Why I Contribute to OpenStreetMap

Since February 28, 2026, when I started contributing to OpenStreetMap, I've added different stores and corrected data where I live. For instance, if there are missing house numbers, a store has changed, or the information about what stores are in a particular location is incorrect, I correct it. I've also updated opening hours, added websites, and corrected names of places.

I think it's a bit dangerous to rely too much on Google Maps and Apple Maps, since they're going through this enshittification, increasing prices, and adding advertisements.

Google bought Waze, and they're collecting data about people. When you're out driving, they're collecting aggregated data about drivers to see if traffic goes fast or slow on a particular road. It's obvious that they're collecting data when you're using Google Maps or Waze.

Apple Maps also recently started with advertisements, initially in the US and Canada. That's something Google has done for a long time: advertising different things. When you search or open Google Maps or Apple Maps, you can get recommendations from businesses that have paid money for that. It's not like you always get an unbiased view.

There have also been price increases for the Google Maps API. In 2018, Google changed the pricing for its Maps, Routes and Places APIs, and developers reported much higher costs.

When you correct data in Google Maps, submit corrected data, write reviews, or contribute anything like that, the data gets locked into Google Maps. I think it's better to contribute to OpenStreetMap instead, because then the data is freely available, and anybody can use it.

For instance, on my phone, I'm using OsmAnd and Organic Maps for navigation. I've tried both of them, and I think they're very good.

Of course, Google Maps, Apple Maps, and those proprietary services probably have a lot more users, so I don't expect OsmAnd and Organic Maps to have that many users in comparison. But there are a lot of applications based on OpenStreetMap, and I'm sure there would be a lot more if the data was more up to date.

I'm not saying the data is bad, but I think more effort needs to be put into it to really be able to trust it. If I'm going to drive to a location, I want to be sure that the store is still in that location and has not closed or moved.

There is also an app called StreetComplete, where you can contribute data. It's a bit of gamification based on OpenStreetMap, where, when you're outside, you can confirm or correct data based on what you see. For instance, what kind of road surface is here? Is this street lit? Things like that.

And with Google making Android worse and locking it down, I think it's important to have open alternatives. Google recently introduced new requirements for Android developers to verify their identity and register their apps, including apps distributed outside Google Play. Some developers don't want to go through that process. With this enshittification going on, I think it's important to contribute to open alternatives like OpenStreetMap.

I also think it's fun just getting to learn your neighborhood. When I visit some place, I check that location in OpenStreetMap, and if it's out of date, I correct it. When I look around in my neighborhood, it's just fun to see if a location in OpenStreetMap is still there and if the data is up to date.

I think it's a fun way to get some reason to walk on different paths and take notice of what you see around you, to see if things look correct according to the map online. It's a nice way to get to know your neighborhood.

I also think it's a bit of a relaxing activity. Some evenings, maybe there is some time to just look at OpenStreetMap and, based on where I've been during the week or the last few days, update a few things. It doesn't take much time to update one location or check what opening hours they have on their website, or what phone number or email address they have.

And I think, maybe you live in some town with 20,000 or 30,000 people. Maybe there is some city center there. If you contribute fixes there, for instance, if a shop in a particular building has closed and another one has opened, then you're potentially helping 20,000 or 30,000 people in that example.

It doesn't require many people per location to give value to a lot of other people. And it's not that often that owners change. Many stores are in the same location for many, many years. When some place is fairly up to date, it doesn't require that much effort to maintain it, and as I said, it potentially gives value to a lot of people.

It's a collaborative effort, and it doesn't take that much time or effort to update a place. If the data gets better, I think more people will switch over, especially for ideological reasons now, when there is this enshittification going on.

I think it's very fun to use OpenStreetMap to update locations. It's relaxing and feels rewarding, and it's a nice way to contribute to open source in a simple way and get to learn your neighborhood. I think it's rewarding on both ends: as a contribution and as your own knowledge about your local society.

I recommend anybody to sign up on OpenStreetMap and contribute to their local neighborhood.