VelMap is the lightweight alternative to Google Maps for websites. Paste a place or coordinates - copy the iframe. Free for 50k loads / month.
<iframe src="https://velmap.com/v1/place?style=classic&zoom=13&c=38.72230%2C-9.13930" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" title="VelMap embed" ></iframe>
VelMap is the cheaper map embed built specifically as an alternative to Google Maps for websites that just need a clean, lightweight map. Every feature below is included on the free tier, and the iframe map embed you copy from VelMap stays valid for life.
Drop in a latitude / longitude pair, a place name like "Lisbon, Portugal," or even a full address. VelMap geocodes it server-side and returns a centered map embed at the zoom level you choose.
Paste a list of coordinates or addresses and VelMap will produce a multi-stop map embed with markers, an auto-fit bounding box, and optional polyline.
A VelMap embed is a single iframe - about 14 KB on first paint. No SDK, no service worker, no map embed bloat.
Pick between Classic, Minimal Light, Minimal Dark, Topographic, and Print. Every style is tuned for readability inside small content blocks.
No third-party cookies, no analytics fingerprinting, no tracking pixels riding along with the map embed. GDPR-friendly by default.
50,000 map embed loads per month at $0. Paid plans start at a flat $9/mo, no per-thousand surcharges.
VelMap turns the most common map embed workflow - copy coordinates, paste into a generator, get an iframe - into something you can finish before your coffee gets cold.
Use the generator above or call the VelMap embed API. Both accept place names, addresses, plus codes, and standard lat / long pairs.
Choose a map embed style, zoom level, and aspect ratio. Each option updates the live preview.
VelMap generates a clean iframe map embed snippet with sandbox attributes, lazy loading, and a sensible referrer policy.
Drop the map embed code into any HTML - WordPress, Webflow, Notion, Framer, or a plain static page.
A few of the most common reasons teams reach for a VelMap embed instead of building a custom map or paying for a heavyweight map embed SDK.
The single map embed nearly every business website needs, with a pinned marker and an optional "Open in maps" link.
Paste up to 500 stops into a single VelMap embed. The map auto-fits, clusters dense markers, and lazily loads tiles.
Embed venue maps, hotel blocks, after-parties, and shuttle routes without paying enterprise rates for event-day traffic spikes.
Show neighborhood context with a fuzzy-radius map embed without revealing the exact address before contact.
Paste cities into a textarea and get a polyline map embed showing the entire route.
Static-site generators all accept raw HTML, which means they all accept a VelMap embed.
Most teams discover map embed pricing the hard way: a viral blog post, a successful launch week, or a sudden invoice for what felt like a small feature.
| VelMap (cheaper map embed) | Google Maps Embed API | Self-hosted tile server | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free monthly map embed loads | 50,000 | 10,000 (after billing setup) | Whatever your server handles |
| Credit card to start | Not required | Required | Required for VPS |
| Cost after free tier | Flat $9 / mo (250k loads) | $7 per 1,000 loads | Hosting + ops time |
| Iframe embed code generator | Yes, in 10 seconds | Manual URL crafting | Build it yourself |
| Multi-stop route map embed | Up to 500 stops | Higher-tier only | DIY |
| No third-party tracking | Yes | Cookies & analytics | Yes, if configured |
| Average iframe payload | ~14 KB | ~280 KB | Depends on stack |
| SLA on paid plans | 99.95% | 99.9% | Your problem |
Flat tiers, generous limits, and a free plan that is genuinely useful - not a 14-day teaser.
An interactive map rendered inside another website, usually delivered as an iframe. Contact pages, store locators, real-estate listings, and travel posts all use map embeds.
Pricing: Google Maps charges per thousand loads; one viral post can become one painful invoice. VelMap is flat-fee.
Weight: a standard Google map embed loads about 280 KB before the first tile. A VelMap embed is about 14 KB.
Privacy: no third-party cookies, tracking pixels, or advertising signals.
VelMap returns standard HTML, so the map embed drops into WordPress, Webflow, Framer, Notion, Squarespace, Ghost, and any static-site generator.
VelMap is for showing a location, route, or small set of points. Turn-by-turn directions, traffic, indoor maps, and live vehicle tracking need a full mapping app.
It is a genuinely free tier. You get 50,000 map embed loads per month forever, with no credit card on file.
For embed use cases, yes. VelMap is built specifically as a cheaper map embed and a drop-in alternative to Google Maps iframes.
Yes, on every plan including the free tier. There are no commercial-use restrictions on the map embed.
No key is needed for the free generator. An API key is only required for the programmatic VelMap embed API on paid tiers.
The map embed keeps rendering. We never silently break your iframe because of a one-off traffic spike.
All plans get five built-in styles. Studio and Scale add custom brand colors and more control.
The interactive map needs JavaScript, but VelMap also returns a static PNG fallback by appending &static=1.
VelMap renders from OpenStreetMap data with vector tiles hosted on our infrastructure.
Not directly today. We do publish a static export plan for image snapshots and clickable overlays.
Open the generator, copy the iframe, paste it on your site. The cheaper map embed and the honest alternative to Google Maps - the free plan covers most projects forever.