What are the differences between the Near Me and Directions widgets in ArcGIS Experience Builder?

Both the Near Me and Directions widgets in ArcGIS Experience Builder support location-based queries and analyze features from inputs such as an address, selected features, a sketch, or the current map extent. The Near Me widget uses Closest Feature, Proximity, or Summary analyses to identify nearby features or summarize values based on distance. In contrast, the Directions widget performs network-based routing, calculating optimal routes along a network using travel-time or distance to determine the fastest or shortest path.

While both widgets support location-based analysis, they defer in aspects such as credit consumption and output methods.

Near Me widget

The Near Me widget mainly uses geosearch, which does not consume credits and does not require an organizational account. Even when using the ArcGIS World Geocoding Service as the locator, geosearch returns an address or point of interest, zooms to the location, and does not store the result. It is available in Map Viewer or public apps with search functionality and is limited to 1 million searches per month.

The Near Me widget highlights features within a specified distance and provides approximate distances but does not generate directions. It supports three analysis types, each producing different outputs. For each configured layer, the Closest Feature analysis highlights a single feature and returns its attributes. The Proximity analysis highlights multiple features, returns a feature count, and provides attributes for each feature. The Summary analysis generates both summary statistics and individual feature results, which can be viewed in pop-ups.

The Near Me widget below shows the differences in output between the Closest Feature, Proximity, and Summary analyses.

Directions widget

The Directions widget also uses geosearch to locate points, which does not consume credits. However, credits are consumed when routes are created. A simple route typically uses 0.005 credits, while an optimized route uses 0.5 credits. Refer to ArcGIS Online: Credits by capability for more information. When an ArcGIS Experience Builder app is shared publicly, each successful route request consumes credits from the ArcGIS Online organizational account. To configure request limits, refer to ArcGIS Blog: Use subscriber content in ArcGIS Experience Builder for more information. Credit consumption for route services can be monitored under Network Analysis in the ArcGIS Online organizational account.

The Directions widget provides routing functionality between one or more locations. Based on the configured layers, it generates routes displayed on the map including travel time, distance, and turn-by-turn directions.

The example below shows the route output from the Directions widget.