In June 2018, Google Maps was replaced by the new Google Maps Platform for business and developers.

This tool previously provided at great expense by Google is now on a pay-as-you-go billing model.

What’s Changed?

To utilise the features of the maps service for your website, you now must create account with Google Cloud. Accessing the Map functionality requires an API key from the Cloud console. Then, requests to Google Maps sent from the code of your website or software are logged against a billing profile and ultimately the usage is then charged for.

One benefit of the new Google Maps API is it’s customisability. Here’s a link to a blog about Custom Google Maps API development.

If your website or application is showing errors where Google Maps used to be, chances are you need create your Google Account and update the code with your API key. Google Maps are set up by developers in many different ways and with varying complexities. For this reason, it may be a simple fix, but equally a costly one – we are here to hopefully reduce any cost.

Example:

<script src=https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_API_KEY&callback=initMap async defer></script>

Google Maps API Pricing Explained

The new pricing model is a freemium one – all users will receive £200 worth of API calls free every month.

For the majority of websites, this monthly credit is more than enough to support the needs of a simple map. Whether they’re on the contact page, or something more complex like a store finder functionality.

This knowledge may reassure some, however Google keeps your credit card details and will charge for over-usage. For the more astute, Google will provide a facility to set daily quotas to protect against unexpected charges.

Google’s services are split into various specifics depending on your needs, with the most common being JavaScript Maps. They do provide other solutions, such as: dynamic maps, static maps, directions and more. Each of these services can be enabled in your account and, depending on what features your website requires, costs will adjust automatically. You’ll only pay for the features needed, instead of everything for a higher cost.

A static map that doesn’t provide the ability for users to zoom or scroll, as a result it is much cheaper per ‘load’. More complicated functionality on a website, such as a store finder, does incur a higher cost. A store finder will also use Google’s autocomplete “Places API” for the search field and a dynamic map below.

What does £200 Google Maps API credits get me?

The billing is based on ‘loads,’ which is translated into cost and the cost is then based on the specific Google service being used. An interactive map on your contact page would be a 1 ‘load’ per page visitor so, 1000 visits to your contact page would simply be 1,000 ‘loads’ in the month.

  • Up to 28,000 free loads of Dynamic Maps; or
  • Up to 100,000 free loads of Static Maps; or
  • Up to 40,000 free Direction loads; or
  • Up to 40,000 free Geolocation loads; or
  • Up to 70,000 free Autocomplete loads

If in doubt, ask your developer to identify which services you’ll require to be enabled on your Google Cloud account; you should also understand the traffic your website receives in order to approximate the charges, with high traffic sites obviously calculating this more accurately.

The autocomplete mentioned above requires 1 ‘load’ for every letter typed in the search field. A request is sent when the search button has been clicked, so typing ’Web Design Suffolk’ could be 50-100 requests, (depending on human error or keyboard malfunction.)

Example Map Cost Calculation:

API ServiceUsage
Maps JavaScript API1 map load x 1,000 visitors/day = 1,000 Loads
Street View API5 map loads x 1,000 visitors/day = 5,000 Loads

Total map loads: 1,000 + 5,000 = 6,000 requests per day × 365 days = ~£23,640 annually

A helpful tool for calculating Google API requirements and costs:

Can I get Google Maps for Free?

In short, yes.

Google Maps provide a free embed code that you can copy/paste onto your website totally free of charge – or for now at least!

To get a free Google map, simply search for your business on google maps and you should see a ‘Share’ link in the sidebar under the company name and reviews. Click this to load the popup window, change the tab to ‘Embed a map’ and click ‘copy HTML‘. If you’re feeling confident paste the code onto your website, either through the WordPress editor or via FTP. Alternatively, I’m sure a web developer can help.

Welcome to Logic Design. We’re a Suffolk-based website design and SEO agency. We’re always up to date with what’s happening in the digital world, so make sure to check out our blog for more tips. Would you like to speak to our team about how we can help reduce your Google Cloud API costs or to get you set up? Call us on 01473 934050 or email hello@logicdesign.co.uk.