These tools allow you to enhance your maps by highlighting certain locations, adding arrows, inserting text, adding custom images, and more. But with so many different options available, which one is right for your project?

Please keep reading to discover our list of the ten best map drawing software. Learn what each tool has to offer so you can choose the one that meets your needs.

1. Maptive

Built using Google Maps API, Maptive offers all the benefits of the world’s leading mapping software, along with a wide array of additional options. Upload your dataset to get started.

With Maptive, you can:

• Create text bubbles and add notes to your map.
• Place arrows within your map to call out different locations.
• Number important points on your map.
• Add shapes, including circles, rectangles, and polygons.
• Draw lines between multiple points on your map.
• Draw shapes or write text using your mouse.
• Add icons from Maptive’s catalog, or upload your own custom images.

Maptive also offers a variety of other mapping tools. This includes heat maps, a route optimizer, drivetime polygons, territory mapping, and demographic data. There are many different base maps to choose from as well, including street maps and satellite maps.

Because Maptive is cloud-based, you can access your maps anywhere on any device or operating system, including Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, and Android. All you need is an internet connection. Once your map is complete, share it with team members by sending a link or embedding it on a website.

Click here to try Maptive now.

2. Scribble Maps

This is another free tool that’s surprisingly effective. Scribble Maps has become a popular choice for students, business professionals, and even the military, thanks to its variety of useful features.

Use Scribble Maps to place text onto maps, draw polygons and other shapes, add image overlays, highlight specific locations, and custom styling.

Just be aware that if you plan to use the free version, you won’t have access to many of the more advanced tools and security features. In fact, if you use the free version, you should know that anyone can access your maps. The free version also includes ads, which can be bothersome.

3. Map Chart

Map Chart is a free map drawing tool that’s perfect for those on a budget. Maptchart’s specialty is in providing regional and country maps that are ideal for school projects, fantasy maps, war game maps, and other historical data mapping projects. Its easy-to-use interface means even those without a lot of mapping software experience will have no problem creating custom maps.

The web-based software lets you create maps of any country or region around the world. Using their tools, you can color code countries and states, add patterns such as dots, stripes, or lines, create a map legend, and hide certain countries and states. Then, save your map to work on it later, or download it to a PNG file to share.

While Map Chart is great for simple projects, it lacks many more advanced drawing tools that other software tools offer. So if your business is looking for a more sophisticated data visualization tool, you might need to look elsewhere.

4. Mapme

Mapme is an effective mapping tool for many different industries such as real estate, construction, event & non-profit use. While it uses fairly advanced technology, you don’t need to have a lot of knowledge of GIS software to enjoy all the benefits.

With Mapme, you can draw lines and shapes directly on your map, import JPX or KLM files, upload photos, videos, and PDF files, and add labels to various locations. However, aside from the line and area tool, there are not a lot of drawing functionalities in this tool.

The user interface isn’t as easy to use as other entries on this list. There have also been complaints about map locations not being exactly where they should be. Just be aware of these issues before signing up for a subscription.

5. Visme

Visme is a quality online map tool for creating presentations, infographics, reports, and more. Getting started is quick and easy, and they offer several attractive templates for you to build from.

When it comes to mapping, they have a few different features. For example, you can color-code different countries and states, add icons and images from Visme’s library, and include your brand fonts and colors.

Unfortunately, they lack many drawing tools that other software offers, such as arrows, polygons, and freehand drawing. If you need these tools for your project, this likely isn’t the right solution for you.

6. ZeeMaps

Created specifically for businesses, ZeeMaps is ideal for data analysis and presentations. In addition, you don’t need an account to start using this software, which makes it easy for anyone to start mapping right away.

Their drawing and customization options offer color-coding, marker customization, and the ability to add photos and videos.

However, more advanced drawing tools aren’t available. While ZeeMaps is an effective and affordable tool, it’s one of the most limited to actually drawing on your map.

7. Infogram

Infogram is a popular tool for creating map-based infographics for marketing, social media, and educational purposes. While their maps aren’t as interactive as some of the other options on this list, they’re perfect for creating a quick snapshot of your location-based data.

Use Infogram to color-code different areas of your map, add graphics and icons, and insert text and labels.

While Infogram gives you the ability to create some beautiful maps, they don’t offer you the ability to draw shapes and text using your mouse.

8. Map Tiler

Map Tiler is a leader in the mapping software space, used by large brands and organizations like Seimens, Redbull, and the NOAA.

Start with a wide selection of satellite maps, then use Map Tiler’s tools to customize them and create your ideal map. You can adjust colors, add text, and change fonts.

While Map Tiler gives you the ability to customize your maps further, it requires knowledge of Javascript and coding. So, if you need more drawing capabilities than what’s listed above, you’ll likely want to choose different software.

9. MapGIS

If you’re looking for a straightforward map-drawing tool, MapGIS is it. This web-based software is free to use, meaning you can go to their website and start drawing right away.

With MapGIS, you can:

Place markers
Draw lines
Draw shapes (rectangles, circles, polygons)
Place labels anywhere on your map

If you’re looking to draw on a map, this might be the right tool for you. However, if you want to create a more advanced custom map, this likely isn’t the best option. Features like color-coding, images, icons, and arrows aren’t available.

10. OnePlace by Unearth

This is one of the best map makers for those looking to get started with building maps. It’s easy to use and has a core set of features that aren’t overwhelming to new users.

With OnePlace, you can choose your satellite image and customize it by overlaying shapes, drawings, and measurements. It’s cloud-based as well, allowing you to use it on any mobile device.

While this is great for simple projects, it doesn’t offer some more sophisticated features that many businesses are looking for. For example, there aren’t different base maps to choose from, and you can’t color-code countries and states.

Create Custom Maps Today

When it comes to creating custom interactive maps, more and more businesses are choosing Maptive. With a wide range of drawing features, and advanced tools like heat maps, territory mapping, and route planning, you have everything you need to build your ideal map.

Sign up for your free trial and start mapping today.

The post Top 10 Best Map Drawing Software for 2023 appeared first on Maptive.

When it comes to finding the best online map maker, there are a few factors that you should take into account. You’ll want to consider each software’s features, the monthly pricing, and any advantages or disadvantages they may have.

To help you make your decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 free and paid online mapping tools.

10 Best Online Mapping Software 2023

Mapping software tools cover the spectrum of features and capabilities. The ideal desktop GIS software for you may not work for someone else and vice versa. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive rundown of your mapping software options for 2023, including information on the tools that work best for different use cases.

1. Maptive — Best Mapping Software for Businesses

Maptive is a web-based mapping solution that enables users to create dynamic, interactive maps from a variety of data sources. It offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it an ideal solution for businesses and organizations of all sizes.

One of the key advantages of Maptive is how it empowers users to easily integrate with existing data sources. This means that users can quickly and easily visualize their data without having to input it manually.

Additionally, Maptive offers many powerful mapping tools, including territory creation tools, geographic boundary mapping, color coding of maps, heat maps, demographics data, distance and drive time tools, and powerful route planning features. This collection of features makes Maptive ideal for sales territory mapping plus similar tasks.

The software also includes built-in collaboration options, making it easy to share maps and data with colleagues or customers. Overall, Maptive is a highly versatile and user-friendly mapping solution offering many features and benefits that are ideal for businesses looking for an easy-to-use & complete mapping solution.

New users can try Maptive for 10 days absolutely free, with no credit card required.

Try Maptive Now

2. Mapline — Best for Simple Visualization

Mapline is mapping software that helps businesses visualize and attribute data while also uncovering insights that would otherwise be hidden in spreadsheets. It offers a wide range of features, including the ability to plot locations on a map, draw routes and territory boundaries, track movement over time, and measure area and distance. Mapline also makes it easy to share maps and collaborate with team members.

While it is a powerful tool, Mapline has some drawbacks. One significant downside is the cost; it is one of the market’s more expensive mapping software options. In addition, some users on review sites have found the interface to be confusing and difficult to navigate.

Mapline is a strong option for businesses looking for mapping software, but it is important to weigh the costs and benefits before making a purchase.

3. EasyMapMaker — Best for Basic Mapping

If you’re looking for an easy way to create custom maps, EasyMapMaker is a great option. This online mapping software lets you quickly and easily create maps of any size or location. You can choose from a variety of base maps, or upload your own data to create a custom map using spreadsheet data, raster data, spatial data, or other data sets.

EasyMapMaker also offers a wide range of features, including the ability to add markers, lines, and polygons. You can also customize the colors and styles of your map, and share it with others via email or social media.

However, there are some disadvantages to using EasyMapMaker. First, the free version is limited in terms of features and customization options. Also, EasyMapMaker does not offer as many base maps as some other mapping software platforms. Nonetheless, EasyMapMaker is a great choice for anyone who wants to create a custom map without spending a lot of time or money.

4. ESRI ArcGIS Online — Best for Spatial Analysis

ESRI mapping software is a popular choice for businesses and individuals who need to create maps and perform spatial analysis. The software includes a wide range of tools for managing data, creating map designs, and performing analysis.

