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Leaflet vs Mapbox-gl

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

leaflet

Very Popular

Version 1.9.4

67
Good

JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps

Weekly Downloads
3.2M
↑18%
Bundle (gzip)
1.1 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

mapbox-gl

Very Popular

Version 3.20.0

85
Excellent

A WebGL interactive maps library

Weekly Downloads
2.2M
Stable
Bundle (gzip)
19.8 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Leaflet and Mapbox-gl? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Leaflet leads with 3.2M weekly downloads — roughly 1.4x more. Mapbox-gl has 2.2M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Leaflet has the smallest gzipped bundle at 1.1 MB. Mapbox-gl comes in at 19.8 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Mapbox-gl has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Leaflet has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Leaflet if you value large community support, strong security track record. Choose Mapbox-gl if you value large community support, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Leaflet and Mapbox-gl are solid choices for JavaScript development. Mapbox-gl has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is leaflet better than mapbox-gl?
It depends on your needs. Leaflet has a health score of 67/100 while Mapbox-gl scores 85/100. Leaflet has more weekly downloads (3.2M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, leaflet or mapbox-gl?
Leaflet has the smaller gzipped bundle at 1.1 MB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use leaflet vs mapbox-gl?
Based on npm download statistics, Leaflet has approximately 3.2M weekly downloads and Mapbox-gl has approximately 2.2M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, leaflet or mapbox-gl?
Mapbox-gl currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Leaflet has a maintenance score of 40/100 and Mapbox-gl scores 100/100 on maintenance.

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