable than Google Maps API and Mapbox. Exact per-request rates are not publicly listed, but Radar explicitly markets itself as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps, which charges $7 per 1,000 map loads after a $200 monthly credit.
Getting started with Routing
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Sign up for Radar
Go to radar.com and create a free account. Provide your email and set a password. After verifying your email, log in to access the dashboard where you can manage your API keys and usage.
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Get your API key
In the Radar dashboard, navigate to the API Keys section. Generate a new secret key for your project. Copy this key and store it securely; you will use it to authenticate all routing API requests.
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Install the SDK
Choose your platform and install the Radar SDK. For a web app, add the JavaScript SDK via npm or a script tag. For mobile, follow the iOS or Android setup guides. The SDK simplifies making API calls from your code.
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Make a routing request
Use the Directions API to get turn-by-turn instructions. Call the endpoint with your API key, origin and destination coordinates, and travel mode (e.g., driving). Parse the JSON response to display the route and ETA in your app.
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Monitor usage and costs
In the Radar dashboard, view your API usage under the Analytics tab. Track the number of requests per day and estimated costs. Set usage alerts to avoid unexpected bills, and adjust your integration as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Radar Routing and how does it compare to Google Maps API?
Radar Routing is a set of APIs for distance, matrix, route optimization, and directions. It is designed as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps API and Mapbox, with usage-based pricing and no per-map-load fees, targeting high-volume logistics and delivery use cases.
How much does Radar Routing cost compared to Google Maps?
Radar Routing uses usage-based pricing with no upfront commitments and is positioned as more affordable than Google Maps API. Google Maps charges $7 per 1,000 additional map loads after a $200 monthly credit. Exact Radar rates are not publicly listed but are marketed as cost-effective.
What features does the Radar Routing API include?
Radar Routing includes a Distance API, Matrix API for up to 25 origins and destinations, Route Optimization solving the traveling-salesman problem for 25 stops, Route Matching for GPS traces, and Directions API with turn-by-turn instructions. It supports driving, walking, cycling, and public transit.
Is Radar Routing reliable for high-volume production use?
Yes, Radar processes over 1 billion API calls per day from hundreds of millions of devices with over 99.99% API uptime. This makes it suitable for mission-critical applications like logistics, delivery, and fleet management that require consistent, high-volume routing.
What are the main trade-offs of using Radar Routing instead of Mapbox?
Radar offers limited customization of map colors, markers, and controls compared to Mapbox, and has no AR/VR support. However, Radar is more cost-effective and simpler to price, making it a strong choice for developers prioritizing affordability and high-volume reliability over deep styling options.
Does Radar Routing support real-time traffic and multimodal directions?
Yes, Radar Routing incorporates real-time traffic data into route calculations, adjusting estimated times based on current congestion. It supports multimodal routing for driving, walking, cycling, and public transit, each with mode-specific speed and road restrictions for accurate directions.
Alternatives
How Routing compares
Direct head-to-head against 3 competitors. Picked by 7wData.
Routing
- Pricing
- Usage-based with no upfront commitments; positioned as more affordable than Google Maps API and Mapbox. Exact per-request rates are not publicly listed, but Radar explicitly markets itself as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps, which charges $7 per 1,000 map loads after a $200 monthly credit.
- Target
- Radar Routing is a set of APIs for distance, matrix, route optimization, route matching, and directions, designed as a cost-effective alternative to Google Maps and
- Strength
- Processes over 1 billion API calls per day from hundreds of millions of devices, demonstrating enterprise-grade scalability.
- Watch for
- Limited customization of map colors, markers, and controls compared to Mapbox, which offers extensive styling options.
Onro
- Pricing
- Free Demo, Custom pricing based on business needs
- Target
- Courier services, last-mile delivery
- Deployment
- Cloud-based
- Strength
- Driver-centric optimizations, white-label solution
- Watch for
- Custom pricing may escalate for large fleets
Routerra
- Pricing
- $12/month (Pro plan), 200 stops/route
- Target
- Small businesses, independent couriers
- Deployment
- Cloud-based
- Strength
- Flat-rate pricing, multi-vehicle routing included
- Watch for
- Limited to 200 stops per route
Route4Me
- Pricing
- Starting from $300/month
- Target
- Large fleets, complex deliveries
- Deployment
- Cloud-based
- Strength
- Multi-stop optimization (up to 10,000 stops)
- Watch for
- High cost for small businesses
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