Maps & Navigation · head to head
LocationIQ vs PositionStack
LocationIQ
Maps & Navigation
Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
PositionStack
Maps & Navigation
Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: LocationIQ smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps; PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which LocationIQ and PositionStack actually diverge.
| Attribute | LocationIQ | PositionStack |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | API | Web |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps & Navigation).
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 LocationIQ
Nothing recorded that PositionStack does not also cover.
Only in PositionStack
Nothing recorded that LocationIQ 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.
LocationIQ
- Geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scalenot PositionStack
- Store locators and address autofill in web and mobile appsnot PositionStack
- Asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisationnot PositionStack
- Serving static and dynamic map tilesnot PositionStack
- Distance matrix and route planningnot PositionStack
PositionStack
- Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot LocationIQ
- Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot LocationIQ
- Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot LocationIQ
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
LocationIQ
- Smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
- Less documentation than industry-leading platforms
- Less brand recognition than Google or Mapbox
PositionStack
- The free plan allows only 100 requests per month
- The free plan is a personal licence, so commercial use requires a paid plan
- The free plan is rate limited, with an extended rate limit only from the Basic plan up
- Requests beyond the monthly quota are billed as overage, at $0.0003996 per request on Basic
- The lowest advertised rates require annual prepayment
- Enterprise volumes are priced by quote with no published rate
Pricing, plan by plan
LocationIQ
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the LocationIQ review.
PositionStack
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack review.
Which should you pick?
Choose PositionStack if
Nothing in the data separates PositionStack from LocationIQ on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is LocationIQ or PositionStack better?
- Neither clearly leads. LocationIQ starts at On request and PositionStack at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, LocationIQ or PositionStack?
- LocationIQ starts at On request and PositionStack at On request.
- Does LocationIQ or PositionStack run on more platforms?
- LocationIQ runs on API. PositionStack runs on Web.
- What is LocationIQ best used for?
- LocationIQ is most often used for geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale, store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps, asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisation, serving static and dynamic map tiles. Of those, geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale and store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps are not what PositionStack is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
LocationIQ: How much cheaper is LocationIQ than Google Maps?
At 100,000 requests per month, LocationIQ costs $49 whereas Google Maps charges $500 and Mapbox charges $75.
SourceLocationIQ: What is LocationIQ's free tier?
LocationIQ offers a free tier with 5,000 requests per day. Paid plans start at $49/month for the Geocoding Lite plan.
Source