One of the advantages of ESRI software is that it offers a high degree of flexibility and customizability. Users can tailor the software to meet their specific needs, like using it as GIS mapping software and a wide variety of add-on products are available. Another advantage is that ESRI software is well-supported, with a large online community and extensive documentation.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using ESRI software. One is that it can be complex to use, and users may need to invest substantial time in learning how to use all the features. Another potential downside is that ESRI software is expensive, especially when compared to free and open-source alternatives.

Overall, among mapping software tools, ESRI is a powerful option with a wide range of features. However, weighing the pros and cons is important before deciding whether it is the right choice for your needs. Not everyone who needs GIS software or data visualization tools needs to invest as much as ESRI costs to meet their goals.

5. BatchGEO — Best for No Frills Bulk Mapping

Batchgeo is a handy tool that lets you quickly create interactive maps. It’s easy to use and offers a variety of features that make it a powerful tool for both businesses and individuals.

One of the best things about Batchgeo is that it’s free to use.  It’s difficult to find mapping software that offers the capabilities that Batchgeo includes in its free plan. The only downside is that the maps are limited to 2,500 points. However, this should be more than enough for most purposes. For projects that require more points, we recommend using Maptive, which allows up to 100,000 points.

Another great feature of Batchgeo is that it allows you to share your maps with others. You can either share them publicly or keep them private. Private maps can only be seen by people who have the link. Create heat maps, use Batchgeo for sales territory mapping, and then share your creations with a team.

Batchgeo also offers a paid subscription that gives you access to more features, such as custom colors and markers, and the ability to export your maps in various formats. Overall, Batchgeo is a great tool that offers many features for businesses and individuals.

6. Espatial — Runner-Up Business Mapping Solution

Espatial is our runner-up for best business mapping software. It offers three main functions that various companies and their teams can use to streamline operations.

First and foremost, Espatial includes e-mapping capabilities. E-mapping allows you to turn data into helpful visualizations that can be used to make better and faster decisions. E-mapping is perfect for analytics teams, as well as sales, service, and marketing teams.

Espatial also offers e-routing capabilities, which allow you to use the platform as GIS software. E-routing gives you location intelligence software that can be used to build sales and service teams and related operations.

Finally, Espatial also offers e-territory features, which can be used to process geographic data that then informs territory management decisions. When you intelligently define sales territories, you’re able to maximize your resources and drive more revenue.

While Espatial does offer a mapping tool that’s helpful to different businesses, it can be difficult to manipulate data and publish maps within the platform. The mapping tool is good for territory management and other tasks, but you’ll need advanced knowledge and capabilities to get the most out of your investment. You can find more simple mapping software if you have simpler needs.

7. Maptitude Online (and offline) — Best For Road Warriors

Maptitude is mapping software often used to identify where customers are located, where sales are highest, where opportunities may be hidden, and more. Use Maptitude to create heat maps and other visualizations that bring data to life in a helpful and actionable way.

Maptitude also offers both offline and online versions, which can be helpful in some scenarios. We don’t always have access to the internet when needed, so Maptitude’s offline version of its mapping tool allows you to keep working until you have your connectivity back. Maptitude’s online version only allows very basic mapping capabilities and is mainly only useful for sharing maps created with the desktop version of the tool.

Maptitude Desktop is relatively affordable for single-user plans ($695 first year, $395 annual subscription). However, Enterprise plans (10-user+) can start to get expensive, starting at $9995/year. Getting online sharing and basic online mapping capabilities requires Maptitude Online, an additional add-on that costs $420/year.

Maptitude does have some shortcomings. Some G2 user reviews have reported that the program can be “clunky” and that the “documentation could be better”.

8. ZeeMaps — Best for Basic Maps

ZeeMaps is a basic web-based mapping software that allows users to create, share, and embed interactive maps. The software is fairly easy to use and offers a variety of features, including the ability to add markers, lines, and shapes, as well as customize the map’s appearance with different color schemes. ZeeMaps also offers a real-time traffic overlay.

One of the main advantages of ZeeMaps is its flexibility — users can create custom maps for any purpose, whether it’s for personal use or business. Another advantage is its affordability – ZeeMaps offers a free basic plan and paid plans starting at $19.99 per month. Those figures are had to beat among mapping software options.

One of the main disadvantages of ZeeMaps is that it lacks some of the more advanced features offered by other mapping software. In addition, the free plan is quite limited in terms of map size and number of features. The user interface is not intuitive and can be frustrating to use.

Overall, ZeeMaps is a good option for those looking for an easy-to-use, affordable mapping software with basic features. However, those needing more advanced features and an easier-to-use tool may want to consider other options.

9. Mapbox — Best for 3D Visualization

Mapbox is designed for developers who need to build vector data, remote sensing tools, a customized map, or other components into their applications. It is mapping software built for engineers who are working on larger products or users looking to build very detailed visual maps. In that way, Mapbox is more like Adobe Photoshop than a GIS mapping software.

Mapbox also allows developers to build routing engines and travel-time estimate tools into their apps. Users can also take advantage of Mapbox APIs and SDKs to customize their projects and accelerate their work. Finally, Mapbox allows developers to build search and geocoding functions into their apps.

When you pair Mapbox with skilled developers, you can create powerful 3D visualizations that are both attractive and insightful. Not everyone in search of mapping software has in-house development resources. But, if you do, Mapbox is one of your best options.

There are some cons to using Mapbox, though. Data migration is one of the biggest challenges when using Mapbox. Text on maps can also be difficult to manage when using Mapbox.

10. ScribbleMaps — Best for Drawing on Maps

As the name suggests, ScribbleMaps is a mapping tool that allows users to map locations, draw on maps, annotate maps, export to various file types, share maps, and more. In general, ScribbleMaps allows you to create basic maps that are good for explaining where things are on a map to friends and customers. ScribbleMaps user interface very closely resembles what you would find in Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop, with the main focus on being able to draw, color, overlay images, and write on top of Google Maps. ScribbleMaps is ideal for users just looking to add visual elements on top of maps but is not recommended for users looking to do any more advanced mapping and analysis.

Data capture and reporting aren’t as strong within ScribbleMaps as with its drawing features. Membership starts at around $19/month for Pro Basic (500 Geocodes/Month) and $100/month for Pro Business (5000 Geocodes/month & Route Optimization).

Which Mapping Software is Best for Your Business?

There’s no shortage of options when searching for mapping and GIS software. As reflected in the list above, Maptive is the easiest to use and most well-rounded option for businesses that want to create powerful maps that make a difference in the bottom line.

Use Maptive to connect to existing data sources, create custom maps, and then share those maps with teams internally or partners and clients externally. You won’t find a better combination of tools, price, and ease of use.

Start your free trial to discover what Maptive can do for your business.

The post 10 Best Online Mapping Software 2023 appeared first on Maptive.

While all maps are a great way to display data in an easy-to-understand snapshot, interactive maps allow users the flexibility to zoom in and out, click on specific elements, and access the information they need.

They are so ubiquitous that you have probably been using this type of map without even realizing it.

In this article, we will discuss some of the most popular interactive mapping tools and their data analysis capabilities. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right web-based mapping tool or software for your needs.

So whether you are a business looking to improve your marketing, a student working on a project, or just someone who loves maps, read on to learn more about how to create stunning maps, that are actually interactive.

The 5 Best Online Tools to Create an Interactive Map

Whether you search for “map maker”, “map builder”, or “map creator” you are sure to find myriad options for creating maps online.

In fact, entering any of those options in your search bar might result in you feeling utterly overwhelmed. Most importantly, which one is going to be the best mapping software to truly help create your own interactive online map, while also giving you access to different map styles, providing an embed code, letting you add photos, and allowing you access to geographic information?

We are here to help you answer that question.

1. Maptive

Maptive is the most versatile online tool for anyone who wants to create interactive maps. You can use it without any coding skills and explore all its features to display geographic data, upload your own data from Excel or Google Sheets, customize a world map, embed maps and visualization on a web page, and so much more.

If you are new to data visualization, Maptive is incredibly user-friendly. You can get started for free and upload your own data set or use geospatial data built into the software, and play around with all its customization features: upload your own marker images, add photos, edit colors, select unique icons, and so much more.

For more advanced or business users, it also offers a host of technical tools like customer location mapping, territory creation, drive time polygons, radius maps, heat mapping, and even a multi-stop route planner.

Here’s what some of Maptive users have to say about one of the best interactive maps software:

• I have used several mapping tools, and Maptive is by far the most user-friendly and most comprehensive tool available.
  Nicole – Verified User G2
• Very satisfied customer! The seamless integration with Google Maps makes the customization totally efficient and the output familiar and easily presentable!
  Casey H. – Verified User G2
• Excellent geo-data front-end tool for presentations and business visualization.
  Scott D. – Verified User G2
• Most trusted mapping tool. I love the heat map and the sharing capability is very efficient. The initial data upload step is easy and the settings toolbar is very intuitive. There are built-in tutorials and demos in case you need assistance along the way.
  Danny L. – Verified User G2

Start a 10-day free trial of Maptive

2. Esri

Esri is a great online interactive map creator for GIS power users looking to do spatial analysis. ESRI offers several data visualizations, including animations such ass flythroughs, time series, and real-time maps.

