Geocoding & Maps API Comparison 2026

What Do Geocoding APIs Do?

Geocoding APIs convert between human-readable addresses and geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude). They power map search, address validation, delivery routing, and location-based features.

Feature Comparison

Core capabilities across all 7 geocoding providers.

Pricing Comparison

Free tiers and paid plans for each geocoding API. All prices as of March 2026.

Provider Deep Dives

Google Maps Geocoding API

The gold standard for geocoding accuracy, especially for ambiguous addresses and complex queries. Best-in-class autocomplete ("Places API") and address validation. Downsides: most expensive per-request, requires credit card, and strict Terms of Service (results must be displayed on Google Maps).

Mapbox Geocoding API

Strong geocoding built on a combination of proprietary data and OpenStreetMap. Generous 100K free requests/month. The real strength is the mapping platform — if you're already using Mapbox GL JS for maps, the geocoding integrates seamlessly. Batch geocoding available.

OpenCage Geocoding API

Clean, developer-friendly geocoding API built on OpenStreetMap data. Returns rich metadata including timezone, currency, what3words address, and formatted address components. No credit card for free tier. GDPR-compliant with EU-hosted options.

LocationIQ

Cost-effective geocoding using OpenStreetMap data. Offers geocoding, autocomplete, map tiles, and routing — a full mapping stack at a fraction of Google Maps pricing. The API is Nominatim-compatible, making migration easy. Also provides static maps.

Nominatim (OpenStreetMap)

Free and open-source geocoding from OpenStreetMap. No API key needed for the public endpoint. Self-hostable for unlimited usage. Community-maintained data means coverage varies — excellent in Europe and urban areas, sometimes sparse in rural developing regions.

Positionstack

Simple geocoding API with a generous free tier (25K/month). Easy to get started — clean JSON responses, good documentation. Data sourced from multiple providers. Batch geocoding available on paid plans. Part of the apilayer family of APIs.

HERE Geocoding & Search

Enterprise-grade geocoding from a company with 35+ years of mapping data. HERE's own proprietary data (originally from NAVTEQ) is exceptionally strong for automotive, logistics, and delivery. Very generous free tier at 250K transactions/month. Supports structured and freeform address input.

Code Examples

Forward geocoding with each API in JavaScript (Node.js / fetch).

const address = '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA';

const res = await fetch(
  `https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&key=${API_KEY}`
);
const data = await res.json();

const { lat, lng } = data.results[0].geometry.location;
console.log(`${lat}, ${lng}`); // 37.4224764, -122.0842499

const address = '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA';

const res = await fetch(
  `https://api.opencagedata.com/geocode/v1/json?q=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&key=${API_KEY}`
);
const data = await res.json();

const { lat, lng } = data.results[0].geometry;
console.log(`${lat}, ${lng}`);
console.log(data.results[0].annotations.timezone.name); // America/Los_Angeles

const address = '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA';

const res = await fetch(
  `https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&format=json&limit=1`,
  { headers: { 'User-Agent': 'MyApp/1.0' } }
);
const [result] = await res.json();

console.log(`${result.lat}, ${result.lon}`); // No API key needed!

const address = '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA';

const res = await fetch(
  `https://us1.locationiq.com/v1/search?key=${API_KEY}&q=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&format=json`
);
const [result] = await res.json();

console.log(`${result.lat}, ${result.lon}`);

const address = '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA';

const res = await fetch(
  `https://geocode.search.hereapi.com/v1/geocode?q=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&apiKey=${API_KEY}`
);
const data = await res.json();

const { lat, lng } = data.items[0].position;
console.log(`${lat}, ${lng}`);

Our Recommendation

Different projects need different geocoding APIs. Here's our take:

Combine Geocoding with IP Geolocation

Need to know a user's approximate location before they type an address? IP geolocation gives you country, city, and coordinates from an IP address — perfect for pre-filling location fields, showing local content, or detecting VPN usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

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