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Maps · head to head

Bing Maps vs LocationIQ

Bing Maps logo

Bing Maps

Maps

Web mapping services with street maps, aerial imagery, and APIs for developers

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LocationIQ logo

LocationIQ

Maps

Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only LocationIQ has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bing Maps bing Maps for Enterprise is deprecated and will be retired by 6/30/2025 for free accounts and 6/30/2028 for enterprise accounts; LocationIQ smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bing Maps and LocationIQ actually diverge.

Attributes where Bing Maps and LocationIQ differ
AttributeBing MapsLocationIQ
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebAPI

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bing Maps

Nothing recorded that LocationIQ does not also cover.

Only in LocationIQ

Nothing recorded that Bing Maps does not also cover.

Both cover

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bing Maps

  • Driving directions and turn-by-turn navigation guidancenot LocationIQ
  • Real-time traffic monitoring and road condition updatesnot LocationIQ
  • Commuter route planning with live traffic intelligencenot LocationIQ

LocationIQ

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scalenot Bing Maps
  • Store locators and address autofill in web and mobile appsnot Bing Maps
  • Asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisationnot Bing Maps
  • Serving static and dynamic map tilesnot Bing Maps
  • Distance matrix and route planningnot Bing Maps

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bing Maps

  • Bing Maps for Enterprise is deprecated and will be retired by 6/30/2025 for free accounts and 6/30/2028 for enterprise accounts
  • All implementations must migrate to Azure Maps to avoid service disruption

LocationIQ

  • Smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • Less documentation than industry-leading platforms
  • Less brand recognition than Google or Mapbox

Pricing, plan by plan

Bing Maps

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bing Maps review.

LocationIQ

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5,000 requests/day
    • Limited commercial use with attribution
  • Maps Lite$45/month
    • 10,000 map views/day
    • Geocoding APIs
    • No routing
  • Developer$100/month
    • 25,000 requests/day
    • All APIs (geocoding, routing, maps)
  • Startup$200/month
    • 60,000 requests/day
    • Priority email support

Which should you pick?

Choose Bing Maps if

Nothing in the data separates Bing Maps from LocationIQ on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Bing Maps review

Choose LocationIQ if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API.
LocationIQ review

Questions people ask

Is Bing Maps or LocationIQ better?
Neither clearly leads. Bing Maps starts at On request and LocationIQ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bing Maps or LocationIQ?
LocationIQ has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bing Maps and Free for LocationIQ.
Does Bing Maps or LocationIQ run on more platforms?
Bing Maps runs on Web. LocationIQ runs on API.
Can I use LocationIQ for free?
Yes. LocationIQ has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bing Maps starts at On request.
What is Bing Maps best used for?
Bing Maps is most often used for driving directions and turn-by-turn navigation guidance, real-time traffic monitoring and road condition updates, commuter route planning with live traffic intelligence. Of those, driving directions and turn-by-turn navigation guidance and real-time traffic monitoring and road condition updates are not what LocationIQ is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bing Maps: What happened to Bing Maps for Enterprise?

Bing Maps for Enterprise is deprecated and will be retired. Free account customers can continue using the service until 6/30/2025, while enterprise account customers can continue until 6/30/2028. Microsoft recommends migrating implementations to Azure Maps to avoid service disruptions.

Source
LocationIQ: How much does LocationIQ cost?

LocationIQ offers a Free plan with 5,000 requests/day, Maps Lite at $45/month for 10,000 map views/day, Developer at $100/month for 25,000 requests/day, and higher tiers up to Business Plus at $950/month for 30M requests/month. All plans are billed monthly with 2 months free for annual prepayment.

Source
Bing Maps: When will Bing Maps for Enterprise be discontinued?

Bing Maps for Enterprise retires 6/30/2025 for free accounts and 6/30/2028 for enterprise accounts. All implementations using Bing Maps for Enterprise REST APIs and SDKs must be updated to use Azure Maps before the retirement dates.

Source
LocationIQ: Is LocationIQ free?

Yes, LocationIQ offers a free tier with 5,000 requests/day, providing access to geocoding and mapping APIs. Free tier users must include attribution and cannot use for commercial purposes.

Source
Bing Maps: What should I use instead of Bing Maps?

Microsoft is transitioning customers to Azure Maps, which provides consumption-based pricing with volume-based discounts and pay-only-for-what-you-use cost structure. Azure Maps offers all mapping features without throttling.

Source
LocationIQ: What support levels does LocationIQ offer?

Free and early paid tiers receive best-effort email support. The Startup plan ($200/month) includes priority email support. Business Plus ($950/month) includes priority live chat support with dedicated AWS endpoints for improved performance.

Source
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