3. MapBox

Mapbox is a great tool for creating maps, but it requires technical expertise to use. You can use it to create your own custom map, or pick one of their templates. This is a great way to create maps if you are technically inclined or have developer experience.

While it offers many features, like a Smart Directions API and GL JS built-in functions, it can be rather complex and expensive–especially if you sign up for email support or a product expert.

4. Google Maps

Most of us use Google Maps for directions and to find stores and restaurants, but the Google Maps API also allows individuals and businesses to create their own maps.

Most of the design features don’t require coding and their tutorial library can help even more inexperienced map creators navigate their advanced features. Their pricing varies based on usage and scale, but it may be less convenient for smaller users, especially after the price increases they announced back in 2018.

5. Visme

Visme is a dream tool for content creators trying their hand at creating custom maps. It can help not just with maps, but also with infographics and charts: so that when readers interact with them, they can see more detailed information and all the data you researched.

While it does not include any technical features, the platform is easy to use and has everything you need to make your interactive map very engaging, including customizable options for borders, pins, and color coding.

Tracking the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, news outlets created interactive maps to show the rates of infection by state, city, and county, often publishing these maps so that people could zoom in and search for specific data.

Image Source: John Hopkins – Coronavirus Resource Center

Around Elections

Any time we are called to vote, political parties create their own interactive maps to forecast electoral outcomes. Then we spend whole days and nights staring at those maps as they get updated with actual results from voting sites.

Image Source: https://www.270towin.com/

In School

We also see interactive maps being used more and more in schools to show migration patterns, population density over the centuries, and even the evolution of different civilizations as one region gained prominence over another thanks to newly forged trade routes or following natural disasters.

Source: California Academy of Sciences – Human Odyssey

Business Growth

Those of us who work with sales, marketing, or logistics departments know that interactive maps are a key tool for short-term and long-term planning. They can guide sales teams as they manage sales territories; they can show marketing departments where new areas of opportunity might lie; and they are an invaluable resource to help coordinate supply chains, optimize delivery routes, and even determine new business locations.

Image Source: Maptive Geographic Boundary Tool

Public Planning

State governments and local authorities often use interactive maps to monitor weather events and communicate with the public. If you live in an area that gets easily flooded, or in a state plagued by hurricanes or tornadoes, you have often seen these types of maps broadcasted in the news or on government websites.

Image Source: Government of Quebec – Flood Zone Maps

These are just some of the most common ways interactive maps show up in our everyday life, but truly their applications are limitless.

Tourism

Interactive maps are a great way for tourists to plan their trips and figure out all the landmarks, restaurants, museums, and activities they want to get to ahead of time. Depending on the destination, interactive maps might also help tourists find out about public transportation options, the weather, and upcoming events.

Transportation

If you commute for work, interactive maps are a great way to plan your morning and evening travels, since they can show you options for public transportation, as well as traffic conditions and road closures.

On the other hand, if driving is literally part of your job, interactive maps can help you plan your routes, avoid traffic congestion, and even point out where the best rest stops are. This can help you save time and money, and it can also help you stay safe on the road.

Common Types of Interactive Maps

Everywhere you look, mapping software generates interactive maps that are the solution to visually display complex data sets in a clear and concise way.

• In-App Interactive Maps: if you’ve ever ordered your daily Starbucks before getting to the store, you are already familiar with this type of interactive map. Not only can you select the location that is most convenient for you right from the interactive map built into the app, but you can also see if they are out of your favorite breakfast sandwich or if they are running any special promotions.
• Interactive Website Maps: have you ever experienced unplanned interruptions to your electricity? The vast majority of service providers embed interactive maps into their websites where users can go check for outages and repair status, so you are always aware of what’s happening and how long a blackout might last.
• Interactive Maps for Students: whether in your own academic journey or as a parent, you know that interactive maps are a big part of education and research. It’s a lot easier to understand a map showing the concentration of vegetation and water vapor across the globe than to get that same information through spreadsheets and pages of annotated research.
• Interactive Maps for Presentations: if you have ever had to make the case to expand your sales team or delivery fleet, you know that showing data points on an interactive map can be a game changer. Added to your business presentation, an interactive map can go a long way in helping your boss visualize the extent of the business opportunities you are trying to unlock.
• Collaborative Interactive Maps: sometimes, the whole point of creating interactive maps is not only to show data but also to acquire data. With the right software, your teams can collaborate and drop pins in your map, draw on it, leave notes on various locations, or color-code different areas–delivering a unique custom map.
• Real-Time Traffic Maps: most of us use interactive maps that show real-time traffic conditions every single day. Whether you prefer the classic Google Maps, the more community-based feeling of Waze, or like keeping it simple with your car’s GPS system, when you’re on the road, these maps can provide up-to-date information on traffic conditions, including congestion, accidents, road closures, and alternative routes.
• Interactive Event Maps: if you’ve ever been at a conference, you know how difficult it can be to navigate unfamiliar venues and figure out where everything is. Specific areas–such as stages, booths, food stalls, restrooms, and parking–can be oddly laid out, and keeping track of events happening at various moments is near impossible. Interactive maps can enhance the overall event experience and improve crowd management.
• Interactive Property Maps: real estate companies and property developers often share interactive maps with their clients to showcase available properties, their locations, and surrounding amenities. And if you’ve ever indulged in virtual house hunting, you know that Zillow does this beautifully. These maps can help potential buyers or renters visualize the properties and choose their perfect home or business location.
• Interactive Weather Maps: what do you do first thing in the morning? Yup, you make coffee and then immediately open up the weather app, come rain or sunshine. This type of interactive map displays real-time weather conditions, forecasts, and satellite imagery, allowing users to zoom in on specific regions and access detailed weather information, such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and storm tracks. You often find this kind of map on websites and apps from weather agencies and news organizations.
• Interactive Social Media Maps: we all understand that publicly sharing your location on social media can be an unwise choice for privacy and safety reasons. Yet, for those who dare, social media platforms offer interactive maps that can show where your friends are, display check-ins, and show trending topics across different locations. From a business perspective, these maps provide insights into social media activities and can be used for marketing, event planning, and trend analysis.

Create Interactive Maps for FREE

Maptive mapping software can change the way you do business, create content, and present your research. Customize interactive maps as you prefer, manage how elements and icons show up on display, and create custom map markers and styles that are unique to you and your business.

START YOUR FREE 10-DAY TRIAL

The post Top 5 Best Online Tools to Create Interactive Maps appeared first on Maptive.

Of course, not every route planner is up to the task of planning complex routes. For that, you need navigation software that can support multiple stops and multiple routes. Luckily, there are several free apps and tools that do just that.

Keep reading to discover our list of the 11 best free driving route planners with multiple or unlimited stops:

1. Google Maps – Best for Simple Routes

By far, the most common route planner app is Google Maps. Virtually everyone uses this tool to get from one place to another, but not many are aware that it’s capable of planning routes with multiple stops.

Google Maps advertises that they’re able to plan routes with up to ten spots. However, there’s a trick you can use to create routes with up to 25 stops. Google Maps’ user-friendly interface and familiarity make it an excellent choice for a wide range of businesses.

Google is so revolutionary when mapping that many other providers have built their tools using Google’s API. So, it’s clear the company is doing something right when it comes to its mapping tool.

In 2023, Google Maps is introducing a few new features, including:

• Immersive View: experience a location as if you were there, even before you physically visit it. This feature uses AI and computer vision to integrate billions of Street View and aerial images, ultimately creating a comprehensive digital representation of the world. 
• Search with Live View: a mix of AI and augmented reality helps users locate nearby amenities like ATMs, eateries, parks, and transit stations. With this feature, users will be able to simply lift their phones while walking down the street and access useful information such as opening hours, current busyness, and ratings.
• Electric vehicle drivers will soon be able to add charging stops to shorter trips, a filter to locate “very fast” charging stations with 150-kilowatt or higher chargers, and search results that notify users when stores like supermarkets have charging stations on-site.

However, there are some limitations. The biggest downside of Google Maps is you can’t optimize the order of your stops. Google will calculate your route in the order you enter your stops. For a truly optimized route, you’ll need to list your stops in the most efficient order, which isn’t always easy to figure out.

Pros

• User-friendly
• Most people already know how to use it
• Google Street View helps you see what your destinations look like
• Industry-leading technology

Cons

• Can only add 10 stops (25 with a workaround)
• You can’t optimize the order of your stops.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

2. Maptive – Best for Professionals

Maptive is the best free route optimizer for professionals of every kind. Maptive offers many advanced options that simpler route optimizers like Google Maps don’t offer, such as:

• Up to 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops to find the shortest route
• Offers a suite of tools like distance calculators, radius tools, and more.
• Map location data in bulk to show all your customers, store locations, and more.
• Overlay multiple routes
• Customize route colors and marker appearance
• Share maps publicly or securely

Maptive offers a free 10-day trial that gives you a chance to try out all of their tools and features for free. 

