Editors
Several editors can be used to edit features in the OpenStreetMap database. Before you can edit any data you will need to create an OSM account.
Beginners Guide
The Beginners' guide will show you how to add data to OpenStreetMap. Tutorials are available in many languages and can be select from the table at the top of the page. You may also wish to see Mapping projects for inspiration about what to map.
Top editors
Desktop
iD is the easy to use editor found per default on the "Edit" button of the OpenStreetMap homepage, and is ideal for quick editing contributions. It runs in your browser and downloads data automatically as you look around. JOSM is a highly expandable standalone Java desktop application which allows editing more data at once, using more advanced tools and direct access to data at cost of increased complexity. Rapid is a web-based modern editor for OpenStreetMap. Rapid integrates advanced mapping tools, authoritative geospatial open data, and cutting-edge technology to empower mappers at all levels to get started quickly, making accurate and fresh edits. Potlatch is the precursor to iD, now available as a desktop application for Mac and Windows.Mobile
Vespucci is the fully-featured Android editor with the most significant use. Osm Go! is a light and easy Android editor. Perfect for adding/editing POI when surveying.Go Map!! is the most popular iOS editor.
StreetComplete is an Android app that allows to easily add information. Low barrier to entry, no OpenStreetMap knowledge or experience is needed (beyond creating an account). Is not intended as a general purpose editor, only adding of predefined data to an existing objects and answering notes is available.
For a more detailed comparison of the major editors see the page Comparison of editors.
Choice of editors
Because OpenStreetMap is an open platform with an editing API, there are many other editors to choose from, some with a simplified sub-set of functionality, some operating on specific platforms such as mobile devices. The following table lists some of the options. As with all such lists on this wiki presence on the list should not be considered a recommendation, have a look at the editor usage stats to see what is currently actually in use, typically only those with a larger current user base are consistently maintained and support current good mapping practices.
| Name | Screenshot | Platform | Add POIs | Edit / Delete POIs | Edit arbitrary tags of existing OSM objects | Edit geometries | Support imagery offset DB | Upload to OSM | Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArcGIS Editor for OSM | Windows | yes | yes | yes | yes | ? |
yes | 2019-06-11 10.7 | |
| Deriviste | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | 2020-05-09 | |
| Every Door | Android, iOS | yes | yes | Yes, for amenities, shop and buildings. | no | no | yes | 2022-05-09 0.3.0 | |
| FireYak-Hydrants | Android | yes | ? |
? |
? |
no | yes | 2019-03-28 1.3.9 | |
| GNOME Maps | Linux | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | 2022-03-19 42.0 | |
| Go Map!! | iOS 7+ | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2022-08-08 3.1.4 | |
| GPSMapEdit | Windows | yes | yes | yes | yes | ? |
yes | 2021-03-19 2.1 update 78.18 | |
| Healthsites.io | Web-based (Pyhton, JavaScript) | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | 2020-09-24 2.0.21 | |
| iD | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2022-06-15 2.21.1 | |
| iD-strava | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2017-11-07 1.8.5 | |
| JOSM | Windows, Linux, macOS | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 2022-08-30 18543 | |
| Level0 | Web-based (PHP) | yes | yes | yes | yes | ? |
yes | 2016-02-09 1.2 | |
| MapComplete | Web-based (Typescript) | yes | yes | yes | Limited | no | yes | 2022-05-07 0.19.1 | |
| MAPS.ME ] | Android, iOS | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | 2022-04-08 12.3.3 | |
| Organic Maps ] | Android, iOS | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | 2022-07-27 2022.07.27-3 | |
| Merkaartor | Windows, Linux, macOS | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2021-08-27 0.19.0 | |
| OSM ↔ Wikidata | Web-based (JavaScript) | no | yes | no | no | no | yes | 2022-03-19 | |
| Osm Go! | Web-based and Android | yes | yes | ? |
? |
? |
yes | 2020-11-04 1.5.0 | |
| OSM2Go | Linux; Maemo (N800, N900) | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2020-12-06 0.9.17 | |
| OsmAnd | Android, iOS | yes | yes | Yes, for nodes and closed ways with common tag combinations. |
no | no | yes | 2021-12-15 4.1.11 | |
| Osmapy | Windows, Linux, macOS | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2020-06-21 0.0.18 | |
| OsmInEdit | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2022-01-04 1.0.11 | |
| OSMyBiz | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | 2018-11-14 0.1 | |
| Pic4Review | Web-based (JavaScript) | no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | 2021-08-19 0.5.29 | |
| Potlatch (aka Potlatch 3) | Windows & macOS | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2020-12-30 3.0 | |
| QGIS | Windows, Linux, macOS, BSD | yes | yes | yes | yes | ? |
no | 2022-04-15 3.24.2 | |
| RapiD | Web-based (JavaScript) | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | 2022-05-03 1.1.9 | |
| RoofMapper | Web-based (JavaScript) | no | Only add material to roofs | no | no | no | yes | 2017-11-13 1.1.3 | |
| StreetComplete | Android | only shops | Limited deletion of no longer existing features | Only for nodes and ways with supported answers. |
It is possible to split ways | no | yes | 2022-09-01 46.0 | |
| Vespucci | Android | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | 2022-05-10 17.0.7 | |
| Wheelmap [] | Web | no | no | no | no | no | yes | Not listed |
Other editors:
Specific to country
Editors for:
Down or discontinued
See /Down or discontinued subpage to see list of no longer available or no longer supported ones.
See also
External Links
- (2009-12-04) Editor Retention
- (2012-10-14) It Starts With An Editor a historical and technical overview