Editors
Technically, OpenStreetMap is a database, and not what everyday language calls a 'map'. There are many software applications, known as editors, that can be used to edit the database. Before you can edit any data you will need to create an OSM account.
(Sometimes 'editor' is used to refer to the person doing the editing, but in OSM-world it is more usual to call this person a user or a contributor.)
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.
Most used 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 fork of iD, developed by Meta. In addition to the Features of iD, Rapid offers tools to verify AI generated data and integrate it into the OSM database.
Potlatch is the precursor to iD, now available as a desktop application for Mac and Windows.
Mobile
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.
Vespucci is the fully-featured Android editor with the most significant use.
Go Map!! is the most popular iOS editor.
Every Door is an Android and iOS app that lets you create and edit objects in OpenStreetMap. It supports editing node and polygon features, and creating point features like shops, benches, and building entrances.
Osm Go! is a light and easy Android editor. Perfect for adding/editing POI when surveying.
Choice of editors
- Main article: Comparison 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 |
Edit geometries |
Imagery offset DB |
Upload to OSM |
Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArcGIS Editor for OSM (external link) |
|
Windows | yes | yes | yes | yes | ?
|
yes | v10.8 2022-05-05 |
| CoMaps (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | |
| Every Door (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
yes | yes | some (amenities, shops and buildings) |
no | no | yes | v5.3 2024-12-04 |
| FireYak-Hydrants (external link) |
Android | yes | ?
|
?
|
?
|
no | yes | v1.3.9 2019-03-28 | |
| GNOME Maps (external link) |
|
Linux | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | v48.4 2025-06-07 |
| Go Map!! (external link) |
|
iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, VisionOS |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v4.3.0 2024-07-23 |
| GPSMapEdit (external link) |
|
Windows | yes | yes | yes | yes | ?
|
yes | v2.1 (update 78.18.1) 2024-03-16 |
| Healthsites.io (external link) |
|
Web-based (Python, JavaScript) |
yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | v2.0.21 2020-09-24 |
| iD (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v2.30.4 2024-10-07 |
| JOSM (external link) |
|
Windows, Linux, macOS |
yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | v19396 2025-05-02 |
| Level0 (external link) |
|
Web-based (PHP) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v1.3 2024-06-01 |
| MapComplete (external link) |
|
Web-based (Typescript) |
yes | yes | yes | limited | no | yes | v0.47.13 2024-12-17 |
| MAPS.ME (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
yes | no | no | no | no | yes | v16.8.71836 2025-04-16 |
| Merkaartor (external link) |
|
Windows, Linux, macOS |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v0.20.0 2024-09-08 |
| OpenStop (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
some (bus stops only) |
some (bus stops only) |
no | no | no | yes | v0.8.2 2024-08-29 |
| Organic Maps (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | v2024.11.27-12 2024-11-27 |
| OSM ↔ Wikidata (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
no | yes | no | no | no | yes | v2025.01.15 2025-01-15 |
| Osm Go! (external link) |
|
Web-based, Android |
yes | yes | ?
|
?
|
?
|
yes | v1.7.0 2024-08-29 |
| OsmoTagger (external link) |
|
iOS | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | v1.1 2024-04-13 |
| OSM2Go (external link) |
|
Linux, Maemo (N800, N900) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v0.9.17 2020-12-06 |
| OsmAnd (external link) |
|
Android, iOS |
yes | yes | some (nodes and closed ways with common tag combos) |
no | no | yes | v4.9.9 2024-12-06 |
| OsmAPP (external link) |
|
Web-based | yes | yes | yes | Only nodes | no | yes | v1.7.0 2025-06-25 |
| OsmInEdit (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v1.0.15 2024-03-19 |
| OSMyBiz (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | v0.1 2018-11-14 |
| Pic4Review (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | v0.5.30 2024-03-04 |
| Potlatch (external link) |
|
Windows, macOS |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v3.1 2024-06-12 |
| QGIS (external link) |
|
Windows, Linux, macOS, BSD |
yes | yes | yes | yes | ?
|
no | v3.40.2 2024-12-20 |
| RapiD (external link) |
|
Web-based (JavaScript) |
yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | v2.5.0 2024-12-24 |
| SCEE (external link) |
|
Android | yes | some (can edit all types, but only delete nodes) |
yes | some (can split ways and move standalone nodes) |
no | yes | v60.0 2024-12-29 |
| StreetComplete (external link) |
|
Android | some (only shops and small street things) |
some (limited deletion of removed features) |
some (only for nodes and ways with supported answers) |
some (can split ways) |
no | yes | v60.0 2024-12-08 |
| Vespucci (external link) |
|
Android | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | v20.2.2 2024-12-31 |
| Wheelmap (external link) |
|
Web-based | no | no | no | no | no | yes | v2019-11-05 2019-11-05 |
Other editors:
Other apps:
- MapRoulette: not an editor but can add/update/remove tags for cooperative challenges.
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