Curated list · updated 2 November 2026
Best Free Online Map Tools
If you only bookmark one thing, bookmark the directory; if you bookmark three, take a radius map, a distance calculator and a coordinate converter.
There is no shortage of free map tools, which is exactly the problem: most lists are directories of directories, and half the links want an account before they will show you a circle. This page is short on purpose. It names the tools we would actually open for the six questions people bring to a map site, and links the hub behind each one so you can see the full cluster.
Every pick below runs in the browser, needs no sign-up, and states the method behind its answer — spherical distance, road-network routing, Census geography or uploaded file geometry. That last part matters more than speed: a map tool that will not tell you which model produced a number is not giving you a result you can check.
- 1
Map Radius Tool
Draw a circle around any point, with rings for 5, 10 and 25 miles and a measured area for each.
- 2
Distance Between Two Places
Great-circle miles, kilometres and initial bearing for any pair of places, addresses or coordinates.
- 3
Coordinate Converter
Move between decimal degrees, DMS, UTM, MGRS, Plus Codes and geohash without losing the datum.
- 4
Map Area Calculator
Trace a boundary and read the enclosed area in acres, hectares, square feet or square miles.
- 5
Drive Time Map
See everything reachable in 15, 30 or 45 minutes — the honest alternative to a radius circle.
- 6
KML Viewer
Open a map file locally to check the geometry before you trust it in another application.
- 7
The full tool directory
All tools grouped by hub, with a keyword search that works offline once the page has loaded.
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How this list was chosen
Ordered by how often each cluster is used in practice, then by whether the tool answers its question without a second tool. No sponsored placements, no affiliate links, and no tool is listed that requires an account.
MapBench is a single site, so this is a recommendation list rather than an independent market survey. Every listed tool is free, needs no account, and publishes the method behind its result.
Browse the full clusters
- Distance Calculators →Straight-line, flight, shipping and city-to-city distances.
- Radius & Service Area →Draw radius rings, delivery areas and coverage maps.
- Area & Acreage →Measure land on a map and convert between area units.
- Routes & Travel Time →Routes, drive times, isochrones and trip costs.
- Location & Geocoding →Where am I, and what is this place called?
- Coordinates →Find, convert, validate and project coordinates.
Read before you rely on the number
- Distance Calculation: Haversine, Geodesics & When It Matters
Why flat map arithmetic fails over large distances, what the haversine formula does, and when a full ellipsoidal geodesic is the better choice.
- How to Draw a Radius on Google Maps
Google Maps has no radius button. Here are the exact workarounds to draw a radius circle — plus free tools that do it in one click.
- How to Measure Land Area on a Map: Acres, Hectares and Square Feet
Learn how map-based area measurement works, how to trace a parcel more accurately, how acres and hectares relate, and when an online estimate is not enough.
Common questions
Are these tools really free?
Yes. Every tool on MapBench is free to use without an account, an email address or a trial period. The site is supported by advertising rather than subscriptions.
Do these map tools work on a phone?
Yes. The maps, GPS buttons and result panels are built mobile-first, and file tools accept files from the phone's own storage or sharing sheet.
Which one should I start with for a service area?
Draw a radius map first to bound the problem geometrically, then check the same area with a drive time map. Where the two disagree is usually the real finding.