FAQ about Top-O-Map

Integration takes just a few steps. You integrate the maps into your website or app once – after that, we take care of hosting, map updates, maintenance and ongoing technical development.

For the free integration, nothing special: you integrate the maps with a few lines of code and display the source attribution, the Top-O-Map logo and a note crediting Top-O-Map. For a subscription, you choose a plan on the pricing page, sign up via Stripe and receive your API key from us by email. You’ll find the step-by-step process under Use our maps.

In many projects, the actual integration takes only a few minutes. The effort may vary somewhat depending on the website or application. We’re happy to help you with the integration.

For the standard integration, a few lines of code are all you need – you’ll find a ready-made example on the Use our maps page. If you maintain your own website, you’ll usually manage just fine. If you want to build your own features on top of that, basic knowledge of HTML and JavaScript is helpful – and we’re happy to help.

Not for the free integration – you don’t have to provide any data at all. For a subscription, you enter your email address and payment details at Stripe. After that, you just tell us the name of your website or app so that we can link your API key to it.

Yes. With the free integration, you can integrate and try out the maps on any test or development environment without signing up – though with watermarks on the map. If you’d like to use a test environment in addition to your subscription, just get in touch.

Yes, permanently. The free integration requires no registration and costs nothing. In return, you display the source attribution, the Top-O-Map logo and a note crediting Top-O-Map, and we display Top-O-Map overlays.

There are two ways: as a ready-made map via an iframe, or as a tile URL that you add as a map layer in your own map application. Which option makes more sense for you depends on how much control you want.

Yes. The maps are delivered as standard raster tiles using the {z}/{x}/{y} scheme. All common map libraries can handle them – you simply add the tile URL as a map layer.

As PNG tiles in the standard web map format. This means they can be used in existing maps without any conversion.

Yes. The map tiles are transmitted encrypted over HTTPS, so there are no mixed-content warnings on your website.

With a subscription, via your personal API key. It can be read in the source code every time the map loads – which is why we can link it to the name of your website or app, which you give us after signing up. That way, other websites can’t use the map with your API key.

Just let us know. We’ll block your old API key and issue you a new one – all you have to do is replace it in your integration code.

Yes. If you integrate the maps as a map layer, your application remains entirely under your control: you draw markers, routes, areas and other layers on top as usual.

No. The entire map infrastructure is operated by Top-O-Map. You don’t need any servers of your own and don’t have to worry about maintenance or updates.

No. All map updates are carried out automatically via our platform. You don’t have to do anything.

Yes. Our maps are fully optimized for desktop PCs, smartphones and tablets.

Possible causes include a slow internet connection, very large map areas or an incorrect integration. Or you may have exceeded your monthly quota, which can cause the speed to be throttled. This is reset at the beginning of the next month – or you can book a larger quota at any time.

Common causes include an invalid or expired API key, a website or app that hasn’t been linked to the API key yet, an incorrect integration or disabled JavaScript. If the problem persists, our support team will be happy to help.

Once your booked monthly quota has been used up, watermarks are displayed on the map with any further use. They are removed again in the following month, or you can have them removed right away by booking a larger quota.

• Classic topographic map: With contour lines, terrain shading and all map data and labels.
• Relief map: Pure elevation relief without map data or labels.

Both map styles are included in the free integration as well as in all subscriptions.

The 3D map shows elevations and landforms in three dimensions, so you can view the landscape from different perspectives. This makes mountain ranges and striking landforms particularly easy to visualize.

Our maps are based on high-quality OpenStreetMap data, digital terrain models and other freely available geodata. This data is continuously processed and turned into professional topographic maps. All sources used are listed on the sources page.

From digital terrain models such as the Copernicus DEM, supplemented by other geodata sources. You’ll find a complete overview on our Data Sources page.

The labels come from OpenStreetMap data and therefore mostly show the names used locally. Where available, the English name is also shown. If you need different labels for your project, just get in touch.

Our maps are updated regularly and continuously improved. New roads, paths and other changes are automatically available to all customers. Changes in OpenStreetMap usually appear in our maps within a few days.

Top-O-Map currently supports zoom levels 0–18 – from a large-scale overview to a detailed view of individual paths, buildings and landforms.

Yes. Our topographic maps are available for every region in the world. Map quality may vary depending on the location.

Yes, by arrangement. Different colors, additional layers, special map content or a view without roads are all possible. Just tell us what you need – together we’ll work out how it can be done.

