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Maps · head to head

Foursquare Places API vs OpenRouteService

F

Foursquare Places API

Maps

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenRouteService logo

OpenRouteService

Maps

Open-source routing, geocoding, and isochrone APIs based on OpenStreetMap data for developers and enterprises

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; OpenRouteService free tier limited to 500 Isochrones requests per day
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Foursquare Places API and OpenRouteService actually diverge.

Attributes where Foursquare Places API and OpenRouteService differ
AttributeFoursquare Places APIOpenRouteService
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb

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 OpenRouteService does not also cover.

Only in OpenRouteService

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.

OpenRouteService

  • Directions routing for cars, trucks, bikes, walking, hiking, wheelchairnot Foursquare Places API
  • Reachability analysis with isochrones for time and distance calculationsnot Foursquare Places API
  • Many-to-many distance matrix calculationsnot Foursquare Places API
  • Location geocoding and conversion to coordinatesnot Foursquare Places API
  • Points of interest discovery and mappingnot Foursquare Places API
  • Elevation data enrichment using SRTM satellite datanot Foursquare Places API
  • Vehicle routing problem optimizationnot 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

OpenRouteService

  • Free tier limited to 500 Isochrones requests per day
  • API restrictions exist but details not fully documented on main page
  • Specific pricing tiers and costs not published on primary website

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

OpenRouteService

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenRouteService review.

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 OpenRouteService if

  • You want to start without paying.
OpenRouteService review

Questions people ask

Is Foursquare Places API or OpenRouteService better?
Neither clearly leads. Foursquare Places API starts at Free and OpenRouteService at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Foursquare Places API or OpenRouteService?
Foursquare Places API starts at Free and OpenRouteService at Free.
Does Foursquare Places API or OpenRouteService run on more platforms?
Foursquare Places API runs on Web, iOS, Android. OpenRouteService runs on Web.
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
OpenRouteService: How much does OpenRouteService cost?

OpenRouteService is free to use and open source. The free tier includes up to 500 Isochrones requests per day. Specific pricing for higher usage tiers is not published on the main pricing page.

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
OpenRouteService: Is there a free version of OpenRouteService?

Yes, OpenRouteService is completely free to use and built on open source technology. All services are presented as free to use and based on user-generated and collaboratively collected geographic data from OpenStreetMap.

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
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