Google Maps Platform is free only up to a monthly allowance for each product (SKU): 10,000 calls for Essentials SKUs, 5,000 for Pro and 1,000 for Enterprise. Above that, the first paid band for Dynamic Maps, the SKU behind interactive web maps, is $7.00 per 1,000 loads.
Prices checked 16 October 2026 against Google's pricing page: the free monthly calls, the subscription plans and the first paid band for Dynamic Maps. Rows not rechecked that day carry the date they were last checked in the notes below their tables.
The short answer
- Free allowances are per SKU. Maps, Geocoding and Autocomplete each have their own 10,000 free calls, so one allowance never covers the others.
- New customers get a $300 trial credit on Google's pricing page. Read its terms before relying on it.
- A store locator calls several SKUs at once: the map load, geocoding of searches and address suggestions. Add them up using the worked examples below.
- There is no automatic spending cap. Set per-API quotas in Google Cloud to create a hard limit.
- A single pin on a contact page costs nothing. The Embed SKU is free and unlimited.
- If you use StoreRocket, this pricing still matters. During the free trial StoreRocket supplies the map. After you subscribe you connect your own Google Maps or Mapbox key and pay that provider directly.
Google replaced the flat $200 monthly credit with per-SKU free usage in March 2025, so older advice about the $200 credit no longer applies. This guide covers the common Maps, Geocoding, Places and Routes SKUs. Google's catalogue is larger, so confirm every SKU your implementation calls before setting a budget.
How the free allowances work
Core Services SKUs now receive free monthly usage according to their category: generally 10,000 billable events for Essentials, 5,000 for Pro, and 1,000 for Enterprise. Some SKUs have different caps, including unlimited Maps SDK and Embed usage and 100,000 free events for the two Essentials Map Tiles SKUs.
For the Dynamic Maps SKU used by interactive web maps, here's what that looks like at the first pricing band:
- 10,000 map loads/month: Free
- 25,000 map loads/month: Approximately $105/month (15K billable)
- 50,000 map loads/month: Approximately $280/month (40K billable)
- 100,000 map loads/month: Approximately $630/month (90K billable)
Those numbers are for the Maps JavaScript API alone. Add geocoding, Places, or Directions and your bill increases.
Pay as You Go or Choose a Subscription
Google also offers three fixed-price subscription plans for a defined set of Maps, Routes, Places, and Environment SKUs:
| Plan | Calls | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 50,000 | $100 |
| Essentials | 100,000 | $275 |
| Pro | 250,000 | $1,200 |
The call allowance is shared across the plan's included billable SKUs. No-cost SKUs such as Embed and Maps SDK do not consume it. Included SKUs vary by plan, and usage outside the allowance returns to standard pay-as-you-go billing, so compare the exact API mix rather than the headline call count alone.
Related: How to use Google Maps API free | 10 best Google Maps API alternatives | Google Maps vs Mapbox
Complete API Pricing Table
Google Maps Platform organizes SKUs into Essentials, Pro, and Enterprise categories. A single API can trigger different SKUs depending on the capabilities requested, so check the SKU rather than assuming one allowance for the whole API.
Maps APIs
| SKU | Free Monthly Usage | First Paid Band per 1,000 Events | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Maps | 10,000 | $7.00 | Interactive web maps |
| Static Maps | 10,000 | $2.00 | Flat map images |
| Static Street View | 10,000 | $7.00 | Street View images |
| Embed | Unlimited | Free | Iframe embeds |
| Maps SDK | Unlimited | Free | Native Android and iOS maps |
Geocoding and Location APIs
| SKU | Free Monthly Usage | First Paid Band per 1,000 Events | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geocoding | 10,000 | $5.00 | Address to coordinates |
| Geolocation | 10,000 | $5.00 | Device location from network signals |
| Address Validation Pro | 5,000 | $17.00 | Verify and correct addresses |
| Time Zone | 10,000 | $5.00 | Time zone lookups |
Places APIs
| SKU | Free Monthly Usage | First Paid Band per 1,000 Events | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete Requests | 10,000 | $2.83 | Suggestions billed per request |
| Place Details Essentials | 10,000 | $5.00 | Essential place fields |
| Nearby Search Pro | 5,000 | $32.00 | Find places near a point |
| Place Details Pro | 5,000 | $17.00 | Pro place fields |
| Text Search Pro | 5,000 | $32.00 | Find places by query |
| Place Details Photos | 1,000 | $7.00 | Place photographs |
Routes APIs
| SKU | Free Monthly Usage | First Paid Band per 1,000 Events | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Routes Essentials | 10,000 | $5.00 | Essential routes |
| Compute Route Matrix Essentials | 10,000 | $5.00 | Essential route matrices |
| Compute Routes Pro | 5,000 | $10.00 | Pro routes |
| Directions (Legacy) | 10,000 | $5.00 | Legacy directions |
| Distance Matrix (Legacy) | 10,000 | $5.00 | Legacy matrix elements |
| Roads - Nearest Road | 5,000 | $10.00 | Snap points to roads |
Rows last checked 23 August to 3 September 2026, except the free allowances and the Dynamic Maps band, rechecked 16 October 2026. Google reserves the right to change these rates. Always verify current pricing at Google Maps Platform pricing.