Maptive is easier to use than many tools on this list as it allows you to easily add multiple stops by clicking on the map or by typing in addresses. The Maptive interface is intuitive to use and offers lots of built-in guides.

Pros

• Unlimited stops
• Optimizes your stops for a more efficient route
• Import or copy-paste location data in bulk
• Lots of customization options
• Lots of value-adding tools and features for businesses
• Layer multiple routes
• Lots of sharing options
• Cloud-based
• Works on all devices

Cons

• Not 100% free – Made for business professionals
• It takes time to learn how to use it
• Web-based (no apps available)

Available on: Web-based

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3. Waze – Best for Trips

If you’re looking for an app with excellent directions and a great user experience, it’s hard to beat Waze. The company was purchased by Google back in 2013, so you might expect it to be reasonably similar to the Maps app. However, Waze offers some innovative features that truly make it unique.

What sets Waze apart is that it collects real-time data from other users. This allows it to provide you with live traffic updates, adjusted routes, and shortcuts. The app also integrates with Spotify, which lets you receive directions while listening to music.

While Waze’s community feature is a nice perk, it’s only effective on routes that other users are traveling. If you’re in a more remote area, you won’t have access to the same amount of real-time data.  And if you are on a route with many other users, the number of icons on the screen can block your directions.

There are a few new features that will be coming to Waze in the near future:

• Warnings regarding roads with an increased likelihood of accidents: this feature will alert drivers when they are on a route with a higher-than-average incidence of accidents.
• Support for Android Auto Coolwalk: Waze is expanding its support for Android Auto Coolwalk, which is still in beta. The Waze team has confirmed that the app will soon be available for Coolwalk users in 2023.
• Personal statistics: this new feature will provide users with driving and personal statistics. Although it is unclear how the feature will work, it will give users valuable insights into their driving habits and performance.
• More toll road controls: Waze is expanding users’ ability to choose whether or not they want to use toll roads before starting navigation. This feature will give users greater control over their routes and help them avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Vehicle profiles: this will be particularly useful for users who own or operate multiple vehicles, including company cars. With vehicle profiles, users will be able to set their preferences for each car, ensuring a seamless experience every time they use the app.

The biggest downside of Waze is that you can’t add multiple stops to your route. However, its great directions and fun interface still make it worthy of being included on this list. You can always use it in conjunction with another logistics tool for routes with more than one stop.

Pros

• Makes directions fun
• Real-time updates via community data
• Integrates with Spotify
• Add friends and share directions

Cons

• You can’t add multiple stops
• Lacks data in more remote areas
• Includes ads that can be distracting

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

4. Apple Maps – Best for Apple Users

Not to be outdone by Google, Apple came out with its own mapping app included on all iOS devices. It offers many of the same features as Google Maps but does lag behind in a few areas.

Where it excels is its map design. The maps look great, and they include a 3D view and buildings. Apple users will also appreciate that maps and directions are synced between all Apple devices. So, you can instantly move directions from your iPad to your iPhone.

In 2023, Apple Maps is planning exciting updates to its business pages:

• New features to provide more information and photos about business locations.
• More opportunities to interact, including a “Showcase” module and buttons to order or make reservations.
• A new dashboard for business owners to track metrics.
• Businesses can claim and manage their Apple Maps page through a new web app called 
• Business Connect, a new web app where businesses can claim and manage their Apple Maps.

The biggest downfall of Apple maps is that it only allows you to add two stops. So, busy delivery drivers likely won’t be able to get much use out of this tool. Users have also complained about inaccurate information, which is a big concern for businesses.

The app is only available on Apple devices, so PC and Android users will have to look elsewhere for their route-planning software.

Pros

• Works similarly to Google Maps
• User-friendly
• 3D maps and building views

Cons

• You can only add two stops
• Inaccurate information
• Only available on Apple devices

Available on: Mac, iOS

5. Here WeGo – Best Alternative to Google Maps

HERE WeGo is a free route planner and navigation app that offers a variety of features designed to make travel easier and more convenient. 

One of the most useful features of HERE WeGo is its ability to download maps for offline use. This is especially helpful when traveling in areas with limited internet connectivity. Users can download entire cities or regions, and the app will continue to provide directions and other features even without an internet connection.

Similarly to Google Maps, Here WeGo offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, making it easy to follow directions while driving, cycling, or walking. It includes pretty accurate traffic information, though it lacks the ability to actively modify an assigned route when the app detects that there is congestion on the way. 

Because of this and the limited options it offers for route optimization, users may need to manually adjust their route to achieve the most efficient path.

Pros

• Download maps for offline use
• Detailed public transit options, including bus and train schedules
• Real-time traffic updates
• Customizable route options
• Safety features, including speed limit warnings, lane guidance, and alerts for sharp turns and railroad crossings

Cons

• Limited voice guidance
• Incomplete point of interest database
• Slow loading times
• Limited route optimization options

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

6. TruckRouter – Best for Truck Drivers & Fleets

TruckRouter is a free route-planning tool designed specifically for the trucking industry. If you’re a trucker, fleet manager, or dispatch professional looking for a solution to meet your needs, this is likely the one.

TruckRouter differs from other route optimization apps because it offers truck-specific routes. Trucks aren’t always able to travel everywhere due to height and weight restrictions, and the tool factors that in when it’s creating its routes.

TruckRouter also alerts drivers to low clearances, provides information on toll roads and costs, and offers a trip cost calculator to estimate your expenses.

The only downside is that the tool is web-based, meaning there aren’t downloadable apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Pros

• Designed for the trucking industry
• Truck specific routes
• Alerts truckers of low clearances and road elevation
• It helps you estimate expenses

Cons

• No mobile apps are available

Available on: Web-based

7. SalesRabbit – Best for Sales Teams

SalesRabbit is a lead generation and team management solution for businesses. They also offer a free multi-stop route planner.

This tool features turn-by-turn directions, and multiple stops per route and lets you plot your leads on an interactive map. As you would expect, it works seamlessly with SalesRabbit’s other solutions, so this is ideal for anyone already using their software.

Sales Rabbit’s tool also offers appointment setting services. You can filter your appointments by status, set scheduled reminders, and get directions.

To use this route planner, you’ll need to sign up for Sales Rabbit Lite, which is a free version of their sales management software. 

Some new features and updates to look forward to including:

• Data synchronization is set to receive a major upgrade, bringing faster speeds, increased stability, and unmatched scalability. 
• The Scheduler feature is about to be released from beta and will allow setters and closers to optimize their schedules and appointments within the SalesRabbit app, helping users save valuable time and improve their productivity. The Scheduler will be included in the Pro and Enterprise plans.
• An improved analytics platform is also on the horizon and will include new reports, visualizations, and custom dashboards, the Pro and Enterprise plans will offer a wealth of insights and data to help users make informed decisions. 

Pros

• Perfect for salespeople
• Works seamlessly with SalesRabbit
• Offers appointment scheduling feature

Cons

• A limited number of stops available for each route
• No desktop functionality

Available on: iOS, Android

8. Speedy Route  – Best for Simple Sales Routes

Speedy Route is an excellent route optimizer for delivery routes, salespeople, and anyone who needs to plan complicated trips. There are a few features that make Speed Route superior to many other options.

First, it will automatically reorder your stops to create the quickest and most efficient route possible. It also supports timeboxing, which accommodates situations where you can only arrive at a location before or after a specific time.

After your route is calculated, Speedy Route’s drag and drop feature makes it easy for you to tweak your stops’ order and make adjustments as needed. Once you’re happy with your route, you can export your directions to a spreadsheet.

While there are many great things about this tool, there are a few negatives. The free version only allows you to enter ten stops, and the interface isn’t as sleek as some of the other options. Finally, because it’s a web-based solution, they don’t offer any downloadable apps.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Reorders your stops to create the most efficient route
• Offers time boxing to accommodate specific arrival times
• Easy to make adjustments to your route

Cons

• Can only add 10 locations
• Poor interface
• Downloadable apps not available

Available on: Web-based

9. Circuit – Good Alternative for Professionals

Circuit provides route optimization software with several advanced features that professionals will love. They offer a free version for those on a tight budget and a paid subscription service ideal for large businesses with more complex needs.

There are many features that make this an excellent tool. First, it allows you to set time constraints on locations if you need to arrive within a certain timeframe. You can also prioritize locations that require you to be there ASAP to ensure they’re first on your route.

Once you set your parameters, Circuit will rearrange your stops based on your parameters to create your optimal route. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play, so you can take your directions with you wherever you go.

Circuit has issued a few new features and updates in 2023, with more on the horizon:

• Turn POD on or off: save time by collecting proof of delivery only when necessary.
• Easy map view toggle: switch between different views for easier navigation.
• Dynamic stop status icons: real-time updates for increased chances of successful delivery.
• Improved customer delivery experience: add customer service contact details to delivery information.
• Copy stops between routes: retry missed or failed stops by copying them to another route.
• Modify live routes and notify drivers: make changes to routes in progress and notify drivers automatically.

