LocationIQ
GIS software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$45 per month
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Accommodation and food services
- Information technology and software
- Retail and wholesale
What is LocationIQ
LocationIQ is a location data and mapping API platform that provides geocoding, reverse geocoding, routing/directions, distance matrix, and map tiles based on OpenStreetMap data. It is used by developers and product teams to add address search, place lookup, navigation, and map visualization into web and mobile applications. The product is typically consumed via REST APIs and SDKs and is positioned as an alternative to larger proprietary mapping platforms, with an emphasis on OpenStreetMap-based data and usage-based plans.
Broad core location APIs
LocationIQ offers commonly required building blocks such as forward and reverse geocoding, routing, distance matrix, and map tiles. This supports end-to-end location features without requiring multiple vendors for basic mapping workflows. The API-first approach fits teams that want to embed mapping functions into their own applications rather than use a full GIS suite.
OpenStreetMap-based data options
The service is built around OpenStreetMap and related open data sources, which can be important for teams that prefer open-data ecosystems. This can help when organizations want transparency into data provenance and community-driven updates. It also provides an option for use cases where proprietary map licensing is a concern.
Developer-oriented integration model
LocationIQ is primarily delivered as web APIs, which aligns with modern application architectures and CI/CD deployment patterns. Developers can integrate geocoding and routing into custom workflows (e.g., lead routing, delivery ETAs, or location search) without adopting a full desktop GIS environment. Usage-based plans and API keys support incremental rollout and scaling.
Not a full GIS platform
LocationIQ focuses on location services APIs rather than comprehensive GIS capabilities such as advanced spatial analysis, cartographic production, and enterprise geodatabases. Organizations needing rich GIS authoring, complex geoprocessing, or extensive administrative tooling may need additional GIS software. This can increase overall solution complexity for analytics-heavy teams.
Data quality varies by region
Because it relies heavily on OpenStreetMap, coverage and attribute completeness can vary significantly by geography and feature type. Address-level precision, POI completeness, and routing restrictions may be inconsistent in some regions compared with curated proprietary datasets. Teams often need to validate performance in their target markets before standardizing.
Enterprise controls may be limited
Compared with larger mapping and GIS vendors, organizations may find fewer built-in enterprise features such as advanced governance, fine-grained role-based administration, and extensive compliance documentation. Some buyers also require formal SLAs, dedicated support, or private deployment options that may not match internal procurement standards. These gaps can matter for regulated industries and large-scale deployments.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (permanent) | 5000 requests/day; 2 requests/second; 60 requests/minute; 1 access token; limited commercial use (requires attribution: "Search by LocationIQ.com"); best-effort email support; US & EU datacenters. |
| Maps Lite | $45 per month (billed monthly) / $450 per year (billed yearly; page notes 2 months free) | 10,000 map views/day; 15 requests/second; Geocoding, Routing, Street & Static Maps; No minutely limits; Commercial use; Multiple access tokens; IP & HTTP restrictions; Email support; Access to only Map APIs. |
| Developer | $100 per month (billed monthly) / $990 per year (billed yearly; page shows $1,200 struck through) | 25,000 requests/day; 20 requests/second; Geocoding, Routing, Street & Static Maps; Access to all APIs; Soft daily limits (allows up to +100% for spikes); Most popular. |
| Startup | $200 per month (billed monthly) / $2,000 per year (billed yearly) | 60,000 requests/day; 22 requests/second; Geocoding, Routing, Street & Static Maps; Everything in Developer plus Priority Email Support and no per-second limits for Maps. |
| Growth Plus | $500 per month (billed monthly) / $5,000 per year (billed yearly) | 7.5 million requests/month; 30 requests/second; Includes everything in Startup plus no daily limits and soft monthly limits (credits equivalent to 5 days of usage). |
| Business Plus | $950 per month (billed monthly) / $9,500 per year (billed yearly) | 30 million requests/month; 40 requests/second; Everything in Growth plus Priority Live Support, scheduled technical consultations, and Dedicated AWS endpoints. |
| Enterprise | Custom (Contact sales) | Up to 10 billion/day; custom request rates; Dedicated servers; Wire transfers; Custom contracts / SLAs; Enterprise support. |
Notes: All information sourced from LocationIQ's official pricing page. Annual prices on the pricing page include a "2 months FREE" note for yearly billing on paid plans.
