Why Use OpenStreetMap Instead of Google Maps?

I totally support OSM 1000%...

But frankly, it seems it's still a lot of work to build OSM into your own website/app, setting up your own tile server.

I know there are instructions for this [1] [2] -- but to really get popular, it seems like there really ought to be up-to-date, auto-updating, officially recommended and totally secure server images on Digital Ocean, AWS, Google Cloud and Azure where anyone can spin it up for $5/mo without even ever having to SSH in once (except to update the root password), and then embed a live JavaScript map into their web page with two lines of code -- one to load the library, and one to insert a live map of a given size centered on a given location. Where the whole process shouldn't take more than 10 minutes, and most of that is waiting for the image to be copied to your server.

I've Googled but I can't find anything like that -- with the links below, I assume I'd be using at least a day to set things up, especially since setting up servers from online tutorials never goes smoothly, as you have to google error messages that arise since newer versions have changed slightly since the tutorial was written... And most times where I just want to "throw in a map", I don't want to spend a day+ doing it.

[1] https://switch2osm.org/manually-building-a-tile-server-18-04...

[2] https://ircama.github.io/osm-carto-tutorials/tile-server-ubu...

The article talks about them ("probably the easiest way to switch from Google Maps to OpenStreetMap") and links to them, and they use OSM data. What more were you expecting?

What I miss is actual functionality that makes my life better as a user. I totally agree on all points made, but it is not going get me a better mapping experience in any way. For me to consider OSM, I need most features that are as good and some that are better. I don't like to say it, but OSM does not (yet?) offer this.

Google Maps does let you save offline areas. And while search is not as capable when offline, I find if you have an address it works, and often it works if you only have a business name. What doesn't work are the walking or public transit navigation options. However, if you can find free public Wi-Fi (which is easier and easier) you can plot the directions while online, and then it will continue to work when you go offline.

Yes it's a little less convenient than live data, but it works great for me. I have an Android phone with no mobile data plan. So whenever I'm in an area that I'm not familiar with, I just download to offline maps and I'm good to go.

For the first 25 years I drove a car, I had only paper maps and/or written directions whenever I needed to go anywhere. So Google Maps even in offline mode is still like magic to me.

If what you mentioned existed I would immediately implement it on A number of sites I’ve made for clients. I don’t want to ask for the time to setup and maintain something that will take over an hour of the allotted development time.