Geoapify as an Alternative to Google Places API

If you're looking for a Google Places API alternative, Geoapify is an excellent choice. Whether you're developing location-based apps, mapping solutions, or business intelligence tools, Geoapify provides high-quality POI data, geocoding, and place search capabilities at a more affordable price point.

In this article, we’ll compare Geoapify Places API vs. Google Places API, highlighting key features, pricing, and use cases. We’ll also guide you through switching from Google Places API to Geoapify with minimal effort.

Why Consider an Alternative to Google Places API?

Google Places API is one of the most widely used solutions for place search, autocomplete, and geolocation services. However, many businesses and developers face significant challenges when using it. Here are some of the key reasons why looking for an alternative, such as Geoapify, makes sense:

1. High and Unpredictable Costs

Google’s pricing model can be a major concern, especially for businesses with a high volume of requests. The cost per request may seem reasonable at first, but as your usage grows, the expenses can quickly add up. Additionally, Google’s billing system is complex, making it difficult to estimate costs accurately, leading to unexpected charges.

2. Strict Usage Limits and Rate Quotas

Google imposes strict rate limits on API usage, which can be a challenge for applications with real-time or high-demand requirements. If you exceed the quotas, you may need to pay significantly more or experience service disruptions.

3. Restrictive Licensing Terms

One of the biggest limitations of Google Places API is its restrictive Terms of Service. Specifically:

• You are not allowed to store place data (such as addresses, place details, or coordinates) on your own servers. Every time your application needs this data, it must make a request to Google, which increases API usage costs.
• You cannot use Google Places data with non-Google maps (e.g., OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, or custom mapping solutions). This creates vendor lock-in, forcing businesses to stick with the Google ecosystem.
• Strict usage policies prevent businesses from processing or modifying the data beyond Google’s allowed scope.

Geoapify Places API – A Powerful Alternative to Google Places API

For businesses looking for a cost-effective and flexible alternative to Google Places API, Geoapify Places API stands out as a strong contender. Built on OpenStreetMap (OSM) and other open data sources, Geoapify provides a reliable, scalable, and affordable solution for place search, geolocation, and autocomplete services.

1. OpenStreetMap-Based and Vendor-Neutral

Unlike Google Places API, which locks users into Google’s ecosystem, Geoapify is based on OpenStreetMap (OSM) and other open data sources. This means:

• No dependency on proprietary data providers.
• More flexibility in integrating with custom applications.

2. Affordable and Transparent Pricing

One of the biggest advantages of Geoapify is its cost-effective pricing model. Unlike Google, where API costs can quickly spiral out of control, Geoapify offers:

• Predictable and affordable pricing with clear usage tiers.
• Free tier available for small projects and startups.
• No hidden fees or unexpected billing surprises.

3. Permissive License – Freedom to Store and Use Data

Google Places API restricts data storage and usage, requiring applications to make repeated API calls, which increases costs. Geoapify, on the other hand, provides a permissive license, allowing businesses to:

• Store and cache place data for offline and online use.
• Use place data with different mapping services, avoiding vendor lock-in.
• Process and analyze location data freely without legal limitations.

4. Over 500 Place Categories for Various Applications

Geoapify’s extensive database includes over 500 categories of places, covering a wide range of industries and use cases:

• Tourism apps – Hotels, landmarks, restaurants, cultural sites, museums.
• Convenience apps – Supermarkets, shopping centers, ATMs, pharmacies.
• Service apps – Gas stations, hospitals, public transport, repair services.
• Specialized applications – Unique OSM-based categories, such as electric poles, motorway links, and other infrastructure elements.

This broad coverage makes Geoapify an excellent choice for developers building location-based applications tailored to different needs.

Geoapify Places API vs Google Places API Features

When choosing a place search API, it’s important to consider factors like pricing, licensing, data storage policies, and available features. Below is a comparison between Google Places API and Geoapify Places API, highlighting key differences:

Geoapify Places API offers a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to Google Places API, with permissive licensing, OpenStreetMap-based data, and extensive category coverage. Whether you're building a tourism app, service app, or even a noise pollution monitoring tool, Geoapify provides the data and freedom you need.

Getting Started with Geoapify Places API

Geoapify Places API is a powerful tool for searching locations, retrieving place details, and integrating geolocation services into applications. It is based on OpenStreetMap and other open data sources, offering a flexible and cost-effective alternative to Google Places API.

With Geoapify Places API, you can search for places within a specific area or nearby a given location. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to get started.

1. Sign Up and Get an API Key

To use Geoapify Places API, you need an API key.

• Sign up for free at Geoapify.
• Get your API key from the Geoapify API Dashboard.

2. Call the Places API

Geoapify Places API allows you to search for places based on coordinates, categories, or text input. Here is a URL example:

https://api.geoapify.com/v2/places?categories=catering.restaurant&filter=circle:13.405,52.52,500&apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY

• categories=catering.restaurant → Searches for restaurants.
• filter=circle:13.405,52.52,500 → Limits the search to a 500-meter radius around Berlin (lat: 52.52, lon: 13.405).
• apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY → Replace with your actual API key.

3. Process Or Store Results

The API returns a JSON object with detailed place information:

{
  "type": "Feature",
  "properties": {
    "name": "Vaporetto",
    "country": "Germany",
    "country_code": "de",
    "city": "Berlin",
    "postcode": "10117",
    "district": "Mitte",
    "neighbourhood": "Dorotheenstadt",
    "suburb": "Mitte",
    "street": "Albrechtstraße",
    "housenumber": "12",
    "lon": 13.3850412,
    "lat": 52.5210049,
    "formatted": "Vaporetto, Albrechtstraße 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany",
    "address_line1": "Vaporetto",
    "address_line2": "Albrechtstraße 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany",
    "categories": [
      "catering",
      "catering.restaurant",
      "catering.restaurant.italian",
      "vegetarian",
      "wheelchair",
      "wheelchair.yes"
    ],
    "details": [
      "details",
      "details.catering",
      "details.contact",
      "details.facilities"
    ],
    "website": "https://www.vaporetto-berlin.de",
    "opening_hours": "Mo-Su 12:00+",
    "contact": {
      "phone": "+49 30 27594623"
    },
    "facilities": {
      "wheelchair": true,
      "wheelchair_details": {
        "description": "there are ground floor tables and outside tables. wheelchair accessible toilet."
      },
      "toilets": true,
      "outdoor_seating": true
    },
    "catering": {
      "cuisine": "italian",
      "diet": {
        "vegetarian": true
      }
    },
    "place_id": "51a539c31e24c52a40597b51dd49b0424a40f00103f901a975d313000000009203095661706f726574746f"
  },
  "geometry": {
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      13.385041199999998,
      52.521004899087494
    ]
  }
}

Conclusion

When it comes to place search and geolocation services, Google Places API is often the go-to choice, but it comes with significant drawbacks—high costs, restrictive licensing, vendor lock-in, and limited control over data usage. For businesses and developers looking for a more affordable, flexible, and open alternative, Geoapify Places API is a powerful solution.

With OpenStreetMap-based data, over 500 place categories, transparent pricing, and a permissive license, Geoapify offers greater freedom in handling location data while ensuring high-quality results. Whether you're building tourism, convenience, or infrastructure-related apps, Geoapify provides the flexibility to query places by area or proximity without unnecessary restrictions.

Get started today! Try it out on the Geoapify Places API page and explore the API playground.

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