Google Maps offers free access for Indian developers to help build better solutions

Google announces free access of Maps for Indian developers to help build better solutions
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

Google on Monday (December 9, 2024) announced free access of Google Maps Platform from March 2025 to developers across the world and India. The free access of products includes Maps, Routes, Places, and Environment APIs and SDKs, but up to a monthly limit. Google believes that this would help developers to build better solutions.

Tina Weyand, Senior Director of Product Management, Google Maps Platform, wrote that for Indian developers this means that instead of the recurring $200 monthly credit, developers can access up to $6,800 worth of free usage every month, distributed across all products.

“Several months ago we introduced India-specific pricing for Google Maps Platform. This includes up to 70% lower pricing on most APIs, and a collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) which offers developers up to 90% off on select Google Maps Platform APIs,” the blogpost says.

With the relaxation, Indian developers can integrate ‘Places Nearby’ or ‘Dynamic Street View’ into their app or build a proof-of-concept delivery service with Routes API before making a major investment.

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With this expanded free usage, developers only pay if they exceed the limit, writes Tina. “Maps Embed API and Maps SDK will continue to have unlimited free usage,” she added.

Now, developers can try more products like Dynamic Maps, Nearby Search and Place Details for free before deciding which APIs or SDKs best suit their needs, the blogpost says.

With our fresh, comprehensive data about the real world, we’re supporting the incredible work Indian businesses and developers are already doing with Google Maps Platform.

Google Maps Platform coverage spans over 7 million kilometers of roads, 300 million buildings, and 35 million businesses and places in India, the company said.

We continue to build solutions that meet complex local needs by harnessing the power of AI, wrote Tina.
She added that Address Descriptors was pioneered in India to help developers show addresses in the local format, and features like the Air Quality API.