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Comparison · DevOps

GraphHopper vs OpenTripPlanner

A side-by-side editorial comparison of GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

GraphHopper vs OpenTripPlanner: at a glance

FeatureGraphHopperOpenTripPlanner
SectorDevOpsDevOps
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesrouting, openstreetmap, custom-models, navigationtransit-routing, graphql, api-removal, gtfs-rt
Last editorial update3h ago2h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is GraphHopper?

GraphHopper finished moving vehicle profiles into custom models, then went back to OSM tags.

GraphHopper ships a major roughly every six months, with 11.0 in October 2025 the most recent. The architectural work happened in 9.0, which moved vehicle encoded values into the custom model, removed the built-in vehicle parsers' name property and the wheelchair parsers, allowed external encoded values in custom models, and blocked built-in custom model filenames. 10.0 then spent itself on storage layout — byte-based edge storage, a Map-based KVStorage API, wider georef fields — and 11.0 is almost entirely OSM tag interpretation: maxspeed=none handling, separate foot and bike road access, cycleway oneway combinations, toll parsing moved into a country-aware parser.

Read the full GraphHopper trajectory →

What is OpenTripPlanner?

OpenTripPlanner finished a multi-year migration by deleting its REST API.

OTP releases roughly twice a year and keeps its notes to a handful of notable items, deferring the rest to external changelogs. The recent line has been about API consolidation: 2.6.0 disabled the legacy REST API by default and made the new debug client the default, 2.8.0 removed the REST API outright, and 2.9.0's only listed change is a move to Java 25. Feature work in between went into SIRI extra calls, GTFS-RT platform and headsign changes, and transit filters on the GraphQL planConnection query.

Read the full OpenTripPlanner trajectory →

GraphHopper vs OpenTripPlanner: editorial side-by-side

G0.0

GraphHopper finished moving vehicle profiles into custom models, then went back to OSM tags.

◆ Current state

GraphHopper ships a major roughly every six months, with 11.0 in October 2025 the most recent. The architectural work happened in 9.0, which moved vehicle encoded values into the custom model, removed the built-in vehicle parsers' name property and the wheelchair parsers, allowed external encoded values in custom models, and blocked built-in custom model filenames. 10.0 then spent itself on storage layout — byte-based edge storage, a Map-based KVStorage API, wider georef fields — and 11.0 is almost entirely OSM tag interpretation: maxspeed=none handling, separate foot and bike road access, cycleway oneway combinations, toll parsing moved into a country-aware parser.

◆ Where it's heading

The configuration model is settled and the effort has moved to routing quality. Nearly every change in 11.0 is about reading OSM tags more faithfully for a specific mode — bicycle handling on living streets, foot instructions at junctions, MTB speeds on compacted surfaces, HGV tolls by country — which is the long tail of work that separates a routing engine that runs from one people trust. Turn restrictions are the recurring source of real bugs, appearing across 9.0, 10.0, 10.1 and 11.0 with via-way handling repeatedly needing correction. The new POST /navigate endpoint accepting a GraphHopper request is the one API-surface addition in this window.

◆ Prediction

Expect continued profile-level tuning driven by OSM tagging edge cases rather than architectural change, since three consecutive majors have narrowed in that direction. Turn restriction handling with multiple or overlapping via-ways is the most likely source of the next bugfix release, given its record across every version here.

O0.0

OpenTripPlanner finished a multi-year migration by deleting its REST API.

◆ Current state

OTP releases roughly twice a year and keeps its notes to a handful of notable items, deferring the rest to external changelogs. The recent line has been about API consolidation: 2.6.0 disabled the legacy REST API by default and made the new debug client the default, 2.8.0 removed the REST API outright, and 2.9.0's only listed change is a move to Java 25. Feature work in between went into SIRI extra calls, GTFS-RT platform and headsign changes, and transit filters on the GraphQL planConnection query.

◆ Where it's heading

The GraphQL API is now the only API, and the deprecation of plan in favour of planConnection back in 2.7.0 shows the same consolidation happening inside it. Alongside that, the real-time surface keeps growing — SIRI Lite, extra calls, GTFS-RT support for new and replacement trips — while graph build memory consumption gets cut release over release. The 2.9.0 release being a Java version bump and nothing else suggests the API work has run its course.

◆ Prediction

With the REST removal done and the runtime moved to Java 25, the next release is more likely to concentrate on real-time data handling than on API surface.

Alternatives to GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner

Other DevOps products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either GraphHopper or OpenTripPlanner.

See all GraphHopper alternatives → · See all OpenTripPlanner alternatives →

Recent activity from GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 4mo agoOpenTripPlannerRuntime moves to Java 25
  2. 9mo agoGraphHopper11.0 refines mode-specific OSM tag handling and adds POST /navigate
  3. 10mo agoOpenTripPlannerBugfix release: GraphiQL error and flex trip validation
  4. 11mo agoOpenTripPlannerREST API removed; GraphQL becomes the only interface
  5. 1y agoOpenTripPlannerRaptor-backed via search; plan deprecated for planConnection
  6. 1y agoGraphHopper10.2 fixes an import failure on recent OSM turn restriction data
  7. 1y agoGraphHopper10.1 cherry-picks a via-way turn restriction fix
  8. 1y agoGraphHopper10.0 reworks edge storage layout and turn cost computation
  9. 1y agoOpenTripPlannerFares V2 support, GBFS geofencing and lower memory use
  10. 1y agoOpenTripPlannerLegacy REST API disabled by default; new debug client promoted
  11. 2y agoGraphHopper9.1 is a bugfix release with no documented changes
  12. 2y agoGraphHopperVehicle profiles collapse into custom models in GraphHopper 9

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is GraphHopper better than OpenTripPlanner?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. GraphHopper and OpenTripPlanner are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other DevOps products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to GraphHopper?

Top GraphHopper alternatives in DevOps are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "GraphHopper alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/graphhopper for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to OpenTripPlanner?

Top OpenTripPlanner alternatives in DevOps are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenTripPlanner alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/opentripplanner for the full list with editorial commentary on each.