One of the only downsides to Circuit’s free route planner app is that it only lets you add ten stops which likely won’t be enough for many businesses.

Pros

• Assign time constraints to certain locations
• Prioritize the stops you need to get to first
• Optimizes your stops to create the best route

Cons

• It only allows you to add 10 stops
• No desktop functionality

Available on: iOS, Android

10. Mappr – Best for Delivery Routes

Formerly known as Flightmap, Mappr is an impressive online route planner that’s perfect for sales and delivery professionals. What’s unique about this tool is that it optimizes routes based on your vehicle’s size, speed, and volume. This makes it perfect for companies with different vehicle types.

This delivery route planner app is free for up to 200 stops per month per vehicle for two vehicles. While that might seem like a lot, if you’re delivering every business day, it works out to about 18 stops per day split between two vehicles. While not a ton, that’s still more than most apps.

For an extra charge, Mappr integrates with Tookan, a popular delivery management solution. So, if you’re already using that service, this might be a good choice for you.

Flightmap also offers a number of sharing options, including exporting to a spreadsheet, sending your map in an email, or using a sharable link.

Pros

• Optimizes routes based on vehicle type.
• Integrates with Tookan
• Plenty of sharing options

Cons

• Only about 9 stops per day per vehicle, which won’t be enough for most businesses
• No downloadable app

Available on: Web-based

11. Komoot – Best for Outdoor Activities

Komoot is a popular route planner and navigation app that’s designed specifically for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. 

It allows users to plan their route based on their preferred activity and fitness level and offers a variety of map types, including topographical and satellite maps, that people can use to customize their route based on factors like distance, elevation, and surface type.

Though voice guidance and offline maps are paid features, Komoot’s free version offers turn-by-turn navigation that makes it easy to follow directions while on the go while also giving users access to its large database of popular hiking and biking trails, scenic views, and other outdoor attractions.

And for outdoor enthusiasts who want to plan excursions that go beyond day trips, Komoot also allows users to plan multi-day tours, complete with overnight accommodations and points of interest along the way.

Though first-time users will find themselves facing a bit of a learning curve, the app has gained a strong community of users who share their favorite routes, making it easy to discover new places and activities. One of Komoot’s particularly useful and community-oriented features includes tracking activity data, including distance, elevation, and speed, and can sync with other fitness tracking apps like Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health.

Pros

• Customizable routes
• Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance
• Download maps for offline use
• Large database of points of interest
• Plan multi-day tours
• Strong community of users

Cons

• Premium features require a subscription
• Learning curve

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android 

Where Free Solutions Fall Short

Free route planning tools are great for small businesses on a budget, but you’ll likely realize that you’ll need a more robust solution once you start to grow.

Here are a few drawbacks of free solutions:

• Most only let you add 10 – 20 stops
• Not all of them optimize the order of your stops
• You can only plan one route at a time

If you have a large fleet that makes many stops per day, these limitations will greatly reduce your efficiency. If you have the budget, we highly recommend looking into an affordable paid tool like Maptive.

Plan Routes Quicker and Easier with Maptive

Maptive is a mapping software platform that includes a sophisticated route planner and optimizer. It’s built using Google Maps API, which gives you access to their industry-leading technology, along with many additional features that the free Google maps tool doesn’t provide.

Here’s why Maptive is the superior choice for route planning:

• Add an unlimited number of stops to your routes
• Automatically reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Plan multiple routes at once
• Upload all your locations within seconds from a spreadsheet
• Maptive is cloud-based so that drivers can access their routes from anywhere on any device.

Try Maptive Today

Sign-up for a free trial of Maptive to start creating better routes for yourself and your team.

The post The 11 Best Free Route Planners with Unlimited Stops appeared first on Maptive.

We can help you get to know those lesser-known capabilities built into Google Maps right here and right now by exploring how you can search for locations by using latitude and longitude coordinates–or how you can look up the coordinates of a specific place directly in the Google Maps app.

In this article, we’ll start from the basics and walk you through:

• What Are Latitude and Longitude?
• How Can You Find a Location Using Latitude and Longitude?
• How Can You Find a Location’s Latitude and Longitude?
• How Can You Map Coordinates with Maptive?
• What Else Can You Do with Maptive?

What Are Latitude and Longitude?

Latitude and longitude are coordinates that determine the exact location of any place on our planet.

If you think back to your high school geography classes, you probably remember pictures of Earth’s surface looking like a grid, showing vertical lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, and horizontal lines slicing the globe in concentric circles that radiate parallel to the equator.

The horizontal lines are latitude, measuring the distance north or south of the equator. The vertical lines are longitude, measuring distance east or west of the prime meridian in Greenwich, England.

Every place on Earth has a unique set of coordinates based on that grid so that together, latitude and longitude allow anybody to locate points or places on the globe.

How Can You Find a Location Using Latitude and Longitude?

Whether you’re using a laptop, phone, or tablet, you can easily find a location using its GPS coordinates by opening the Google Maps app and simply entering the latitude and longitude values in the search field, just like you would look up any address or business name.

It might be useful to know that latitude and longitude coordinates come in 3 different formats, and Google Maps accepts all of them.

The 3 formats are:

• Degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS)
• Degrees and decimal format (DDM)
• Decimal degrees (DD)

How Can You Find a Location’s Latitude and Longitude?

You can easily find a location’s coordinates in Google Maps, but the process varies slightly from desktop to mobile.

Desktop

If you’re on a desktop, all you have to do is select the location you want in the search bar on the Google Maps website and right-click the red marker–at which point you’ll see a pop-up window showing the GPS coordinates.

Mobile

If, on the other hand, you’re on your mobile device, you’ll need to drop a pin on the map (to drop a pin, all you have to do is tap and hold that spot on the map), and the top address bar on your browser will be automatically populated with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the pin you dropped. If you are using the Google Maps mobile app, the coordinates will be listed in the details box after you click on the marker. (See Below)

Wikipedia

You should also know that if the place you are looking for is a landmark, city, or otherwise noteworthy location, Wikipedia lists its GPS coordinates in the upper right corner of its dedicated page.

How Can You Map Coordinates with Maptive?

With Maptive, you can easily map coordinates in bulk instead of researching locations one by one.

Here’s how:

1. Open Maptive and click on “Data.”
2. Enter your map coordinates or upload them from a spreadsheet. Make sure your latitude and longitude are in two separate columns.
3. Once you’re ready, click “Map” to view your coordinates. Like Google Maps, both DD and DMS formats will work.

Once all your locations are visualized, and your map is created, you can use Maptive’s customization tools, like color-coding, creating territories, setting boundaries, and assigning logos or icons wherever needed.

You can also layer your location with additional data built into Maptive, like demographic information for each area you are analyzing or additional data points relevant to your business or research purposes.

What Else Can You Do with Maptive?

Maptive is a powerful mapping software that goes beyond mapping latitude and longitude coordinates. It features a full suite of features and tools that range from basic to advanced but require no coding knowledge.

Whatever your reason for using mapping software, whether it’s business-related or academic, Maptive can help you visualize your data and easily draw insights from information that would otherwise be trapped in a spreadsheet.

• Heat Mapping: Use heat maps to analyze sales, population, and more. With Maptive’s custom heat maps, users can plot and easily visualize the density of specific markers or numerical data.
• Drive Time Map: Easily calculate driving times for multiple locations and quickly determine what’s within your travel distance. Maptive’s Drive Time Map tool is continuously synced with Google Maps, so users can analyze road networks and traffic to build an accurate map around their starting location.
• Radius Map: Quickly run a proximity analysis on a segment of your location data. Unlike other software, Maptive’s Radius Map tool allows users to create as many radius circles as they want and fully customize their visual appearance.
• Geographic Boundaries: Create visual boundaries by county, state, zip code, district, and more. Users can display color-coded regions based on marker density, their data, or public demographic data.
• Territory Drawing: Support your revenue growth with relevant territory maps based on your data and powered by Maptive’s AI algorithm. You can avoid the guesswork of splitting up territories by assigning accounts to salespeople based on defined metrics, such as sales numbers, geographical boundaries, and market size.
• Route Planning & Optimization: Save time and money and stay focused on your meetings and deliveries while we organize them in the most efficient way possible. With Maptive’s Route Planning & Optimization tool, users can find the best route between as many as 25 locations with up to 73 stops and project accurate travel times.

Ready to Get Started?

Searching “Google Maps latitude and longitude” may get you lost in a maze of Google queries, so it’s good to remember that at any point, you can open Google Maps and follow the steps outlined above to get a clear answer. If you need to find the coordinates to your current location or plot a couple of latitude and longitude coordinates into a clear map, you can easily use Google Maps to find what you’re looking for.

If, on the other hand, you need to make sense of batches of GPS coordinates at a time, Maptive can save you time and minimize the effort of plotting each individual exact position. Plus, it allows users to customize Google Maps, pick the styles they prefer, manage how elements and icons show up on display, and create Google map styles that are one of a kind.

