Leaflet

Free plan Web

What Leaflet is

Leaflet is an open-source JavaScript library for building interactive maps that work on mobile devices. Its built-in layers cover tiles, WMS, markers, popups, vector shapes, image overlays, and GeoJSON. Map interactions include panning, wheel and pinch zoom, keyboard navigation, events, and draggable markers. Developers can restyle popups and controls, create custom layers and controls, use custom projections, and extend classes. Leaflet describes the library as about 42 KB of gzipped JavaScript plus 3.5 KB of gzipped CSS. It does not require a particular tile provider: its example uses OpenStreetMap tiles, while tutorials cover WMS and TMS services. Stable downloads are available through unpkg, cdnjs, jsDelivr, direct downloads, and npm. The download page lists 1.9.4 as stable and 2.0.0-alpha.1 as prerelease, and warns that the main development version may contain incompatible changes. Leaflet focuses on core mapping features and suggests looking for a plugin when a feature is outside its scope. It is free and web-based.

Who it suits

Leaflet suits developers building mobile-friendly interactive maps who want customizable layers, controls, and projections. It is also a fit for projects that can use a chosen tile provider or add plugins for needs beyond core mapping.

What it does well

Open-source JavaScript library
Includes tile, WMS, and GeoJSON layers
Supports custom layers, controls, and projections
Works with multiple tile providers
Stable release is available through npm and CDNs

What to know first

Focuses on basic mapping features
Some capabilities may require a plugin
Main development version may contain incompatible changes

Limits

The Leaflet plan is free, with no charge stated, and requires your own map tiles or a third-party tile service. Capabilities outside Leaflet's basic mapping focus may require plugins.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Leaflet	No charge stated · Open-source JavaScript library; use your own map tiles or a third-party tile service	Free

As leafletjs.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit https://leafletjs.com/
Choose a stable distribution from unpkg, cdnjs, jsDelivr, direct download, or npm
Add Leaflet to a web project through its script distribution or npm package
Configure map tiles from OpenStreetMap or another tile service
Use the tutorials and API documentation to add layers and interactions

Verdict

Leaflet offers core interactive mapping tools in a small, customizable library. Projects needing features beyond that core may need to look for a plugin.

Questions

Is Leaflet free?

Yes. Leaflet is open source, and the Leaflet plan is free, with no charge stated.

Which platforms does Leaflet support?

Leaflet is available for the web. Listed desktop browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari 5+, Opera 12+, Internet Explorer 9–11, and Edge; mobile support includes iOS Safari 7+, mobile Chrome and Firefox, and Internet Explorer 10+ on Windows 8 devices.

Does Leaflet provide map tiles?

Leaflet does not require a particular tile provider. Its example uses OpenStreetMap tiles, and users can connect WMS or TMS services or another third-party provider.

How can I install Leaflet?

The stable release can be obtained from unpkg, cdnjs, jsDelivr, direct downloads, or the npm package manager.

Which Leaflet versions are listed?

Version 1.9.4 is listed as stable, and 2.0.0-alpha.1 is listed as a prerelease. The main development version may contain incompatible changes.

Where can I get help?

Leaflet provides tutorials, API documentation, and a FAQ. Users can also ask questions through GitHub issues, Stack Overflow, and GIS Stack Exchange.

Facts from Leaflet's own pages

Browser support: The site lists desktop browser support for Chrome, Firefox, Safari 5+, Opera 12+, IE 9–11, and Edge, and mobile support for iOS Safari 7+, mobile Chrome and Firefox, and IE10+ on Windows 8 devices. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Contributor and origin: The project says it was originally created by Volodymyr Agafonkin and is now developed by a community of contributors. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Customisation: Leaflet supports restyling popups and controls, custom layers and controls, custom projections, and extending classes. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Distribution: The stable release is available through unpkg, cdnjs, jsDelivr, direct downloads, and the npm package manager. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Founded: 2010 · leafletjs.com, 28 Sept 2026
Interactions: Map interactions include drag panning, wheel and pinch zoom, keyboard navigation, events, and draggable markers. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Lightweight: The site describes Leaflet as about 42 KB of JavaScript gzipped, plus 3.5 KB of CSS gzipped. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Map data integrations: Leaflet can use OpenStreetMap tiles in its example and does not require a particular tile provider; tutorials cover WMS and TMS services. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Map layers: Built-in layers include tile layers, WMS, markers, popups, vector shapes, image overlays, and GeoJSON. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Notable scope limit: Leaflet says it focuses on making basic mapping features work well and suggests checking for a plugin when a feature is missing. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Leaflet is an open-source JavaScript library for building mobile-friendly interactive maps. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Release versions: The download page lists 1.9.4 as stable and 2.0.0-alpha.1 as prerelease, and cautions that the main development version may contain incompatible changes. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security: The CDN example includes integrity hashes, which the page says are included for security when loading Leaflet from a CDN. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support and learning: The site points users to tutorials, API documentation, a FAQ, GitHub issues, Stack Overflow, and GIS Stack Exchange for guidance and questions. · leafletjs.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where Leaflet stands on Freedom251

Interactive Map Software#19 of 40
Geo Tools#13 of 26