When comparing Mapbox API vs Leaflet, the Slant community recommends Leaflet for most people. In the question“What are the best JavaScript web mapping libraries?” Leaflet is ranked 1st while Mapbox API is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Leaflet is:
Feels much more modern than e.g. OpenLayers.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Uses data from OpenStreetMap
The maps uses data from OpenStreetMap which is community friendly map because anyone can contribute to the maps through main OpenStreetMap website or third party OSM editor and changes will be immediately appear.
Pro Highly customizable maps
The maps can be customizable not only by the provided templates, but users can also tweaks the map style based on how it should be look such as color, aerial view, size etc.
Pro Has a nice API
Feels much more modern than e.g. OpenLayers.
Pro Plugins are easy to develop
Pro Mobile friendly
Supports mobile-friendly jestures like pinch to zoom, dbl-tap, drag, fling, etc.
Pro Well structured and readable source code
Pro Very small
Weighing just about 33 KB of JS, it is pretty small without losing any useful features.