Yandex Maps

What Yandex Maps is

Yandex Maps is a mapping service for exploring places and planning trips on the web, Android, and iOS. Search covers geographic areas, organizations, and public transport routes. You can switch between road maps, satellite imagery, and a hybrid view with street names and addresses, then plan a route by choosing a mode of transportation. Map information includes traffic jams and road events. Public transport details include routes, stops, schedules, and moving vehicles on the map. Mobile users can download maps and plot routes offline; downloaded maps show only a schematic view, and offline routes omit traffic, cameras, and road events. Place cards give information about organizations and other places, and users can rate places, write reviews, and add photos. The service is free for maps, place search, and routes. Developers can use JavaScript API, MapKit SDK, Tiles API, and Static API. API licenses include Free, Basic, and Advanced; Basic has monthly active-user limits and additional charges apply when limits are exceeded. Yandex says its company appeared in 2000 and lists its head office in Moscow, Russia.

Who it suits

Yandex Maps suits people looking up places, planning trips, or checking public transport and road conditions. Its mapping APIs and SDKs are also relevant to developers building with maps.

Limits

The free Maps service covers maps, place search and routes. Offline mobile maps are schematic, and offline routes exclude traffic, cameras and road events. The Basic MapKit SDK license has monthly active user limits; additional charges apply when those limits are exceeded.

Getting started

1. Open https://yandex.com/maps/ in a web browser.
2. For mobile use, install the app from the App Store or Google Play on iOS 17 or later or Android 8 or later.
3. Search for an area, organization or public transport route.
4. Choose a map view and plan a route by transportation mode.
5. For offline mobile use, download a map.
6. For developer access, review the API license types and select an API or SDK.

Verdict

Yandex Maps combines place search, route planning, public transport details, and map views across web and mobile. The free mapping service is distinct from API licensing, whose Basic tier has usage limits and possible extra charges.