Volume Discounts
Google applies automatic volume discounts to each paid Core Services SKU. For Dynamic Maps and Geocoding, the first bands are:
| Monthly Volume | Maps JavaScript API | Geocoding API |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10,000 | Free | Free |
| 10,001-100,000 | $7.00/1K | $5.00/1K |
| 100,001-500,000 | $5.60/1K | $4.00/1K |
| 500,001-1,000,000 | $4.20/1K | $3.00/1K |
| 1,000,001-5,000,000 | $2.10/1K | $1.50/1K |
| 5,000,001+ | $0.53/1K | $0.38/1K |
Volume discounts are calculated per-SKU, not across your total usage. Using 300,000 Maps loads and 300,000 Geocoding calls doesn't combine to 600,000 for discount purposes. Each API tier is independent.
Real-World Cost Examples
These scenarios use assumed traffic, not measured traffic. Swap in your own numbers.
Small Business Website (Contact Page Map)
Usage: One interactive map on the contact page. About 5,000 monthly visitors view the page.
| API | Monthly Requests | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Maps JavaScript API | 5,000 | Free |
| Total | $0/month |
A single location on a contact page stays well within the free tier. No billing surprises here.
E-Commerce Site with Store Finder
Usage (assumed for this example): Store locator page with search, autocomplete, and 50 locations. 20,000 monthly visitors use it.
| API | Monthly Requests | Free Tier | Billable | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps JavaScript API | 20,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | $70.00 |
| Geocoding (address search) | 15,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | $25.00 |
| Autocomplete Requests | 10,000 requests | 10,000 | 0 | $0.00 |
| Total | $95.00/month |
At this volume, each Essentials SKU remains partly or entirely inside its own free usage cap.
Restaurant Chain (200 Locations)
Usage: Store locator with directions, filtering, and heavy mobile usage. 100,000 monthly map loads.
| API | Monthly Requests | Free Tier | Billable | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps JavaScript API | 100,000 | 10,000 | 90,000 | $630.00 |
| Geocoding | 60,000 | 10,000 | 50,000 | $250.00 |
| Autocomplete Requests | 50,000 | 10,000 | 40,000 | $113.20 |
| Compute Routes Essentials | 30,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | $100.00 |
| Total | $1,093.20/month |
At this usage mix, the annual API cost is about $13,118 before development and maintenance.
National Retail Brand (1,000+ Locations)
Usage: Full-featured store locator with analytics and 500,000 monthly map loads.
| API | Monthly Requests | Free Tier | Billable | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps JavaScript API | 500,000 | 10,000 | 490,000 | $2,870.00 |
| Geocoding | 200,000 | 10,000 | 190,000 | $850.00 |
| Autocomplete Requests | 150,000 | 10,000 | 140,000 | $368.20 |
| Compute Routes Essentials | 100,000 | 10,000 | 90,000 | $450.00 |
| Total | $4,538.20/month |
That usage mix costs about $54,458 per year at published pay-as-you-go rates. Google may offer additional negotiated discounts at its discretion for sufficiently high usage.
Hidden Costs Most People Miss
The per-request pricing is straightforward enough. The surprises come from usage patterns and API behaviors you don't expect.
Places Autocomplete Is Expensive
Autocomplete can generate several requests while a user types. Google prices Autocomplete Requests individually, but valid session-token flows can change which later requests are charged. Follow the session-pricing rules for the Places API version you use instead of treating every search as one fixed-price event.
Map Reloads Count as New Loads
If a user navigates away from your store locator page and comes back, that's a new map load. If your single-page application re-renders the map component, that might be a new load depending on your implementation. If the user refreshes the page, that's a new load. These all count against your quota.
Development Builds Consume Quota
Your development and staging environments use the same API key (or should use a separate one, but many teams don't set this up). Every time a developer loads the map during testing, it counts. CI/CD pipelines running integration tests with real API calls count. These can add up to thousands of requests per month that aren't serving any real users.
No Default Spending Cap
Google Maps Platform has no automatic spending limit. Unlike services that cut you off at a threshold, Google keeps serving requests and billing you. You can set budget alerts, but those send you an email after the fact. They don't stop charges.
A misconfigured application, a bot scraping your pages, or a viral social media mention can blow through your budget before you see the alert. You need to manually set per-API quotas in the Cloud Console to create hard limits.
How to Reduce Your Google Maps API Costs
If you're committed to using Google Maps directly, here are the most effective ways to control costs.
