Independent · sourced · Updated June 2026
Best Maps API (2026)
The cheapest maps api is Geoapify at $0/mo. 5 offer a free tier (Geoapify, LocationIQ, Mapbox). This page compares 8 options on entry price, free tier, HIPAA/SOC 2 and best-for — every figure linked to its source, updated June 2026.
8 options compared on price, free tier, compliance and fit — ranked cheapest-first. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it; quote-only tiers show “—”, never a guess.
Key takeaways
- Cheapest: Geoapify at $0/mo (Free).
- Typical paid price: from $25/mo, median $50/mo, up to $100/mo — across 5 with published pricing.
- Free tier: Geoapify, LocationIQ, Mapbox, MapTiler, TomTom.
- Tracked: 8 vendors, data current through 2026-06-15.
Comparison
| # | Maps API | Entry price | Free | HIPAA | SOC 2 | Best for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geoapify | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | — | EU-based apps needing GDPR-compliant geocoding with European data residency | geoapify.com |
| 2 | LocationIQ | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | — | Cost-sensitive startups seeking Google Maps alternative | locationiq.com |
| 3 | Mapbox | $0/mo Maps GL JS (Web) | Yes | — | Yes | Apps requiring deep visual map customization | mapbox.com |
| 4 | MapTiler | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | — | Self-hosted or privacy-first mapping (Swiss/EEA data residency) | maptiler.com |
| 5 | TomTom | $0/mo Freemium | Yes | — | — | EV and automotive navigation applications | developer.tomtom.com |
| 6 | Google Maps Platform | $100/mo Starter | No | No | — | Consumer apps needing the widest global POI coverage | mapsplatform.google.com |
| 7 | HERE Technologies | — | — | — | — | Automotive OEMs and ADAS/autonomous driving systems | quote-only |
| 8 | Radar | — | No | — | Yes | Retail curbside pickup and in-store arrival automation | quote-only |
Prices are the lowest published self-serve monthly rate as captured on the linked source. Annual-billing and usage details are on each vendor's record in our open dataset.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest maps api?
Geoapify has the lowest published entry price at $0/mo (Free), as of 2026-06-15.
How much does maps api cost per month?
Across the 5 maps api with published paid pricing, the median starting price is $50/mo, ranging from $25/mo to $100/mo, as of 2026-06-15. 5 also offer a free tier. 2 are quote-only.
Which maps api have a free plan?
Geoapify, LocationIQ, Mapbox, MapTiler, TomTom offer a free tier.
More software comparisons
How we compiled this
Published self-serve USD pricing collected from each vendor's official pricing page (accessed 2026-06-14 unless noted). Google Maps Platform subscription plans (Starter/Essentials/Pro) confirmed from mapsplatform.google.com/pricing; pay-as-you-go free-tier credits per SKU confirmed same page. Mapbox has no flat monthly subscription for API products — all billing is usage-metered; rates sourced from mapbox.com/pricing (multiple sub-sections). HERE Technologies pricing page (here.com/get-started/pricing) renders JavaScript-only and returned no data in repeated fetch attempts; HERE is therefore listed as quote-only (monthlyUsd=null for all plans). TomTom offers Freemium (free daily quota with no flat fee) and Pay As You Grow (usage-metered above that daily free quota); per-request rates sourced from developer.tomtom.com/store/maps-api. Radar publishes no self-serve pricing; pricing page only shows a demo/quote request form. MapTiler Cloud prices sourced from maptiler.com/cloud/pricing/. LocationIQ prices sourced from locationiq.com/pricing. Geoapify prices sourced from geoapify.com/pricing. All telephony fields (minutesIncluded, callsIncluded, overagePerMin, overagePerCall) are null — this is a non-telephony vertical. monthlyUsd for usage-metered plans with no flat tier = null; published unit rates are in notes.
Last verified 2026-06-15. We re-check published prices and compliance on a recurring cadence and update this page when they change.
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