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The post How to Enter Latitude and Longitude on Google Maps appeared first on Maptive.

If your organization is new to batch geocoding, this article will help you understand how geocoding services work, why it’s beneficial to batch geocode addresses, and how data processing through digital maps can be a game changer for your bottom line.

What Is Bulk Geocoding and How Does It Work?

In its most basic form, geocoding means taking your customers’ address components (like street number, street name, city, state, etc) and creating a map of their locations. To do that, your mapping software of choice will convert any address, city, state, or zip code into mappable coordinates.

“Batch Geocoding” or “Bulk Geocoding” is when you process a large number of addresses into geographical coordinates at the same time. As you can imagine, geocoding large amounts of addresses can quickly become computationally intensive, pushing most professional mapping software to charge a fee.

Two of the most common types of geocoding are Interpolation Geocoding and Parcel Geocoding–each has pros and cons, depending on your needs.

Interpolation Geocoding

Address interpolation uses data from a geographic information system (GIS) that has mapped the street network.

Essentially, each street segment is given an address range (or block range), so interpolation geocoding can take any address you enter and match it to a street and specific segment.

This method is very successful for bigger-picture endeavors, such as establishing a sales and marketing strategy for a specific area or analyzing the competitor distribution in a given region.

On the other hand, interpolated geocoding should not be used for making decisions that require a high degree of location accuracy, such as for emergency services or rescue operations.

Parcel Geocoding

On the other hand, parcel geocoding requires much more granular data, which makes the service more expensive than interpolation.

Essentially, parcel geocoding considers the known boundaries of a property and then approximates the geocode in the center of that parcel.

While some may consider parcel geocoding more accurate than interpolation, the reality is that, even though it uses more granular data, parcels return data that is still very approximated since most buildings are not located in the geographic center of their property.

Reverse Geocoding

Reverse geocoding is exactly as it sounds, the precise opposite of geocoding. It may sound confusing, but it’s very simple.

Geocoding is the process of taking location data and transforming it into geocodes on a map, giving you an accurate visual representation of where your target audience lives.

Reverse geocoding takes the geocodes on that map (normally in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates) and transforms them into addresses.

This process is not widely used, yet, but has the potential to spawn new applications for businesses looking to extrapolate a competitive advantage from geographical data.

How Does Maptive Instantly Geocode Locations?

Maptive’s interactive mapping software includes geocoding and batch geocoding functionalities that make it easy to plot a wide range of addresses and geographical data. Thanks to the nature of Maptive’s software, you can use it with data sets of any size—whether you’re mapping 10 locations or 10,000.

Here’s how it works: after you’ve created a Maptive account (you can sign up for a free trial), upload your location dataset through an Excel spreadsheet, CSV file, or copy-paste the information directly into Maptive –then create your map to geocode your locations instantly.

Within seconds, you’ll be able to plot addresses, zip codes, cities, counties, states, landmark names, and more. Maptive allows you to automatically map thousands of locations all at once using just a list of addresses and can then bulk geocode the addresses for mapping.

Business Benefits of Bulk Geocoding

Batch geocoding is integral to larger location intelligence strategies that can help regional and global companies gain a competitive edge.

From a data transformation perspective, geocoding can help improve the overall data quality of your company address fields, especially if you are uploading location data from multiple spreadsheets.

Geocoding will clean up data sets containing many addresses by removing duplicates and integrating locations with latitude and longitude coordinates for the highest accuracy during data migration.

The interactive maps that result from batch geocoding can help organizations optimize their processes, create geographic analyses and market allocations, design an effective advertising strategy, and offer the most appropriate services in specific areas.

Use Cases of Bulk Geocoding

• Sales & Marketing Strategy: Batch geocoding can show your sales and marketing teams the location of customers and competitors, which can inform and optimize their promotional campaigns and sales targeting.
• Hospitality Industry: Thanks to geocoding, people can use mobile apps to easily find the locations of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues that are closest to them or their destinations.
• Delivery Services & Logistics: Batch geocoding can help delivery drivers pinpoint their precise delivery location. Plus, logistics companies can use geocoding to improve their routing efficiency and accuracy.
• Fraud Detection: Financial services institutions, such as banks and credit unions, often use geocoding to flag fraudulent behavior by tracking purchases and quickly identifying activity that doesn’t match a customer’s spending habits.
• Public Institutions: The creation of infrastructure or additional public services is often based on geocoded information. Counties and local governments can assess the need for new schools, public spaces, additional police forces, and even new roads or bridges based on geocoded census bureau summaries.
• Healthcare Trends: When studied along geocoded data, public health data can help healthcare experts track rates of transmission of seasonal viruses (as was done during the recent Covid-19 pandemic) and can help the public reach locations for testing and vaccine centers.

Conclusion

As promised at the beginning of this article, you now have a better understanding of what geocoding is, the geocoding process, why you might want to start using geocoding services, and some practical batch geocode applications for different kinds of businesses.

Companies and organizations who integrate batch geocoding into their business practices usually leverage that information to optimize their marketing and sales efforts–and you can start doing the same for your business by selecting the right mapping software for your needs.

Maptive offers a free 10-day trial, so you can experience how using mapping for business can benefit your organization. Beyond batch geocoding, Maptive offers a full suite of mapping tools and features that can greatly benefit your marketing & sales strategy, cut out inefficiency across logistics and delivery routes, and uncover new opportunities for revenue growth.

To sign up and experience it yourself, click the link below.

START YOUR FREE 10-DAY TRIAL

The post Bulk Geocode Addresses With Maptive appeared first on Maptive.

And if you have ever had to pick a new office location, one of the biggest factors to consider is how the move will impact your workforce. There are both human factors to consider and important information with financial and business implications.

Will the new location increase your employees’ commute time and add extra expenses for gas and tolls? Will it make it easier to drop off and pick up their kids from the local public schools? Will it help your sales team get to clients’ facilities faster?

Thankfully, taking all those factors, and more, into account can be done by using a mapping software like Maptive. With it, you can easily enter your employees’ addresses, and then visualize them on a map or plan for future office site selection.

How to Map Employee Locations

With Maptive:

1. Log into your Maptive account.
2. Select “Create Map”
3. Enter or upload a spreadsheet containing the office location and employees’ addresses.
4. Customize map settings to meet your needs.
5. Analyze your map to gain insights into office site selection.

Why Maptive

• Customization. One of the added benefits of using Maptive is that after you’ve created a map showing the location of your employees’ residences, you can also customize how the resulting visualization looks and add any further information you need.For example, you can use your company logo as a marker, color-code areas on the map by drawing your own boundaries, set specific radii around your locations, and so much more.
• Advanced Features. Maptive also offers advanced map visualization features that allow you to analyze complex patterns in your data. This can help you gain insights into where potential office locations should be and how they will affect your workforce.For example, suppose you end up choosing a more remote location because it makes the most business sense for your supply chain and logistics routes. In that case, you might want to create new commuter benefit programs, provide company shuttles from the nearest city center, and even create a company-paid cafeteria or rent food trucks.
• Detailed Data. So many factors go into making decisions regarding the locations of offices, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities–so why limit yourself to your office locations and the location of your employees. With Maptive, you can layer in location info of amenities in the area that might be extremely important to your employees, such as gyms, parking, public schools, and even medical facilities. But you can also filter for freight transportation routes, see how proximity to other competitors might affect business, and find new areas of opportunity to expand into.

Overall, Maptive mapping software is an excellent way to map out employee locations and plan for future office site selection. With our powerful map-making features, advanced map visualization, and detailed location info, you can easily make informed decisions that best fit the needs of your business.

What Else Can You Do with Maptive?

Drive Time Maps

With Maptive, you can generate drive time maps to calculate the maximum distance an employee can travel within a certain amount of time. Maptive’s Drive Time Map tool is continuously synced with Google Maps, so you can analyze road networks and traffic to build an accurate map around your office or facility. This can also help businesses plan for office sites that are located in areas where employees can easily commute.

Radius Maps

As you consider new locations or evaluate the worthiness of your current office, you might want to visualize your business’ operating area or run a proximity analysis on a segment of your location data. Both of those can be done within Maptive because, unlike other software, Maptive’s Radius Map tool allows users to create as many radius circles as they want and to fully customize their visual appearance.

Territory Drawing

You can also support your revenue growth with relevant territory maps that are based on your data and powered by Maptive’s AI algorithm. This feature is perhaps less related to each individual employee, but important for business outcomes. You can avoid the guesswork of splitting up territories by assigning accounts to salespeople based on defined metrics, such as sales numbers, geographical boundaries, and market size. When you add an employee’s address into the data displayed, you can also determine whether they would be the right person for that account, or if it would be more efficient to assign it to one of their colleagues.

Route Planning & Optimization

Maptive can save you time and money by helping you organize your deliveries and sales team routes in the most efficient way possible. With Maptive’s Route Planning & Optimization tool, users can find the best route between as many as 25 locations with up to 73 stops and project accurate travel times–and that’s not just great news for your bottom line, but also for your sales team and delivery drivers, since they will save a ton of time and lower their chances of ever being late to an appointment.