Lazy Load Your Maps
Don't initialize a map until the visitor reaches it. This avoids a Dynamic Maps load for anyone who leaves before the map enters view. Use the loading="lazy" attribute on iframes, or Intersection Observer for JavaScript API maps.
Cache Geocoding Results
If you're geocoding the same addresses repeatedly (like your store locations), cache the results. Google's terms allow you to cache geocoding coordinates for up to 30 days, so refresh them on that schedule rather than geocoding the same address on every search.
Use Session Tokens for Autocomplete
Use session tokens exactly as Google's current Places documentation specifies. Autocomplete Requests have their own SKU, while eligible session flows can make some requests free after the session threshold. Mixing token rules from the legacy and current APIs produces incorrect estimates.
Use the Maps Embed API Where Possible
The Embed SKU has unlimited free usage. If you only need to display a location without custom markers or programmatic control, use an embed instead of Dynamic Maps, whose first paid band is $7 per 1,000 loads.
Set API Quotas
In Google Cloud Console, set daily quotas for each API. This creates a hard ceiling on usage and costs. When the quota is reached, API calls return errors instead of racking up charges.
Google Maps API vs Store Locator Service Pricing
If you are building a store locator, you can build it yourself on Google Maps APIs or use a dedicated locator service. We make StoreRocket, so weigh our view with that in mind. What matters is that a locator service changes the work, not the map bill after the trial.
| Cost factor | StoreRocket | Building it on Google Maps APIs |
|---|---|---|
| Map usage | Free trial: StoreRocket supplies the map. After you subscribe: your own Google Maps or Mapbox key, billed by that provider | Pay per use |
| Import geocoding | Imports place each address on the map for you | Pay per use |
| Setup work | Add locations, configure, and publish | Design, build, test, and deploy |
| Ongoing maintenance | StoreRocket maintains the hosted locator | Your responsibility |
| Analytics | Depends on the plan | Build it yourself |
| Search and filtering | Built in | Build it yourself |
StoreRocket's pricing is based on the plan and location count, and StoreRocket puts no limit on views or searches. The map provider's own usage charges, covered above, are separate once your trial ends.
If you are weighing a custom build, our guide to building a store locator with AI lists what it needs and what you would own afterwards. For a simple map embed on a contact page, the free tier is more than enough. For a store locator with search, directions and autocomplete, do the math before committing. StoreRocket removes the development and upkeep work; you still pay the map provider for map usage after the trial. You can create your locator with a free trial, no credit card needed.
Google Maps vs Mapbox Pricing
If you're comparing map providers for a custom build, Mapbox is the most common alternative to Google Maps. Here's how the costs stack up:
| Pricing item | Google Maps | Mapbox |
|---|---|---|
| Free map loads | 10,000/month | 50,000/month |
| Cost per 1,000 loads | $7.00 | $5.00 |
| Free temporary geocoding | 10,000/month | 100,000/month |
| Temporary geocoding, first paid band | $5.00/1K | $0.75/1K |
| Static maps free usage | 10,000/month | 50,000/month |
| Static maps, first paid band | $2.00/1K | $1.00/1K |
| Map styling tools | Cloud-based map styling | Mapbox Studio |
| Billing model | Per SKU | Per product and billing unit |
For interactive web maps and temporary geocoding, Mapbox has a larger free allowance and a lower first paid rate. Other products use different billing units, so compare the exact APIs your implementation will call.
For a deeper comparison, see our full Google Maps vs Mapbox analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Maps API free?
Up to an allowance, yes. Most Essentials SKUs include 10,000 free monthly events, most Pro SKUs include 5,000, and most Enterprise SKUs include 1,000. The Embed and Maps SDK SKUs have unlimited free usage, while the two Essentials Map Tiles SKUs include 100,000. Google's setup guide says you must create a billing-enabled Cloud project to start using Google Maps Platform, and new customers get a $300 trial credit.
How much does 10,000 map loads cost on Google Maps?
If that's your only usage for the month, nothing. Dynamic Maps includes 10,000 free loads per month. The 10,001st load starts the first paid band at $7.00 per 1,000. So 20,000 loads cost $70, and 50,000 loads cost $280.
Did Google remove the $200 monthly credit?
Yes. In March 2025, Google replaced the flat $200/month credit with per-SKU free usage caps. The cap depends on the SKU category and is applied separately to each SKU.
How do I check my current Google Maps API usage?
Go to Google Cloud Console, select your project, and navigate to "APIs & Services" then "Dashboard." You'll see usage charts for each enabled API. For billing details, go to "Billing" then "Reports" to see costs broken down by API and date.
Can I use Google Maps without a credit card?
Google lists both Maps Embed and Maps SDK usage as unlimited at no charge. Maps Embed still requires an API key. Billing setup and supported payment methods vary by service, account, and country, so check the current setup requirements rather than assuming a credit card is always required.