# Basemaps

[deck.gl](https://deck.gl) allows you to visualize the data in your warehouse, but it doesn't provide a map with contextual information (like streets, roads, restaurants, cities, rivers, etc.) — This is usually called a **basemap.**

As you can imagine, most of the use cases require to have a basemap to give more context to your visualizations.

**CARTO layer with a basemap:**

{% embed url="<https://codesandbox.io/embed/carto-deck-gl-examples-rimo9x?fontsize=14&hidenavigation=1&initialpath=basic-examples%2Fhello-world.html&module=%2Fbasic-examples%2Fhello-world.html&theme=dark&view=preview>" %}

**CARTO layer without a basemap:**

{% embed url="<https://codesandbox.io/embed/carto-deck-gl-examples-rimo9x?fontsize=14&hidenavigation=1&initialpath=basic-examples%2Fhello-world-without-basemap.html&module=%2Fbasic-examples%2Fhello-world-without-basemap.html&theme=dark&view=preview>" %}

CARTO is basemap-agnostic and lets you decide which client technology they want to use. The following options are available:

* [CARTO basemap](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/carto-for-deck.gl/basemaps/carto-basemap).
* [Google Maps](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/carto-for-deck.gl/basemaps/carto-google-maps).
* [Amazon Location](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/carto-for-deck.gl/basemaps/carto-amazon-location).
* [Mapbox](https://deck.gl/docs/get-started/using-with-map).

If you don't have any specific requirements in your app, we recommend you use the CARTO basemap as it doesn't require extra configuration neither makes you incur in additional costs.

### Basemap client libraries and costs

When using a basemap you will need two things: the library to render the basemap and a backend API service to provide the data of the basemaps.

The CARTO basemap service is included by default, with no additional costs, for all CARTO organizations. However, if a different basemap provider is used, the user will need to input their own API credentials for that provider and cover the costs for said provider. The cost of using a basemap service provided by a third-party will vary on the provider.

| Technology      | Client Library                                                                                     | Cost                                                                        |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| CARTO basemap   | [MapLibre GL JS](https://deck.gl/docs/developer-guide/base-maps/using-with-maplibre)               | Included                                                                    |
| Google Maps     | [Google Maps Javascript API](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/overview) | A Google Maps API Key must be provided, considering their own API pricing   |
| Amazon Location | [MapLibre GL JS](https://deck.gl/docs/developer-guide/base-maps/using-with-maplibre)               | Amazon Location credentials must be provided, considering their own pricing |
| Mapbox          | [Mapbox GL JS](https://docs.mapbox.com/mapbox-gl-js)                                               | A Mapbox Access Token must be provided, considering their own pricing       |