Frequently asked questions about your own instance

An instance is your own map presence on our platform – with your own address, your own logo, your own colours and your own places and map layers. To your visitors it looks like your own website; we take care of the technology, hosting and updates in the background. So you don't have to rent a server or install anything.

An ordinary account on geo-image.eu is shared with all other users – you add places there that appear on the shared map. An instance, by contrast, is entirely your own environment: your own address, your own design, your own team and a map that shows only your content. In short: account = joining in on the big map, instance = your own map.

With an instance, everything runs on our server in the EU – you get your own presence and we handle the operation. With white label, the platform runs on your own server, with full control over your data. In return there's a one-off licence and setup fee, plus a monthly support subscription for updates and support. We offer white label by request only – just get in touch about it via the project inquiry.

We have pricing categories for a wide range of groups: small and medium-sized businesses, regions and municipalities, clubs and associations, tourism and destinations, education and research, as well as museums, cultural and nature parks. For larger or special projects there are Enterprise solutions on request. If you're unsure which category fits you, write to us – we'll figure it out together.

Both are possible. The simplest option is a subdomain like yourname.geo-image.eu – we set that up for you, and you don't have to do anything else. If you'd rather use your own domain (for example map.your-organisation.com), that works too; we'll then provide the details you need for your DNS record. You can specify either one right when you order.

Yes. You set a name, a logo and a main colour – from that colour we automatically derive the entire colour palette of your presence. On top of that come your own favicon (the little icon in the browser tab) and the preview images that appear when your site is shared on social media. That way the map feels like a natural part of your own presence.

Twenty-eight languages are available right away – from German, English and Swedish through French, Spanish and Italian all the way to the Baltic and south-eastern European languages. When you order, you simply tick which of them your map should offer. Our tip: stick to no more than seven languages so the language menu stays easy to read. You set the order in the menu yourself later on.

You can be billed in euros, US dollars, Swedish kronor, Swiss francs, British pounds or Hungarian forint. The currency you choose determines the currency of your invoice. We don't convert anything automatically; instead we store the prices separately for each currency. If no price is stored for a currency, the euro price applies.

Yes. Your instance comes with its own user management with roles – you invite your team and decide who is allowed to do what. How many people can collaborate depends on the plan you choose; you'll see the exact number for each plan on the pricing page.

Yes – and without the detour via an app store. Your visitors can install the map as an app directly from the browser onto their home screen. The app then automatically takes on your name, your colour and your icon, so it appears with your own branding.

You'll always find the current prices on the pricing page; some plans can be booked at a fixed price, others run on request. Payment is by invoice: you receive the invoice as a PDF by email and transfer the amount within 14 days – no credit card needed. The instance plans are aimed at businesses, associations and public institutions, so the prices are net, plus the statutory VAT of your country.

Both are possible. With yearly billing you pay two months less – so the year costs as much as ten months. Any one-off setup costs are not included in that. Which rhythm suits you better is your call when you order.

With some plans there's a one-off setup fee – it's then stated clearly on the respective plan and in your summary before you order. There are no hidden items: what you see is what you pay.

If a promotion is running at the time, you can enter the code in the order form. Such a discount always applies only to the first invoice; the following invoices then continue as normal. Whether a code is valid is checked by the form right when you submit.

You choose fixed-price plans directly on the pricing page and fill in a short order form: contact details and country, plan and billing rhythm, plus your preferences for the address, home page and languages. For plans on request or for special wishes, use the project inquiry. Good to know: after you submit, nothing is activated automatically – we set up your instance by hand and get back to you with access details, your address and the finished branding.

We usually reply to a project inquiry within two to three working days. How quickly the instance is then up and running depends above all on whether you go for a subdomain (very quick) or want to set up your own domain (in which case we wait together for the DNS to switch over). We'll agree the exact process with you as soon as we have your inquiry.

As soon as your instance is set up, you are its administrator and have everything in your own hands: invite users and assign roles, maintain places and map layers, adjust the design and shape the home page. Changes to the appearance take effect after a short while (around a minute). If you get stuck, the manual will help you – and of course so will we.

Your instance runs on servers in the EU, is GDPR-compliant and gets by without US services. We don't use tracking cookies and only store what is needed to run it. Your content belongs to you; if you ever want to switch or stop, we'll talk with you about exporting and handing over your data.