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Google Maps Platform

The industry-standard maps suite — Directions, Places, Geocoding, Street View and more.

MapsFreemiumfreemiumדורש מפתחעולמי
Official siteDocumentation

About this API

Google Maps Platform is the industry-leading suite for anything maps. Dozens of APIs — Directions, Distance Matrix, Geocoding, Places, Street View, Elevation, Roads. Expensive vs Mapbox/Here but the most accurate — especially for Places and travel times.

Who it's for

Delivery and mobility apps
Real-estate platforms
Tourism
Large products where accuracy pays for itself

How to use it

  1. 1
    Create a project in Google Cloud Console.
  2. 2
    Enable the specific APIs you need (Maps JS, Places, Directions…).
  3. 3
    Create an API key and restrict it (HTTP referrer / IP).
  4. 4
    Mind the $200/month credit — roughly 28,500 Places calls.

Installation & setup

Web: add <script> with the key in HTML. In Next.js use @react-google-maps/api. Server-side is plain HTTP. Restrict the key immediately — a leaked unrestricted key can drain your budget.

Code examples

curl "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=Dizengoff+99,Tel+Aviv&key=YOUR_KEY"

Sample response

{
  "routes": [
    {
      "legs": [
        {
          "distance": {
            "text": "65 ק\"מ",
            "value": 65000
          },
          "duration": {
            "text": "55 דקות",
            "value": 3300
          },
          "start_address": "תל אביב-יפו",
          "end_address": "ירושלים"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "status": "OK"
}

FAQ

$200 free credit monthly. Above that ~$5 per 1K Places calls.

Tips & pitfalls

Always restrict keys to specific domains.
For business search use Places API; for autocomplete use Places Autocomplete (cheaper).
Cache previously-geocoded addresses — saves ~70% of cost.

Guides

How to use Google Maps Platform — practical guide
Google Maps Platform — beginner's guide

Related APIs

Mapbox

Maps platform with strong emphasis on design and customization — the designer's alternative to Google Maps.

Nominatim (OpenStreetMap)

Completely free geocoding powered by OpenStreetMap — no key, no cost, with a rate limit.

HERE Maps

Commercial maps API focused on logistics, truck routing, and fleet management.