[TRY MAPTIVE FOR FREE]

Maptive mapping software provides a comprehensive and effective solution to map employee addresses and plan for future office site selection. With our map-making features and user-friendly data visualizations, you can easily identify complex patterns in your data and gain insights that are essential for making informed decisions.

Start mapping today and make the most of Maptive’s powerful features!

The post How to Map Employee Locations appeared first on Maptive.

Main Methods of Calculating Distance

There are a variety of ways to calculate the distance between two points, or addresses.

Straight Line Distance

The term “straight line distance” is used to describe the distance between two points without taking into account any obstructions that may be in the way. This type of distance is also sometimes referred to as a “line of sight” distance. To determine the straight line distance between two points, one would simply need to draw a line between those points on a map and then measure the length of that line. It is important to note that this method of measuring distance does not take into account any obstacles that might be present, such as mountains or bodies of water. As such, the straight line distance between two points is often significantly shorter than the actual distance that would need to be traveled in order to reach those points.

Great Circle Distance

The great circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. This is often the distance used when measuring the distance between two coordinates, as it is the most accurate method. The great circle distance can also be used when determining driving directions, as it gives the shortest route between two points. However, it is important to note that the great circle distance is not the same as the straight line distance. The straight line distance is the direct route between two points, regardless of whether or not there are roads that connect them. As a result, the straight line distance will often be shorter than the great circle distance. The drive time and drive distance are also different concepts. The drive time is the amount of time it would take to drive from one point to another, while the drive distance is the actual length of the journey. In general, the drive time will be longer than the drive distance, as there are often traffic delays and other factors that can add to the travel time.

GPS Coordinates

GPS devices can also be used to calculate distance. GPS devices triangulate their position using signals from satellites and then use that information to calculate distances between two points. While GPS devices are usually quite accurate, they can be affected by factors such as interference from buildings or trees. As a result, they are not always 100% accurate.

Latitude and Longitude Coordinates

Coordinates of locations can be plotted on a map using software like Maptive. The distance between locations can be measured using either a straight-line measurement or a route planner can be used to determine drive time or driving distances between coordinates. This can be done by inputting the coordinates or addresses of locations into a mapping program in order to map them and using a route planner to generate routes between those points.

Distance Measurement Tools

Mapping tools like Maptive or Google maps provide distance calculator tools. This allows you to click on two points on a map, showing you the straight line distance between them. All of these methods can be useful for measuring distance depending on your specific needs.

Use Maptive to Measure Distance on a Map

Maptive is a mapping software that allows users to input location data in different formats, such as lists of addresses, coordinates, or manually added markers, and generate maps from it. The software also has a measurement tool that can be used to calculate the distance between two points. To use this tool, simply click the “Distance Calculator” button, then select “Multiple Point Distance measurement” and then click on two (or more) points you want to measure the distance between.

The distance will be displayed in both miles and kilometers directly over the line you create. It is also possible to measure the area of a polygon by connecting all of the polygon’s vertices to create a closed area. Overall, Maptive’s measurement tool is a quick and easy way to get accurate measurements without using a separate GPS device. Maptive’s distance measurement tools can be very useful for businesses or individuals who need to measure the size of plots of land and distances between points of interest, such as nearby cities or potential store locations.

Using GPS Coordinates to Measure Distance with Maptive

GPS coordinates are a great way to measure distance, and Maptive makes it easy to do. Simply enter the GPS coordinates of your locations into the data tab, and Maptive will add markers on the map for each of the coordinate pairs. You can then use Maptive’s measurement tools to measure the distance between marker locations or create routes between them in order to calculate drive time or driving distances. You can also measure distances on the map by using Maptive’s freeform distance measurement tool to select starting and ending points on the map.

How to Measure the Distance Between Two Cities

Maptive is a great tool for measuring the distance between two cities. To use Maptive, simply enter the addresses or names of the two cities into the text input boxes provided by the route planning tool. Once you have entered the addresses, Maptive will automatically calculate the distance between the two cities and display the results in miles. You can also choose to measure the distance in kilometers by selecting the “Kilometers” option from the drop-down menu.

How to Measure Distance Between Two Addresses with Google Maps

Google Maps is another helpful tool for measuring the distance between two addresses. To use the distance measurement for driving, simply enter the addresses into the search bar and press enter. Then, click on the “Directions” icon in the upper-left corner of the map. Next, click on the “Driving” option and select “Get Directions.” The route will be displayed on the map, along with the total distance. This can be helpful when planning a road trip or trying to estimate travel time. It is important to note that the driving distance may be different than the actual mileage, as Google Maps takes into account things like traffic and construction. However, it is still useful for measuring the driving distance between two points. However, if you want a straight line distance between two points, you will need a tool like Maptive.

If you need to measure the distance between two points or addresses, Maptive is the ideal mapping software solution for you. With Maptive’s easy-to-use measurement tool, you can quickly and easily get accurate distances without having to use a separate GPS device. Additionally, Maptive offers a wide range of features that make it an invaluable tool for businesses and individuals who need to map data. To learn more about how Maptive can help you calculate distances between points or addresses, visit our distance calculation tool page.

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Why Use Microsoft Excel for Mapping Data?

There are lots of reasons why you might want to map your data in Excel. Sometimes, it’s helpful to see your information differently so you can understand it better. Mapping your data can also help you track patterns and trends, which can be really useful when making decisions or trying to solve a problem. Additionally, mapping data can be a great way to present your findings to other people. It can help them understand your information better and make decisions based on what you’ve found. Finally, mapping data can be used for research purposes – for example, if you’re studying how something changes over time, Excel maps can be really helpful in analyzing that data.

What You’ll Need

Before we get started, there are a few things you’ll need to have in order to map your data. First, you’ll need to have a recent version of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer. Next, you’ll need to make sure that your spreadsheet data is in a format that can be mapped. Finally, you’ll need to decide what type of map you want to create.

Creating Your Data Map in Excel: Step by Step

Step 1: Select the data you want to map

The first step in mapping your data is to choose the information you want to include on your map. You can select all of the data in your spreadsheet or just a portion of it. For this example, we will select all of the data in our spreadsheet.

Step 2: Format your data

After you have selected the data you want to include on your map, the next step is to format it. This step is important because it will ensure that your data is ready to be mapped. To format your data, you’ll need to do two things:

First, you’ll need to make sure that each column in your data is labeled. You can do this by adding a header row to your spreadsheet.

Second, you’ll need to make sure that each row in your data contains only one piece of information. For example, if you have a column for “City” and another column for “State,” each row should contain only the city and state for one location.

For example,  your data might look something like this:

State, Population

New York, 19,510,000

California, 39,350,000

Illinois, 12,720,000

etc.

Excel can map the following types of data:

• Latitude and longitude coordinates
• Zip codes
• City names
• State names
• Country names/codes

If your data doesn’t fit into one of these categories, don’t worry – you can still map it. We’ll show you how to do that in a later step.

Step 3: Create a map

After you have formatted your data, the next step is to choose the type of excel map chart you want to create. There are two main types of maps: Map Charts and Geography Maps.

Create a Map Chart in Excel

Map Charts are the easiest and simplest way to map data in Excel. Here are the steps to map your data in a fillable map:

1) Highlight the data you want to map

2) Click on “Insert” and select “Maps” in the Charts group of excel.

3) Select “Fillable maps” from the drop-down window.

And Voila! That’s all there is to it. You will now see your data displayed on a map.

Geography Data Types to Add Data to Your Tables

Use Geography Data Types to add additional information to your maps. Excel’s Geography Data Types allow you to add information like population, area, GDP, fertility rate & tax rate to your excel sheet. For a geography map, you simply need to select a column containing the list of countries you would like data for, and Excel will allow you to select from a list of available data.

Here are the steps:

1) Highlight the cells containing the names of countries.

2) Go to the “Data” menu in excel and select “Geography” from the Data Types tab.

3) Select the type of data you would like to see.

Thats it! You should now have a table of data that looks like the image below. You can now map this data using a map chart using the steps described in the previous section of this article.

Step 4: Customize Your Map

After you’ve created your map, you can customize it to make it more informative and visually appealing.

To add a title to your map, click on the “Chart Title” text on the top of the map, highlight the text that is there, and then type in your own title.

To show a legend to your map, click on the “+” button on the right side of the map and then select “Legend.” You can do to same thing to show Data labels as well.

To change the colors of your map, click on the ” Chart Design” tab and then select “Change Colors.”

And that’s it!

Maptive Mapping Software for Data Mapping

What if you want to customize your maps further or do more advanced analysis than what Excel can provide?

Maptive mapping software was built for business owners and individuals looking to gain more insight from their location data. Maptive allows you to quickly and easily create maps from your excel data in only a few clicks. Maptive offers tools and features that are designed to help businesses get the most out of their location data. Full map customization, robust sharing options, and advanced mapping tools. Create all kinds of data visualizations, including heat maps, color-coded maps, geographic boundary maps, drive time maps, territory maps, plan your business routes, and more. Filter and view your map data however you want, and create color-coded maps based on your data in only a few clicks.

