Google Maps licensing explained
If you choose to use Google Maps with your store locator, Stockist powers the map and search in your store locator using a Google Maps license key provided by you.
How Google Maps licensing works
It's important to note that Google Maps services aren't licensed to you by us (Stockist), they're provided directly to your website by Google using a license key which you get from Google.
Google offers a free tier of map usage for each website, which is enough for around 10,000 visits to your store locator page per month. (The exact number varies depending on the settings you choose and how your website's visitors use your locator.) 99% of Stockist clients use less than the free limit, so for most Stockist clients there are no additional fees and nothing to worry about. However, if your store locator is especially popular and exceeds the limit, Google will charge any map usage overages directly to the site owner.
By taking advantage of the free monthly usage that Google provides to each site, we don't need to bundle the cost of map usage into our plans, which allows us to offer competitive prices.
If you're concerned about the possibility of extra charges, consider using Mapbox instead. Mapbox offers a very similar free tier to Google Maps, but is often less expensive once the free limit is exceeded.
How Stockist uses Google Maps services
Google's map platform includes a variety of services. Stockist uses only three:
Maps JavaScript API
This service is used to display the map on your site. 1 request is used each time a visitor views your store locator page, regardless of the number of searches or how much they move/zoom the map.
Geocoding API
This service translates searches like "New York City" or "1600 Pennsylvania Ave" into GPS coordinates, allowing Stockist to find nearby stores. 1 request is used each time a visitor runs a search.
Places API or Places API (New)
This service is used to show address suggestions when typing. One keystroke is used each time the search suggestions update (typically after every keystroke or two typed in), even if the visitor doesn't choose a suggestion. One click is used when the visitor chooses an entry from the suggestion dropdown to complete the search.
How Google Maps' free tier works
Starting in March 2025, Google Maps offers a free usage tier for each individual mapping service.
Prices below are as of March 2025. The most up-to-date price list is available directly from Google.
Services used by all maps
The following services are used by all Stockist maps that use Google Maps:
| Service name | Free tier (every month) | Usage above free tier (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic maps | 10,000 map views | $7 per 1,000 add'l map views |
| Geocoding | 10,000 searches | $5 per 1,000 add'l searches |
Search suggestions
Stockist can also show suggested searches in a dropdown as the visitor types in the search bar. This uses a Google service called the Places API. There are two versions of this service: the original Places API, and a Places API (New) service introduced more recently. Stockist can work with either one.
If your key has Places API (New):
If your key has enabled the Places API (New) service, Stockist uses the following:
| Places API (New) service | Free tier (every month) | Usage above free tier (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete keystrokes | 10,000 keystrokes | $2.83 per 1,000 add'l keystrokes |
| Autocomplete clicks | 10,000 clicks | $5 per 1,000 add'l clicks |
If you're checking Google's price list, they call autocomplete keystrokes "Autocomplete Requests" and call autocomplete clicks "Places API Place Details Essentials".
If your key has Places API (Legacy):
Map keys created before March 2025 typically enabled Places API (Legacy) instead of Places API (New). This service works differently:
| Places API (Legacy) service | Free tier (each month) | Usage above free tier (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Places Details | 5,000 searches | $17 per 1,000 add'l searches |
| Autocomplete w/o Place Details | 5,000 sessions | $17 per 1,000 add'l sessions |
The service used depends on the scenario:
- If a visitor types a search and selects an entry from the suggestion dropdown, one Places Details search is used. Additional searches will use more requests.
- If a visitor types a search and sees address suggestions but does not select a suggestion entry (e.g. they directly click "Search" or cancel without searching), one Autocomplete w/o Place Details session is used. Additional searches will use more sessions.
If you'd prefer to move to the newer Places API to receive the free tier in the first table, you can update your project to enable Places API (New) and disable the old Places API.
Previous free tier
Before March 2025, Google's free tier was based on a $200 monthly free credit. The combined cost of all services was summed up based on the standard pricing, and then a $200 credit was deducted from the total. This allowed more flexibility but provided a lower overall free limit.
Can I make sure I never exceed the free tier?
Yes, you can set up quotas on your Google Maps key to limit usage of your key.
Tips for reducing costs
If you're concerned you may be near Google's free usage limit, please see our page containing a few tips to reduce your map usage without compromising the functionality of your store locator.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch using the Contact Us link at the top of the page - we're here to help!