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Maps · head to head

Foursquare Places API vs LocationIQ

F

Foursquare Places API

Maps

Access to the world's most trusted location data, including points of interest

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LocationIQ logo

LocationIQ

Maps

Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Foursquare Places API premium endpoint features like photos and ratings require paid calls with no free option; 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 Foursquare Places API and LocationIQ actually diverge.

Attributes where Foursquare Places API and LocationIQ differ
AttributeFoursquare Places APILocationIQ
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidAPI

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Foursquare Places API

Nothing recorded that LocationIQ does not also cover.

Only in LocationIQ

Nothing recorded that Foursquare Places API 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.

Foursquare Places API

No use cases recorded yet. See the Foursquare Places API review.

LocationIQ

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

Where each one falls short

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

Foursquare Places API

  • Premium endpoint features like photos and ratings require paid calls with no free option
  • Entry-level free tier ($200/month) may be insufficient for high-volume applications
  • Limited real-time update frequency compared to enterprise solutions
  • Requires API key management and developer portal familiarity

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

Foursquare Places API

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • $200 monthly free credits
    • 500 free Pro endpoint calls
    • Access to standard place data
  • Pro Endpoints$0.00375/per call
    • Basic place search
    • Details and photos
  • Premium Endpoints$18.75/per 1000 calls
    • Photos
    • Tips
    • Hours

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 Foursquare Places API if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
Foursquare Places API review

Choose LocationIQ if

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

Questions people ask

Is Foursquare Places API or LocationIQ better?
Neither clearly leads. Foursquare Places API starts at Free and LocationIQ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Foursquare Places API or LocationIQ?
Foursquare Places API starts at Free and LocationIQ at Free.
Does Foursquare Places API or LocationIQ run on more platforms?
Foursquare Places API runs on Web, iOS, Android. LocationIQ runs on API.
Can I use Foursquare Places API for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Foursquare Places API: How much free usage does Foursquare Places API provide?

All developer accounts receive $200 per month in free usage credits. After these are consumed, pay-as-you-go pricing applies. Pro endpoints have 500 free calls monthly, while premium endpoints have no free tier.

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
Foursquare Places API: What data does Foursquare Places API provide?

Foursquare provides a dataset of 100M+ places across 200 countries with 50+ attributes per place, including venue details, categories, hours, ratings, photos, and tips.

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
Foursquare Places API: What are the pricing tiers for premium endpoints?

Premium endpoints like photos, tips, hours, and ratings cost $18.75 per 1,000 calls with no free tier available. Pricing scales with usage.

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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