Google removed the Places API free tier in February 2025, now requiring a minimum $275/month billing commitment. Here's every serious alternative, compared on price, data quality, features, and ease of use.
Last updated: May 11, 2026
| Provider | Free Tier | API Key Required | Business Data | MCP Server | Data Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BizData API | Unlimited free | No key needed | 37 categories | Built-in | OpenStreetMap | Prototyping, AI tools, Europe |
| Geoapify | 3,000 req/day | Yes | Full POI | No | OSM + proprietary | Production apps, geocoding |
| OpenCage | 2,500 req/day | Yes | Geocoding only | No | OSM + proprietary | Geocoding, address lookup |
| LocationIQ | 5,000 req/day | Yes | Basic POI | No | OpenStreetMap | High-volume geocoding |
| Foursquare | Limited free | Yes + OAuth | Rich (reviews, tips) | No | Proprietary | Rich venue data, US cities |
| TomTom Search | 2,500 req/day | Yes | Full POI | No | Proprietary | Navigation, automotive |
| HERE Search | 1,000 req/day | Yes | Full POI | No | Proprietary | Enterprise, logistics |
Open-source REST API and MCP server for finding businesses by location and category. Built on OpenStreetMap data. No API key, no signup, no rate limits.
curl "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/businesses?location=Paris&category=cafe&limit=3"
Full-featured geocoding and places API with both OSM and proprietary data sources. Popular alternative for production applications that need reliable data quality and SLA guarantees.
curl "https://api.geoapify.com/v2/places?categories=catering.cafe&filter=circle:2.3522,48.8566,5000&apiKey=YOUR_KEY"
Geocoding-focused API that converts addresses to coordinates and vice versa. Not a direct Places API replacement — it doesn't return business listings, but excellent for address-to-coordinate conversion.
High-volume geocoding and reverse geocoding API based on OpenStreetMap. Good for applications that need to process many addresses but don't need rich business data.
The richest venue database available — includes ratings, tips, photos, and popularity data from millions of user check-ins. But enterprise pricing and OAuth make it overkill for most projects.
Best known for navigation and automotive, TomTom's Search API also handles POI queries. Good fit if you're already using TomTom for maps or routing.
Enterprise-grade location platform from the former Nokia maps division. Deep data coverage but complex pricing and setup. Best for large organizations with existing HERE contracts.
For prototyping and AI tool integration: BizData API. No signup, no key, no cost. Add the MCP endpoint to Claude or Cursor and start querying business data immediately. Best data quality in European cities.
For production apps needing reliable POI data: Geoapify. Best balance of data quality, pricing, and features. The 3,000 req/day free tier is enough for most MVPs.
For geocoding only (address → coordinates): LocationIQ (highest free tier at 5,000/day) or OpenCage (best accuracy).
For rich venue data (ratings, photos, tips): Foursquare — but be prepared for enterprise pricing and complex auth.
For enterprise/automotive: TomTom or HERE, depending on your existing tech stack.
| Provider | Free Tier | Starter Plan | Production Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| BizData API | Unlimited | Free | Free |
| Google Places | None (since Feb 2025) | $275/mo minimum | $0.032/request |
| Geoapify | 3,000 req/day | $49/mo (50K req) | $149/mo (250K req) |
| OpenCage | 2,500 req/day | $50/mo (10K req/day) | $200/mo (100K req/day) |
| LocationIQ | 5,000 req/day | $49/mo (30K req/day) | $99/mo (50K req/day) |
| Foursquare | Limited | Contact sales | |
| TomTom | 2,500 req/day | Pay per use | Contact sales |
| HERE | 1,000 req/day | Pay per use | Contact sales |
No signup required. Just make a request:
# Find cafes in Berlin curl "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/businesses?location=Berlin&category=cafe&limit=5" # Count restaurants in Tokyo curl "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/count?location=Tokyo&categories=restaurant" # Use with AI tools (MCP) # Add to your MCP config: # { "mcpServers": { "bizdata": { "url": "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/mcp" } } }