Maps & Navigation · head to head
PositionStack vs HERE Technologies
PositionStack
Maps & Navigation
Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
HERE Technologies
Maps & Navigation
Location data and technology company that provides mapping and location services to businesses globally
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only HERE Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month; HERE Technologies pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PositionStack and HERE Technologies actually diverge.
| Attribute | PositionStack | HERE Technologies |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform |
| Founded | Unknown | 1985 |
Identical on both: 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 PositionStack
Nothing recorded that HERE Technologies does not also cover.
Only in HERE Technologies
Nothing recorded that PositionStack 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.
PositionStack
- Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot HERE Technologies
- Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot HERE Technologies
- Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot HERE Technologies
HERE Technologies
- Map data for automated and assisted drivingnot PositionStack
- Connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysisnot PositionStack
- Supply chain planning and logistics digital twinsnot PositionStack
- Geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location servicesnot PositionStack
- Fleet tour planning and routing across 200 countriesnot PositionStack
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
HERE Technologies
- Pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
- Lack of transparency in cost projections makes budgeting and forecasting difficult
- Requires separate API keys and subscriptions for different feature categories, complicating integration
- Customer support quality and responsiveness is inconsistent compared to competitors like Google Maps
Pricing, plan by plan
PositionStack
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack review.
HERE Technologies
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the HERE Technologies review.
Which should you pick?
Choose PositionStack if
Nothing in the data separates PositionStack from HERE Technologies on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose HERE Technologies if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
Questions people ask
- Is PositionStack or HERE Technologies better?
- Neither clearly leads. PositionStack starts at On request and HERE Technologies at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PositionStack or HERE Technologies?
- HERE Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PositionStack and Free for HERE Technologies.
- Does PositionStack or HERE Technologies run on more platforms?
- PositionStack runs on Web. HERE Technologies runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
- Can I use HERE Technologies for free?
- Yes. HERE Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PositionStack starts at On request.
- What is PositionStack best used for?
- PositionStack is most often used for forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api, reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses, batch geocoding location data in a backend service. Of those, forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api and reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses are not what HERE Technologies is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
HERE Technologies: What does HERE Technologies provide?
HERE Technologies provides a comprehensive location platform including digital maps, routing and navigation APIs, geocoding, search, traffic, positioning, and telematics services for automotive, logistics, and enterprise applications.
SourceHERE Technologies: Does HERE offer a free tier?
Yes. HERE provides a free tier with 30,000 map requests per month, 5,000 routing transactions, and 30,000 geocoding transactions. Usage beyond these limits is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.
SourceHERE Technologies: What SDKs and APIs does HERE offer?
HERE provides REST APIs for maps, routing, geocoding, and search, plus SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, and JavaScript. The HERE SDK enables turn-by-turn navigation and location services for mobile and web applications.
SourceHERE Technologies: Is HERE's pricing transparent?
No. HERE uses a complex transaction-based pricing model with separate costs for different API categories. The pricing structure lacks transparency, making it difficult for customers to forecast costs at scale.
SourceHERE Technologies: How has HERE's pricing changed?
HERE moved to a simplified transaction-based pricing model with free monthly allowances for common APIs. Users pay per transaction beyond the free tier, though the structure has been criticized for complexity and lack of cost transparency.
Source