Google Maps API increased prices 10x

[dennisgorelik]

Today "Google Maps Platform <google-maps-platform-noreply@google.com>
emailed me (and other users) how they "simplified product structure", which means that they increase prices 10x+.

So, instead of $10/month - $50/month we pay now -- we will have to pay somewhere between $200/month and $3000/month (depending on how much we downsize our Google Maps API usage).

Google Geocoding API prices change from "$0.50 per 1000 requests" to "$5 per 1000 requests".

The pricing time bomb is scheduled to explode on 2018 June 11.


On our to-do list:
1) Eliminate Google Maps from postjobfree.com pages (/job and /resume pages).
2) Find a replacement for Google Geocoding API.

The most promising Geocoding API alternatives so far:
1) https://geocod.io/pricing/
2) https://geocoder.opencagedata.com/pricing

Other alternatives

Discussion on Hacker News

Google Maps API team wants to get paid more (2016)

Today we are announcing important changes, including our new name - Google Maps Platform, a simplified product structure, pay as you go pricing for all, and more. Please take a few minutes to review the announcement to familiarize yourself with the upcoming changes.

We would like to highlight a few updates that may impact your implementation. Beginning June 11th, we are launching our new pricing plan and providing all users access to support. We’ll continue to offer a free tier — all developers will receive $200 of free monthly usage of our core products.

How does this affect your current account(s)?

Billing Account: 00B0C3-2BDF32-******

Based on your usage over the last 3 months and our new pricing plan, you may be eligible for a volume discount. Please fill out this form to provide additional information about your account, and a Google representative will contact you within the next two weeks.

We want to help you with the transition to the new pricing plan. To do that, we're offering 2 months of credits which we will apply automatically to your billing account.

We want to support you along the way. Please read our Guide for Existing Users to understand how these changes may impact your account and what steps you need to take.

Thank you for using Google Maps Platform.

Comments

[dennisgorelik]

> I have no clue now.

... but you still think that it is better to use open-source software to access freely-available data?

[juan_gandhi]

Yes, I think so.

[dennisgorelik]

Open-source software usually is not supported as well as commercial solutions.
For example, there could be more effort required on hosting and dealing with various issues.

In order to make the optimal choice - we should probably carefully consider what options are available and at what price.
Then compare it with open-source alternatives.

If you did not even consider commercial alternatives in the last 8 years -- how can you be confident that open-source solution is better?

[juan_gandhi]

It's just my point of view. Opinions may vary. I feel more comfortable if I can have the whole source and can tweak it ad libitum.

[dennisgorelik]

The whole source would definitely give an ability to stay in control, but development time is quite expensive...

The best solution also depends on business needs, of course.

[juan_gandhi]

Although development may come out much cheaper than one can imagine (I remember implementing "bird's view" on Android, using Bing's tiles, in about a week), it can as well take tons of efforts; not much predictable every time.