Leaflet-Geoman vs Leaflet.draw
A 2025 comparison between the modern, actively-maintained Leaflet-Geoman and the legacy Leaflet.draw library.
Overview of the projects
Leaflet-Geoman is a modern, feature-rich drawing and editing plugin for Leaflet with advanced tools like measuring, autotracing and snapping. It is actively maintained with regular updates serving commercial clients. It offers TypeScript support and compatibility with modern frameworks like React, Vite, and Next. At its core, it is designed for production applications that require precision, performance and a great user experience.
Leaflet.draw is an older, lightweight plugin that focuses on basic drawing and editing of shapes. While it used to be the go-to solution for simple drawing needs, it has not been actively maintained since its last git commit on September 13th, 2018. It does not offer advanced geometry tools, performance enhancements, and modern framework integrations. For very basic drawing requirements, it still does the job, but for production applications in 2025, Leaflet-Geoman is the better choice.
Feature Comparison
| Category | Leaflet-Geoman | Leaflet.draw |
|---|---|---|
| Active Development | Yes, frequent git commits (latest Nov 2025) | No, no update since september 2017 |
| Advanced Editing Tools | Yes, e.g split, trace, measure | Basic draw and edit only |
| Performance | Optimized for large datasets | Performance degrades with scale |
| Modern Framework Support | Yes, e.g. React, Next, Vite | Limited, still relies on jQuery dependencies |
| TypeScript Support | Full TypeScript definitions | Community types only |
| Professional Support | Email & priority support available | Community only |
| Measurement Tools | Pro version includes built-in distance and area measurements | None |
| Customization | Extensive API & theming | Limited options |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Leaflet-Geoman and Leaflet.draw? ▼
Leaflet-Geoman is a feature-rich, actively-maintained drawing and editing geospatial plugin for Leaflet with advanced tools including auto-tracing, scaling, measuring. Leaflet.draw is an older, lightweight plugin that focuses on basic drawing and editing of shapes without advanced geometry tools.
Which Leaflet drawing library supports measurements while drawing and editing? ▼
Leaflet-Geoman supports measurement of a layer while drawing and editing. Leaflet.draw does not include measurement features.
Which leaflet plugin is ready for apps in production in 2025? ▼
For applications that require precision, advanced editing, and great user experinces, Leaflet-Geoman is the right choice. Leaflet.draw is not actively maintained and therefore not recommeded for modern production environments.
Is Leaflet-Geoman actively maintained? ▼
Yes, in 2025 Leaflet-Geoman is actively maintained with new features, bug fixes, and a Pro version with addtional features. Leaflet.draw is no longer maintained with the last commit on its Github repo dated September 13, 2018.