Frequently asked questions

Yes. MapAnimate is completely free, with no account, no watermark, no paywall and no export limits. It is funded by donations and, in the future, by clearly labelled sponsors on the website (never inside your videos).

No. Open the editor and start. Your projects are saved automatically in your own browser, and you can download a project file to move it to another computer or keep a backup.

Yes. You can use the videos in personal, monetised and commercial work. The map data comes from OpenStreetMap, so keep the small map credit that is drawn in the corner of every video.

No. MapAnimate never adds its logo to your video. The only text added automatically is the small map data credit required by OpenStreetMap and the tile providers.

MP4 (H.264) at 1080p, 1440p or 4K, at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second, in 16:9 landscape (YouTube), 9:16 vertical (Reels, Shorts, TikTok), 1:1 square and 4:5 portrait. You can also export a transparent WebM (the route and titles without the map, to layer over your own footage) or a GIF.

Yes. Drop a GPX file from Garmin, Strava, Komoot, Wikiloc or your phone onto the map. KML and KMZ files (Google My Maps, Google Earth) and IGC flight logs work too. Long tracks can be simplified with one click.

No. Routes, GPX files, photos and videos stay on your computer. The video is encoded in your browser. Your browser does load map tiles from the map services, which see which map areas are requested, as with any online map.

Recent Chrome and Edge on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS work best. Recent Safari versions should work too but are less tested. Firefox can show the map but often cannot encode MP4 video. The editor needs WebGL for the map and WebCodecs H.264 encoding for the MP4. Rendering carries on if you switch tabs, though a tab in front renders fastest.

Yes. On a phone the editor shows the video on top and the tools at the bottom: tap to add stops and drag points with a finger. Exporting works in browsers with WebCodecs (recent Chrome on Android, Safari 16.4 or later on iPhone), but it is slower than on a computer, so short videos work best. A laptop or desktop with Chrome or Edge is still the most comfortable.

Yes. In the Video panel, add an MP3, M4A, WAV or OGG file, then set the volume, where the track starts, fade in and out, and looping. The music is mixed into the MP4 in your browser. Use music you have the rights to, such as the YouTube Audio Library or Pixabay Music.

Yes. In the Video panel, press Record: the scene plays from the start of its line while your microphone records, so your words line up with the map. Or add an audio file. Each scene has its own voice-over, and the music dips while you speak. Wear headphones so the preview is not recorded too.

Yes. Turn on Sound effects in the Video panel for a sound for each way of travel (jet roar, rail clatter, engine hum, waves, footsteps, hooves), a whoosh as the camera flies between scenes, and a chime at each stop. The sounds are generated in your browser, so they are free to use in any video.

Yes. Add scenes from the timeline or the Scenes panel. Each scene has its own route, camera and title; the camera flies (or fades) from one to the next, earlier routes stay on the map, and an optional finale zooms out over the whole trip.

Yes. Turn on Follow roads when drawing by car, bus, bike or on foot, or per leg in the Route panel. The line then follows roads, cycle routes or footpaths from OpenStreetMap; drag a point to choose another way.

Yes. In the Style panel, set Map shape to 3D globe. Wide shots then show the round Earth with its atmosphere, long flights curve over the planet, and on a trip around the world the globe turns to follow the route. As the camera comes close the globe becomes a flat map again.

Yes. A route is made of legs, and each leg has its own transport, icon, colour, line style and speed. Flights are drawn as great-circle arcs. There are 26 transports, from walking and cycling to ferries, hot-air balloons and helicopters.

Yes. Photo-print signs show your own photo as an instant print that pops up when the line reaches it. Photos are stored only in your browser and inside your project file.

Yes. Select any point and set a pause in seconds. The line and camera wait there, which is ideal for letting a sign or stamp land before moving on.

It depends on your computer, the resolution and the length. A 15-second 1080p video usually takes under a minute on a recent laptop. 4K and 3D mountains take longer.

Share your videos and mention MapAnimate, tell other travellers about it, or make a donation to help pay for hosting and development. Companies can become a sponsor.