If you need more sophisticated mapping capabilities than what Excel offers, Maptive is the solution. Maptive was designed with business owners’ needs in mind and offers the most complete toolset for business mapping.

Want to give Maptive a try? Sign up for FREE and try all our risk-free tools for 10 days!

The post How to Map Data in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide appeared first on Maptive.

Mapping is a process of creating a representation of an area, typically via a two-dimensional medium such as paper or a computer screen. It allows people to understand spatial relationships and patterns within an area. Mapping can be used for things like data visualization, navigation, urban planning, business planning, and disaster response purposes.

Many different terms are associated with mapping, which can confuse those new to the field. This article provides definitions and examples for some of the most popular mapping terms and types of maps to help people better understand this process.

If you’d like to try creating some of the types of maps mentioned in this article yourself, try the 10-day free trial of Maptive 100% risk free. No credit card required.

Types of Maps

1. Choropleth map: A choropleth map is a type of thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the statistical variable being displayed on the map, such as population density or per-capita income. iso
2. Isochrone Map: An isochrone map is a type of map that shows the areas that can be reached within a certain amount of time. Isochrone maps are often used to show things like travel times or delivery routes.
3. Cartogram: A cartogram is a map in which some mapping variable – such as land area or population – is substituted for geographic space. The resulting cartogram may provide better visual discrimination for your statistical variable than the original geographic area mapping.
4. Isoline map: An isoline map is any thematic map (usually vector-based) where lines indicate areas that share a common value for the variable displayed on the map. Isolines are sometimes known as isarithmic or isochronic maps.
   
5. Dot density map: A dot density map, also sometimes called a dot distribution map, is a type of thematic mapping that uses dots (or other symbols) to visually show the density of some mapping variable within a particular area.
6. Heat map: A heat map is a type of raster data visualization that uses color to represent specific values in a dataset. Heat maps are often used to visualize hot spots within data sets, such as locations with high crime rates or regions that experience a lot of traffic accidents.
7. Proportional symbol map: A proportional symbol map is any thematic map where the mapping variable is represented by symbols that are sized according to the magnitude of that variable.
8. Flow map: A flow map is any thematic map that shows the movement of objects (usually people or goods) from one place to another. Flow maps typically use arrows to show the direction and magnitude of the movement and often include some measure of how many objects are moving.
9. Political map: A political map is a type of map that shows the boundaries of countries, states, and counties. Political maps are often used to show the results of elections or track disease spread.
   
10. Hexbin map : A hexbin map is a type of dot distribution map where the map is divided into hexagonal bins instead of square or rectangular bins. This can be useful when you want to avoid the “stair-step” effect that can occur with square or rectangular bins.
    

    Image Source: R-Graph-Gallery

11. Location map: A location map is any map that shows the location of a particular place or thing. Location maps can be as simple as a city street map, or as complex as a world political map.
    
12. Reference map: A reference map is any map that provides general information about the geographic area being mapped. Reference maps typically include things like coastlines, country boundaries, and major cities.
    
13. Thematic map: A thematic map is any map that focuses on a particular theme or subject area. Thematic maps can be used to show a variety of information, such as demographic data, climate data, or economic data.
14. Topographic map: A topographic map is any mapping that shows the three-dimensional surface of the earth. Topographic maps typically include contour lines to show changes in elevation, and may also include symbols to represent other features like roads, trails, and bodies of water.
15. Road map : A road map is any mapping that focuses on the network of roads and highways in an area. Road maps typically include things like cities, towns, and major intersections.
    
16. Distance ring map: A distance ring map is any thematic map where concentric circles are used to show the distance from a central point. Distance ring maps are often used to show the reach of a particular service or to find locations that are within a certain distance of a point of interest.
    
17. Graduated symbol map: A graduated symbol map is any thematic map where the mapping variable is represented by symbols that are sized according to the magnitude of that variable. The symbols are usually graduated, meaning that they get larger or smaller as the magnitude of the variable increases or decreases.
    

Mapping Terms

18. Zip code: A zip code is a type of postal code used in the United States. Zip codes are made up of five digits and are used to designate specific areas within the US.
19. Coordinate System: A coordinate system is a system that is used to define the positions of things in space. The most common type of coordinate system is the latitude/longitude system, which is used to define positions on the earth’s surface.
20. Longitude: Longitude is a measure of east-west position on the earth’s surface. Longitude is measured in degrees, with 0° being the Prime Meridian and 180° being the International Date Line.
21. Latitude: Latitude is a measure of north-south position on the earth’s surface. Latitude is measured in degrees, with 0° being the Equator and 90° being the North or South Pole.
22. Contour line: A contour line is a line on a map that shows the location of a particular place or thing. Contour lines are often used to show elevation changes and may also be used to show other features like roads, trails, and bodies of water.
23. GIS: GIS is an acronym for “geographic information system.” A GIS is a system that is used to store, manipulate, and analyze geographic data.
24. Map scale: The map scale is the ratio between the size of something on a map and the size of that same thing in the real world. Map scales are typically expressed as a ratio, such as 1:10,000, or as a verbal description, such as “one inch equals one mile.”
25. Cartography: Cartography is the art and science of making maps. Cartographers use a variety of mapping techniques to create maps that are both accurate and visually appealing.
26. Geotagging: Geotagging is the process of adding geographical information to a digital file. Geotagged files can be used to show the location of things like photos, websites, or tweets.
27. Geocoding: Geocoding is the process of converting addresses into geographic coordinates. Geocoded data can be used for mapping and analysis.
28. Map Legend: A map legend is a key used to interpret a map’s symbols. Map legends typically include a description of the symbols as well as their meaning.
29. Catchment Area Analysis: A catchment area analysis is a type of mapping used to identify the areas most likely to be served by a particular service or facility. Catchment area analyses are often used to plan the placement of new facilities or to assess the need for new services.
30. Map Layers: Map layers are layers of data that are used to create a map. Layers can include things like roads, rivers, and political boundaries.
31. Base Map: A base map is a map that shows the basic features of an area, such as roads, rivers, and political boundaries. Base maps are often used as a starting point for creating more detailed maps.
32. Raster data: Raster data is a type of mapping data that is made up of pixels. Raster data is often used to show things like satellite images or DEMs.
33. Vector data: Vector data is a type of mapping data that is made up of points, lines, and polygons. Vector data is often used to show things like roads, rivers, and political boundaries.
34. GPS: GPS is an acronym for “global positioning system.” GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that can be used to determine the location of things on the earth’s surface.
35. Great circle: A great circle is a line on the earth’s surface that evenly divides the earth into two hemispheres. Great circles are often used to show the shortest route between two points.
36. Boundary Line: A boundary line is a line that marks the edge of an area. Boundary lines are often used to show things like political boundaries or property lines.
37. Disaggregation: Disaggregation is the process of breaking down data into smaller units. Disaggregation can be used to create more detailed maps, or to analyze data at a more granular level.
38. Map Symbols: Map symbols are symbols that are used to represent things on a map. Map symbols can be anything from simple shapes to complex images.
39. Callout line: A callout line is a line on a map that is used to point out a specific feature. Callout lines are often used to label things like cities or landmarks.
40. Grid line: A grid line is a line on a map that is used to divide the map into sections. Grid lines are often used to help people find specific features on a map.
41. Tract: A tract is a unit of land that is used for mapping purposes. Tracts are often used to show things like census data or property boundaries.
42. Overlay: An overlay is a map that is placed over another map. Overlays are often used to show things like political boundaries or topographic features.
43. Scale Bar: A scale bar is a line on a map that is used to measure distance. Scale bars are often used to help people estimate the size of features on a map.
44. Buffer: A buffer is a zone of land that is used to protect a feature from development. Buffers are often used to protect things like wetlands or wildlife habitat.
45. Aerial photo: An aerial photo is a photograph that is taken from an airplane or other aircraft. Aerial photos are often used to show things like topographic features or land use.

Map Projections

46. Map projections: A map projection is a way of representing the surface of the earth on a flat map. There are many types of map projections, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
47. Equal area projection- An equal-area projection is a type of map projection that preserves the area of features on the map. Equal area projections are often used for mapping things like population density.
48. Conic projection: A conic projection is a map projection often used for mapping large areas. Conic projections are named for the fact that they often look like cones.
49. Mercator projection: A Mercator projection is a map projection often used to map the earth’s surface. Mercator projections are named for the fact that they often look like mercator grids.
50. Polar projection: A polar projection is a type of map projection that is often used for mapping the earth’s poles. Polar projections are named for the fact that they often look like polar coordinate grids.
51. UTM projection: A UTM projection is a map projection often used for mapping large areas. UTM projections are named for the fact that they are based on the Universal Transverse Mercator grid.
52. Thiessen polygon: A Thiessen polygon is a type of mapping used to identify the areas most likely to be served by a particular service or facility. Thiessen polygons are named for the fact that they are based on the Voronoi diagram.

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