A map tile is a single square map image measuring 256 x 256 pixels; the map you see is made up of many of these tiles. The number of tiles needed for a map view depends on factors such as the size of the map area, the zoom level and the screen resolution. Moving or zooming the map loads additional tiles. The number of tiles requested is the basis for the usage quotas.

We count the map tiles delivered for your project each month. How many that is depends on how often and how intensively your visitors use the map – in other words, how often they zoom and pan the map.

With a subscription, you pay a fixed amount – monthly or yearly, depending on the plan you choose. One-time purchases for downloads are paid once at the time of purchase. Stripe handles the payment for us. Nothing else is charged, not even for higher usage. The free integration is permanently free of charge.

No. There are no setup fees, no hidden extras and no additional billing if your usage is ever higher than what you booked. You only pay for the subscription or one-time purchase you chose.

If you have more than 30,000 map tile requests per month, we show the overlay more often, use it to ask you to get in touch with us, and throttle the loading speed. It still costs you nothing.

We’ll contact you by email, offer you a higher plan and throttle the loading speed. If you book the higher plan, the maps run at full speed again. Otherwise, the throttling remains in place until the next month. There are never any extra charges.

Yes. You can switch between the available plans yourself in the Stripe customer portal. You can reach it via the “Manage subscriptions” link in the footer of every page.

Yes. Monthly subscriptions renew automatically for another month. Yearly subscriptions renew automatically for one further month at a time after the first year. Each renewal month is charged at the regular monthly subscription price – the yearly discount applies only to the year paid for. This applies as long as you don’t cancel before the end of the term.

In the Stripe customer portal – via the “Cancel subscriptions” link in the footer of every page. The cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; until then, you can keep using your quota.

Through our payment provider Stripe – for subscriptions as well as one-time purchases. Payment methods include PayPal, credit card and SEPA bank transfer; you’ll see all other options during checkout. All payment details stay with Stripe – we never see them.

No. We don’t need any data from you for the free integration – neither registration nor payment details. No subscription is created and there is nothing that needs to be canceled.

Yes. All available Top-O-Map map styles are included – in the free integration as well as in every subscription. There are no separate charges for additional maps.

Yes. Our maps can be used for commercial projects as well as by public institutions, clubs and associations or non-profit organizations.

Yes. For licensing reasons, the source attribution must always be visible on the map. In addition, with free use you display the Top-O-Map logo with a link in the bottom left corner of the map and mention on your website or in your app that the maps are provided by Top-O-Map. You’ll find the exact text under Use our maps.

Yes – the same conditions apply to every website and every app. Usage across all websites/apps is added together. An API key from a subscription can be linked to several websites or apps.

For downloading parts of the map, we offer one-time usage quotas. A one-time purchase does not automatically renew as a subscription and ends on its own once the quota has been used up or the period of validity has expired. With a subscription, too, you can download parts of the map within your quota and store them, e.g. for offline use.

Top-O-Map is suitable for company websites, tourism portals, outdoor applications, hiking and cycling portals, real estate projects, local authorities, environmental projects and GIS applications, among others.

When the map tiles load, a connection to our map servers is established for technical reasons. In the process, the visitor’s IP address may be transmitted – this cannot be avoided when loading image data from the internet. For the 3D map, the elevation model from Mapterhorn (tiles.mapterhorn.com) is also loaded, and the IP address is transmitted to this server as well. You can find more details on our privacy page.

No cookies are set for tracking or advertising purposes. Technically necessary cookies may be used where required for operation.

Payment details stay with Stripe. Which information Stripe passes on to us is set out in our Privacy Policy. In addition, you give us the name of your website or app so that we can link your API key to it.

Via our contact page or directly by email at info@top-o-map.com.

We’ll deal with your request as quickly as possible. If there are technical problems with map delivery, it’s best to contact us directly by email.

Yes. If something doesn’t work right away or you need help with the integration, just drop us a line – we’ll help you out.

Top-O-Map offers a professional map platform without the need for your own infrastructure. You integrate the maps once – we take care of hosting, map updates, maintenance, performance optimization and ongoing technical development for the long term.

Yes, we’d be delighted! If you like our maps, you can support us financially on a voluntary basis via Ko-fi – whether you use the free integration or have a subscription. Any support is entirely voluntary and doesn’t entitle you to anything in return; using Top-O-Map is not affected by it. You can find out what data is processed in our Privacy Policy.