![Report: Comparison of standardization & geocoding services [ranking]](https://algolytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pexels-googledeepmind-17485657-4-1024x576.jpg)
Companies that need a nationwide address database often turn to free data such as OpenStreetMap. We checked whether free access means production readiness - by comparing OSM address data with the Algolytics reference database, used in production across telecoms, finance, logistics and e-commerce.
REPORT · JULY 2026
The "free" address database from OpenStreetMap
8.4M
address records in OSM (after deduplication)
−410K
fewer addresses than in the Algolytics Technologies database
45%
of OSM records have had no update since 2019
~2.05M
records nationwide that need correction, completion or a location fix
156,900 PLN
total cost of preparing and maintaining the data over 5 years
"Free data" is not the same as a production address database. Value is determined by completeness, consistency,
timeliness and stable address identification - and the decision to use OSM is worth making not on the price of downloading the data,
but on the total cost of bringing it up to production quality and maintaining it over time.
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE REPORT
RESULTS OVERVIEW
Free access to data does not mean there are no costs
- Completeness. More than 2 million records to complete or correct
OSM contains 8.39 million addresses - 410,000 fewer than the Algolytics database. 7% (~617,000) have no counterpart, and 17.5% (~1.4 million) differ in at least one field.
- Correctness. Agreement drops once TERYT is taken into account
Full field agreement is 82.5%, but with TERYT identifiers only 36.2%. Postal codes are the weakest - wrong on average in ~13% of addresses (nearly 32% in the Lubuskie Voivodeship).
- Timeliness. The data is refreshed by volunteers - selectively
As many as 45% of OSM records have not changed since 2019. The coordinates stay accurate (median ~3 m; errors over 50 m are < 1%) because they come from the EMUiA register.
- Heterogeneity. A national average is not enough
Quality is not evenly distributed: in extreme cases the same metrics vary between municipalities from 0% to nearly 100%. Good quality in one region is no guarantee of it nationwide.
See what a "free" OpenStreetMap database really costs
Download the full report as a PDF: methodology, detailed regional statistics, an analysis of timeliness and positional accuracy, and a full cost calculation (TCO, 5 years).
HOW WE TESTED IT
A methodology built on a production reference database
STEP 1
8.4 million addresses from the OSM project
We downloaded every object carrying "addr" tags (as of 5 June 2026) - 3.2 million points and 5.4 million polygons. After mapping the tags to the Polish address model, standardising the ambiguous addr:place, removing records without a number and deduplicating, a set of 8,392,914 records remained.
STEP 2
The Algolytics reference database
We compared OSM with the Algolytics database (as of 15 April 2026, 8.8 million active addresses), developed over more than 10 years on the basis of EMUiA, TERYT and the PNA postal-code directory - with stable identifiers and quarterly updates. In production we use it to standardise more than 600 million addresses a year at over 99% accuracy.
STEP 3
Three quality dimensions → TCO
We compared the two datasets on completeness, correctness, timeliness and positional accuracy - nationally, by voivodeship and at municipality level. Finally, we calculated the cost of bringing OSM up to production quality over a 5-year horizon.
WHO IT'S FOR
This report is for you if you're considering basing your processes on free address data
Logistics
Accurate address location, fewer failed deliveries and complaints, better route and service-area planning.
Finance and telecoms
Stable address and TERYT identifiers: the foundation for reliably matching and enriching data in the warehouse, used in scoring and anti-fraud.
E-commerce and CRM
A consistent customer base with no duplicates or typos, a reliable postal code and geographic segmentation.
Data architects and CTOs
Hard numbers (completeness, TCO) for the "build a database from OSM vs. buy a ready-made one" decision.
Meet Algolytics Technologies
Algolytics Technologies is a Polish technology company specialising in artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced data analytics. We deliver a comprehensive Data Science Platform focused on automating business processes and supporting data-driven decision-making.
In Location Intelligence we develop the Data Quality service - our own tool for address standardisation and geocoding, available for Poland and four other Central European countries. More than 50 of the largest financial institutions, telecoms, e-commerce and logistics companies trust us.
Location Intelligence
Make sound business decisions based on precise spatial information for every address in Poland.
Credit scoring
Automate credit-risk assessment end to end and improve its effectiveness with a complete view of the customer.
