ip-api
IP address intelligence software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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€13.3 per month
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
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What is ip-api
ip-api is an IP address intelligence API that returns geolocation and related network metadata for IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It is commonly used by developers and operations teams for location-aware content, analytics enrichment, basic fraud/risk signals, and access control rules. The service is primarily consumed via HTTP endpoints with JSON responses, with both free and paid usage options depending on throughput and features.
Simple HTTP API integration
ip-api exposes straightforward endpoints and returns compact JSON payloads, which makes it easy to integrate into web apps, backend services, and scripts. The response typically includes common fields such as country/region/city, latitude/longitude, ISP/organization, and ASN-related data. This simplicity reduces implementation time compared with platforms that require SDKs or complex account configuration.
Useful baseline geo and ASN data
The product provides core IP intelligence fields that cover many standard use cases, including geolocation, timezone, and network ownership attributes. For teams that need enrichment rather than deep risk scoring, these fields can be sufficient for routing, localization, and reporting. It aligns with the baseline capabilities expected in this category without requiring a local database deployment.
Accessible entry-level usage
ip-api is commonly adopted for prototypes and smaller workloads because it offers an easy way to start querying IP data. This can be helpful when evaluating IP intelligence before committing to higher-cost datasets or more specialized fraud products. The low-friction start is a practical advantage for developer-led adoption.
Limited advanced risk features
Compared with some IP intelligence offerings that focus on fraud prevention, ip-api is oriented toward geolocation and basic network metadata. It is not positioned as a full fraud scoring, device intelligence, or behavioral risk platform. Organizations needing stronger signals (for example, bot/fraud scoring or identity risk) may need additional tools.
Data accuracy varies by region
As with most IP geolocation services, accuracy can vary by country, ISP, and IP type (mobile, carrier-grade NAT, or corporate VPN egress). City-level precision is not guaranteed and may be inconsistent for certain networks. Teams should validate accuracy against their user base and define fallbacks when location is uncertain.
Service dependency and quotas
Using a hosted API introduces dependency on external availability, latency, and rate limits. High-volume or latency-sensitive applications may require paid tiers, caching, or architectural safeguards to avoid request throttling. Some organizations may prefer downloadable databases for offline use or stricter data residency controls, which this model may not satisfy.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 / month | Limited, non-commercial use only; unlimited requests but rate-limited to 45 requests/min; supports IPv4/IPv6 and domain queries; response formats: JSON(P), XML, CSV, Newline, PHP; basic email support; Anycast network (8 PoPs). Free endpoint does not include API keys, SSL (HTTPS) access, usage statistics, access restrictions, or SLA. |
| Pro | €13.3 per month (when paying for 12 months) | For individuals and small businesses; unlimited requests; commercial use allowed; API keys; SSL (HTTPS); priority email support; Anycast network (23 PoPs); usage statistics and access restrictions; 99.9% SLA; custom terms/agreements available. Shown prices are in Euro exclusive of VAT. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing (contact sales) | Customized plan with personalized support, possible dedicated servers in customer datacenters, unlimited requests, commercial use allowed, API keys, SSL, usage statistics, access restrictions, SLA and custom terms — contact sales for pricing. |
