Looking for a SimpleMaps alternative? Here is an honest side-by-side of what each tool produces, what it costs, and which one fits the job you actually have.
The map above is live. Open the editor and change the colour, shape, and density yourself — there is nothing to install and no account needed to start.
The map is a visual element on a page, not a control a visitor operates.
You want a file you own outright, with no per-domain licence to track or renew.
You need the map in a deck, a PDF, a print piece, or a social graphic — places JavaScript cannot go.
Free to use. No sign-up required.
| Feature | World in Dots | SimpleMaps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier; $5 week pass, $8/month, or $80/year for unlimited exports | $79 (US map) / $199 (world map) individual; $499 developer; business tier for unlimited use |
| Output | Static SVG and PNG files | Interactive HTML5/JavaScript map embedded in your site |
| Interactivity | None — it is a graphic | Click, hover, tooltips, drill-down |
| Licensing | Export and use the files you create | Per-domain licence; extended licences for multiple domains |
| Works in decks, PDFs, print | Yes | No — requires a web page |
| Dotted map style | Yes — this is the whole product | Not a dotted map product |
| Free option | Free tier for everyone | Free branded licences for academic, nonprofit, and personal use only |
| Best for | Map graphics for design and presentation | Interactive maps inside a website |
SimpleMaps sells interactive HTML5 and JavaScript maps that you license and embed in a website. The maps respond to clicks and hovers, support custom regions and markers, and are sold per map rather than as a subscription.
Pricing is licence-based. An individual licence covers a single domain — the US map is listed at $79 and the world map at $199, each including twelve months of updates and support. A developer's licence is $499, and a business licence covers unlimited lifetime use across unlimited sites. Renewing support for another twelve months costs $49, $149, or $249 depending on tier. Custom maps start at $199. SimpleMaps also offers free branded licences for academic, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and personal sites, which may not be used commercially.
These tools solve different problems and the comparison is mostly about which problem you have. SimpleMaps produces an interactive component: something a visitor clicks, hovers, and explores inside your page. World in Dots produces a static vector file: something you place in a design.
That difference drives everything else. SimpleMaps involves a licence, a domain restriction, and JavaScript in your page. World in Dots gives you an SVG or PNG that you own and can put anywhere, with no per-domain terms to track.
If what you actually want is a good-looking map on a marketing page that nobody needs to click, a licensed interactive map is a substantial amount of machinery for the job. If visitors genuinely need to interact with regions, a static SVG cannot do it and no amount of styling will change that.
SimpleMaps licenses per map. The US map is listed at $79 and the world map at $199 for an individual licence covering one domain, each with twelve months of updates and support. A developer's licence is $499 and a business licence covers unlimited lifetime use. Custom maps start at $199. Prices change, so check simplemaps.com/pricing before budgeting.
SimpleMaps offers free branded licences for academic, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and personal websites. These carry SimpleMaps branding and cannot be used on commercial sites.
No. World in Dots exports static SVG and PNG files. An SVG can be styled and animated with CSS or JavaScript once it is in a page, but there is no built-in interactivity, no per-region data binding, and no tooltips. If visitors need to click regions, use a purpose-built interactive map library.
Pricing and feature claims about SimpleMaps were last checked in August 2026 against the vendor’s own pages. Vendors change their pricing — confirm current terms before you buy.