Google Maps Platform expanding free usage limits for developers

Abner Li | Dec 9 2024 - 9:00 am PT

The Google Maps Platform is how third-parties can develop with Google Maps, and the company is now expanding its free usage limits. As of today, the platform is used by “over 10 million websites and apps.”

Right now, developers get a recurring monthly $200 credit. Starting March 1, 2025, Google Maps Platform will offer “up to $3,250 worth of free usage every month” across the Maps, Routes, Places, and Environment APIs or SDKs. Each product has a monthly limit.

With this expanded free usage, you’ll only pay if you exceed the limit.

As part of this, Google has organized its developer offerings into three categories based on what features are included and the level of customization available. They are “designed to cater to different business needs and usage.”

Essentials: Limited customization. Includes products like Dynamic Maps or Place Details, with 10k free calls per SKU each month.
- “Benefit from additional features, including low-cost, low-code ways to bring the familiar Google Maps interface to your applications, starting in early 2025.”
Pro: “Advanced features” and customization for products like Address Validation and Nearby Search, with 5k free calls per SKU each month.
Enterprise: Route Optimization, Photorealistic 3D Tiles, and other “powerful tools” with maximum customization. 1k free calls per SKU each month.

Maps Embed API and Maps SDK will “continue to have unlimited free usage.” Google’s aim is to let developers experiment, like build proof-of-concepts, without having to first pay.

Finally, Google Maps Platform is “making more volume discounts available online”: “Our online volume discounts will continue to start at 20% for most products, and now for some products you can see discounts up to 4x higher (or 80%) when your usage exceeds 5 million monthly calls.”