Which is better, LocationIQ or CARTO?

LocationIQ edges out CARTO based on user ratings across 20 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — CARTO may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between LocationIQ and CARTO?

Key differences between LocationIQ and CARTO include pricing (LocationIQ starts at $50 vs CARTO at undisclosed); free trial availability (CARTO offers one, LocationIQ does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both LocationIQ and CARTO offer a Free trial?

CARTO offers Free Trial, but LocationIQ does not.

What is the starting price of LocationIQ and CARTO?

The starting price of LocationIQ is $50/Month. Pricing for CARTO is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to LocationIQ?

Some top alternatives to LocationIQ include CARTO, eSpatial, ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, Maptive.

What are the best alternatives to CARTO?

Some top alternatives to CARTO include eSpatial, ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, Map Business Online, Esri ArcGIS.

LocationIQ vs CARTO Comparison

Last updated: May 20, 2026

LocationIQ

4.5(20 reviews)

Starting at $50 /Month

Freelancers / Consultants
Large Enterprises

LocationIQ is a professional geographic information system software program designed for location based services and locational marketing. Its local business sales software is a powerful, yet easy to use tool that allows…

View Pricing Read Reviews

CARTO

4.4(88 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Free Trial
Freelancers / Consultants
Large Enterprises

CARTO is a powerful yet easy to use Geographic Information System Software that allows for mapping and for the creation of interactive maps using the location data. Use it to create custom maps and locations, show spatia…

View Pricing Read Reviews

LocationIQ leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 20 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

LocationIQCARTO

The core difference between LocationIQ and CARTO lies in their focus, with LocationIQ offering straightforward location services and CARTO specializing in interactive, multi-layer spatial mapping for data analysis. Ideal buyers for LocationIQ are those seeking basic location data solutions, while CARTO is best suited for medium to large businesses with teams that require advanced spatial analytics capabilities.

- Basic location services - Affordable pricing at $50 - Suitable for various industries - No specific company size requirements - Ideal for simple location-based applications - Limited features compared to advanced mapping tools

- Best for interactive, multi-layer maps - Ideal for medium to large businesses - Supports data analysts and GIS specialists - Focus on data-driven insights - Fast creation of visually appealing maps - Advanced spatial analytics capabilities

LocationIQ vs CARTO — at a glance

Feature	LocationIQ	CARTO
Rating	4.5 / 5	4.4 / 5
Reviews	20	88
Starting price	$50 /Month	Contact for pricing
Free trial	No	Yes
Free version	No	No
Best for	Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business	Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
Category	Geographic Information System Software	Geographic Information System Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android
API	Available	Available
Support modes	Online	Business Hours, Online
Certifications	GDPR	SOC 2, GDPR
Data residency	US	Global

Key differences between LocationIQ and CARTO

Pricing: LocationIQ starts at $50 /Month. CARTO pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: CARTO offers a free trial; LocationIQ does not.
User satisfaction: LocationIQ scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
Deployment: LocationIQ supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android; CARTO supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android.

LocationIQ vs CARTO — find the better fit before you commit.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Geographic Information System Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	LocationIQ (5) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	CARTO (75) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

LocationIQ

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

CARTO

Best for creating interactive, multi-layer spatial maps for data-driven insights.

Choose if

You need fast creation of visually appealing, interactive maps with multiple data layers.
Your team includes data analysts, GIS specialists, or urban planners requiring spatial analytics.
You want a flexible GIS tool for location analytics, urban planning, or marketing behavior analysis.

Consider alternatives if

Your users lack GIS or data analytics expertise due to the intimidating learning curve.
You require extensive marketplace apps, connectors, or advanced GIS customization features.

LocationIQ typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. CARTO tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description	LocationIQ is a professional geographic information system software program designed for location based services and locational marketing. Its local business sales software is a powerful, ... Read More about LocationIQ	CARTO is a powerful yet easy to use Geographic Information System Software that allows for mapping and for the creation of interactive maps using the location data. Use it to create custom ... Read More about CARTO
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $50	Not Available
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	7.9/10	9.4/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.5 (20)	4.4 (88)
Best Company Size	—	Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo	LocationIQ has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do LocationIQ and CARTO Compare on Features?

Total Features	3 Features	10 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote

Compare LocationIQ and CARTO on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	$50	Not Available
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Freelancers Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises Individuals	Freelancers Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises Individuals
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Mobile - iOS Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Available	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

SOC 2	—	✓ Yes
HIPAA	✗ No	✗ No
GDPR	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Single Sign-On (SSO)	—	✓ Yes
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	—	✓ Yes
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Audit Logs	—	✓ Yes
Data Residency	🇺🇸 US	🌐 Global

LocationIQ User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.5 (based on 20 reviews)	4.4 (based on 88 reviews)
Rating Distribution	5 0 0 0 0	58 16 1 0 0
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is very strong across 5 reviews, with consistently positive feedback. What buyers like Powerful location-based services Easy data integration Interactive map creation Common complaints Limited offline capabilities May require technical knowledge Pricing can be high for small businesses	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights CARTO's powerful mapping capabilities and ease of use for spatial analytics, tempered by a learning curve and some feature limitations. What buyers like Ease of use Visual appeal of maps Multi-layer mapping capability Common complaints Steep learning curve Limited advanced features
Pros and Cons	Seamless integration with Google Maps enhances usability. Powerful tools for locational marketing drive customer engagement. User-friendly design makes it accessible for non-technical users. High costs may deter small businesses. Limited offline functionality could be a drawback.	Powerful spatial mapping with support for multiple layers Fast creation of visually appealing and interactive maps Efficient geographic information system for analytics and user tracking Intimidating learning curve for non-expert users Limited advanced features like user tooltips and styling label factors
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	No screenshots available.	4 Screenshots
Videos	No videos available.	3 Videos

Top Alternatives to LocationIQ and CARTO in 2026

Alternatives	CARTO 4.4 eSpatial 4.6 ArcGIS Online 4.5	eSpatial 4.6 ArcGIS Online 4.5 Mapbox 4.1

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, LocationIQ or CARTO?: LocationIQ edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do LocationIQ and CARTO offer a free trial?: CARTO offers a free trial. LocationIQ does not.
What is the starting price of LocationIQ vs CARTO?: LocationIQ starts at $50 /Month. CARTO starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to LocationIQ?: Top alternatives to LocationIQ include CARTO, eSpatial, ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, Maptive.
What are the top alternatives to CARTO?: Top alternatives to CARTO include eSpatial, ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, Map Business Online, Esri ArcGIS.

LocationIQ vs CARTO Comparison

LocationIQ

CARTO

LocationIQ vs CARTO — at a glance

Key differences between LocationIQ and CARTO

LocationIQ vs CARTO — find the better fit before you commit.

LocationIQ

CARTO

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How do LocationIQ and CARTO Compare on Features?

Compare LocationIQ and CARTO on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

LocationIQ User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Top Alternatives to LocationIQ and CARTO in 2026

Frequently asked questions