Geoapify
Comprehensive location platform offering geocoding, routing, distance matrix, isochrones, and map tiles with a credit-based free tier and no credit card required.
Use Cases
Free Tier
3,000 credits/day across all APIs, no credit card required, commercial use allowed
How to Maximize the Free Tier
Geoapify provides 3,000 free credits daily that reset each day — unused credits don't roll over. Each geocoding request costs 1 credit, routing costs 1-5 credits depending on waypoints, and map tiles cost 0.25 credits each (4 tiles = 1 credit). To maximize the quota, cache geocoding results to avoid repeated calls for the same address, use their batch geocoding endpoint for bulk lookups (0.5 credits per address), and combine with Leaflet or MapLibre GL for map display. The free tier allows commercial use with attribution — just add 'Powered by Geoapify' to your map. Monitor credit usage in the dashboard and set billing alerts. For heavier usage, the Starter plan at $59/month gives 30,000 credits.
Getting Started
1) Go to geoapify.com and click 'Get Started for Free' to create an account. 2) Verify your email and access the dashboard. 3) Your API key is auto-generated — copy it from the dashboard. 4) Test geocoding: https://api.geoapify.com/v1/geocode/search?text=Berlin&apiKey=YOUR_KEY. 5) For map tiles, use: https://maps.geoapify.com/v1/tile/osm-bright/{z}/{x}/{y}.png?apiKey=YOUR_KEY in Leaflet or MapLibre. 6) Explore the interactive API playground in the docs to test routing, isochrones, and other endpoints.
Pros
- All-in-one platform: Geocoding, routing, isochrones, distance matrix, and map tiles in one API — no need to combine multiple providers
- Commercial use on free tier: Unlike many competitors, Geoapify allows commercial use on the free plan with simple attribution
- Advanced APIs included: Isochrones, elevation, and time zone APIs available even on the free tier — rare for location services
Cons
- Credit system complexity: Different endpoints cost different credits, which can be confusing to budget for initially
- Daily reset: Unused credits don't roll over, so you must use them within the day or lose them
- No SLA on free tier: Free users have no service level agreement and may experience throttling during peak times