---
title: "Getting started | Guides"
description: "Create an account, pick a map, and choose your next step."
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any URL.

# Getting started 🚧

New to MapTiler? You’re in the right place. This page helps you set up your account and pick your first map. From there, you can customize its design, put it on a website or in an app, and add your own data to it. We’ll point you to the right guide for each.

## 1\. Create MapTiler account

Whatever map or service you want from us, you’ll need an account first. Workflows in our docs assume you’re logged in. It’s quick and free, with no obligations.

[Create account](https://cloud.maptiler.com/)

## 2\. Pick your first map

Your new account uses [projects](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/getting-started/projects/) to keep your maps organized, and has an empty **First project** ready for you.

1.  Open **First project** and click **Add** -> **Map**.
2.  Browse our ready-made [Catalog maps](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/getting-started/catalog/#maps) and pick the one that’s closest to your needs. All our maps can be customized, so it doesn’t have to be a perfect fit.
3.  Click **Add to project**. The map now appears in your project.

## Next steps

Your map is ready to use as is, or you can make it your own first. Select what you want to do next:

-   **[Design your map](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/map-design/) without coding:** change its colors, fonts, labels, icons, and what details the map shows.
-   **[Use your map](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/using-map/) in simple ways:** share a link, embed it on your website, use it as an image, or open it in GIS software.
-   **[Build a map application](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/developer/):** create an interactive map experience and add the map to your web or mobile app with our SDKs and APIs.
-   **[Add your data](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/adding-data/) to the map:** show your own locations, routes, 3D models, live updates, scanned maps, drone imagery, and more.

Tip

If you’re new to digital maps, learning [how maps work](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/how-maps-work/) makes tasks like adding data much easier.

## Other options

Not every project starts with a map in your account. You may need to host maps yourself, or not need a map at all.

### On-prem maps

You can self-host your maps and data on your own infrastructure, even completely offline, with full control over who can access them:

-   [MapTiler Engine](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/on-prem/engine/) – process geodata
-   [MapTiler Server](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/on-prem/server/) – host and serve maps

### Location services

In case you don’t actually need a map, our [search & location services](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/guides/developer/location-services/) are usable on their own. For example, to add place search to a delivery form, get the elevation of any point, or locate your users by their IP address to tailor their experience.

## More help

If you get stuck and can’t find the answer in the docs, [contact our support](https://docs-beta-4y5.pages.dev/support/requests/) for real human-to-human help.

Happy mapping!