Anonymous vs Authenticated Users

Mapiry lets you create maps without signing up. This guide explains how anonymous maps work and what happens when you create an account.

Anonymous Maps

Creating Maps Without Signing Up

You can start creating maps immediately without an account:

1. Visit Mapiry
2. Click "Create Map" on the homepage
3. Build your map with AI or manually
4. Your map is saved automatically

No signup required, no email needed.

How Anonymous Maps Work

When you create a map without logging in:

What you get:

• Map is saved on Mapiry's servers
• You can edit the map from your browser
• Anyone can view your map if it's public
• You can share the map URL

How editing works:

• Your browser stores information that lets you edit your maps
• Only you (on this browser) can edit the map
• If you clear your browser data, you'll lose edit access

Important limitations:

• Can't access from different browsers or devices
• If you clear browser data, you lose edit access
• Incognito mode doesn't save your editing capability
• No dashboard to see all your maps

Anonymous User Limits

Token Usage:

• 50 tokens total (lifetime, IP-based)
• 3 requests per minute (rate limit)
• Once you use all 50 tokens, you must sign up for more

Token Costs:

• Generate map: 25 tokens
• Add locations: 15 tokens
• Generate description: 1 token

Maps:

• No hard limit on number of maps
• But you'll lose access if browser data is cleared

See Limits for complete details.

Map Expiration

Anonymous maps automatically expire if not used:

30-day activity window:

• Maps expire after 30 days of no activity
• Each time you or anyone accesses the map, the timer resets
• Active maps never expire
• Maps are deleted 30 days after last access

Keep maps alive by:

• Viewing or editing them periodically
• Sharing them (views count as activity)
• Creating an account (no expiration for registered users)

Authenticated Users (Full Account)

Creating an Account

Sign up with:

• Email and password
• Or use Google/GitHub OAuth

After signup, you get:

• Cloud-synced maps across all devices
• Higher token limits (50/day for Free, 1,000/day for Pro)
• Account dashboard
• Analytics access
• Public profile page

Free Account Benefits

Higher limits:

• 50 tokens per day (vs 50 lifetime for anonymous)
• 10 maps maximum (stored permanently)
• 1,000 geocoding requests per day

Cloud features:

• Access from any device
• Account dashboard to manage all maps
• Profile page (/u/username)
• Analytics for all maps
• Persistent storage

No expiration:

• Your maps never expire
• Stored permanently
• Access from anywhere

See Pro Features for Pro plan benefits ($9/month or $90/year).

Automatic Map Claiming on Signup

When you create an account, your anonymous maps are automatically claimed:

How It Works

Seamless transfer:

1. Sign up from the same browser where you created maps
2. Your anonymous maps are automatically found and transferred
3. All maps appear in your dashboard immediately
4. Maps become permanent (no expiration)

No action required:

• Happens automatically during signup
• Works for all maps created in that browser
• Silent and instant

Tips for Successful Claiming

Sign up from the same browser:

• Use the same browser where you created your maps
• Don't clear browser data before signing up
• Don't use incognito mode if you want to claim maps later

If maps don't transfer:

• Make sure you're signing up from the same browser
• Check if you cleared browser data recently
• Try signing in again (it might retry the transfer)

Feature Comparison

* Unlimited but browser-dependent; lose edit access if browser data cleared

Best Practices

For Anonymous Users

1. Sign up before investing time:

• Don't create dozens of important maps anonymously
• Sign up early to get cloud sync
• Avoid losing work to browser clearing

2. Protect your browser data:

• Don't clear browser cookies/data
• Don't switch browsers mid-project
• Avoid incognito mode for serious work

3. Bookmark your maps:

• Save map URLs somewhere safe
• At least you can view them later
• But you can't edit without browser access

4. Track your token usage:

• You only get 50 tokens total
• Map generation costs 25 tokens, adding locations costs 15 tokens
• Use them wisely
• Sign up when you need more

For Converting to Authenticated

1. Sign up from the same browser:

• Use the browser where you created maps
• Don't clear data before signing up

2. Verify maps transferred:

• Check your dashboard after signup
• Confirm all expected maps are there
• Contact support if maps are missing

3. Set a username:

• Choose a good username for your profile
• 3-30 characters, alphanumeric + underscore/dash

Common Questions

Can I access anonymous maps from another device?

No. Anonymous maps are tied to the browser where you created them. To access from multiple devices, create an account.

What if I clear my browser data?

You'll lose the ability to edit your anonymous maps. You can still view them if you have the URL, but can't make changes. Create an account to prevent this.

How long do anonymous maps last?

30 days from the last access. If you or anyone views/edits the map, the timer resets. Create an account for permanent storage.

Will my private anonymous maps become public after signup?

No. Privacy settings are preserved. Private maps stay private.

Can I manually transfer specific anonymous maps?

Claiming happens automatically during signup for all maps. You can't pick and choose which maps to transfer.

What happens if I sign up from a different browser?

Only maps created in the signup browser will be transferred. Maps from other browsers can't be automatically claimed.

What's Next?

• Quick Start - Create your first map
• Limits & Quotas - Understand all limits
• Pro Features - Learn about Pro benefits
• Account Settings - Manage your account