Direct answer: maps API pricing in 2026 comes in three forms: Google Maps pay-as-you-go (Dynamic Maps 7.00 per 1,000, first 10,000/month free; Geocoding 5.00, first 10,000 free); Google Maps subscriptions (Starter 100/month for 50,000 calls, Essentials 275 for 100,000, Pro 1,200 for 250,000); Mapbox usage (first 50,000 map loads/month free, then 5.00/4.00/3.00/2.50 per 1,000; first 100,000 temporary geocodes free, then 1.70/1.50/1.25). Map loads only: 50k — Google PAYG 280, subscription 100, Mapbox 0; 100k — 630/275/250; 250k — 1,470/1,200/800. Bottom line: Mapbox’s recurring free tiers and lower tiers are clearly cheaper at low-to-mid volume; Google subscriptions save 180–355/month versus PAYG but remain above Mapbox at 50k/100k/250k; at very high volume, model the real maps+geocoding mix and coverage/feature needs — do not compare only “per 1,000”.
This guide is for developers, product and procurement teams building web/app maps, store locators, address search, delivery routing and geocoding. Data cut-off: 7 November 2026; prices come from Google Maps Platform Pricing, the Google Maps Platform price list and Mapbox Pricing, in USD, excluding tax; all TCOs are editorial calculations, not vendor quotes. “Calls/map loads/geocoding/free tier/subscription” differ, so official facts, editorial assumptions and non-comparable items are kept separate.
Google PAYG: Dynamic Maps first 10,000/month free, then 7.00/1,000 (up to 100k), 5.60/4.20/2.10/0.53; Geocoding first 10,000 free, 5.00/4.00/3.00/1.50/0.38. Google subscriptions: Starter 100 (50k calls), Essentials 275 (100k), Pro 1,200 (250k). Mapbox: map loads first 50,000 free, then 5.00/4.00/3.00/2.50; temporary geocoding first 100,000 free, then 1.70/1.50/1.25. At 50k map loads: Google PAYG 280, subscription 100, Mapbox 0.
Three meters: Google PAYG, Google subscriptions, Mapbox tiers
Google Maps PAYG: Dynamic Maps first 10,000/month free, 7.00/1,000 for 0–100,000, 5.60 for 100,001–500,000, 4.20 for 500,001–1,000,000, 2.10 for 1,000,001–5,000,000, 0.53 for 5,000,000+; Geocoding first 10,000 free, then 5.00/4.00/3.00/1.50/0.38; Static Maps 2.00/1.60/1.20/0.60/0.15. Google subscriptions: Starter 100/month for 50,000 calls (Dynamic Maps + Geocoding), Essentials 275/month for 100,000, Pro 1,200/month for 250,000; new customers get a $300 trial credit. Mapbox: map loads first 50,000/month free, 50,001–100,000 5.00/1,000, 100,001–200,000 4.00, 200,001–1,000,000 3.00, 1,000,001–5,000,000 2.50; temporary geocoding first 100,000/month free, 100,001–500,000 1.70/1,000, 500,001–1,000,000 1.50, 1,000,001+ 1.25; permanent geocoding first 250,000 free, then 0.75/0.60/0.45.
| Platform/SKU | Free/month | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Dynamic Maps (PAYG) | 10,000 | 7.00/1,000 (≤100k) | 5.60 (100k–500k) | 4.20 (500k–1M) | Then 2.10/0.53 |
| Google Geocoding (PAYG) | 10,000 | 5.00/1,000 | 4.00 | 3.00 | Then 1.50/0.38 |
| Google Starter (subscription) | — | 100/month | 50,000 calls | Dynamic Maps+Geocoding | Saves about 180 vs PAYG |
| Google Essentials (subscription) | — | 275/month | 100,000 calls | Dynamic Maps+Geocoding | Saves about 355 vs PAYG |
| Google Pro (subscription) | — | 1,200/month | 250,000 calls | Dynamic Maps+Geocoding | Saves about 270 vs PAYG |
| Mapbox map loads | 50,000 | 5.00/1,000 | 4.00 | 3.00 | Then 2.50 |
| Mapbox temporary geocoding | 100,000 | 1.70/1,000 | 1.50 | 1.25 | Permanent 250k free, from 0.75 |
Sources: Google Maps Platform Pricing, the Google Maps Platform price list (Dynamic Maps/Geocoding/subscriptions), Mapbox Pricing (US/USD, accessed 7 November 2026). Excludes tax, commitments/enterprise discounts, Routes/Places/Environment and other SKUs, tiles, Static Maps, egress/support/migration; Google subscription “calls” are Dynamic Maps + Geocoding combined per the page, with overage per subscription terms/PAYG.
Map loads only: 50k, 100k, 250k, 500k, 1M
Map loads/calls only, no geocoding: 50k — Google PAYG 10,000 free + 40,000×7/1,000=280; Google Starter 100; Mapbox 50,000 free=0. 100k — Google PAYG 10,000+90,000×7=630; Essentials 275; Mapbox 50,000 free+50,000×5=250. 250k — Google PAYG 10,000+90,000×7+150,000×5.60=1,470; Pro 1,200; Mapbox 50,000 free+50,000×5+100,000×4+50,000×3=800. 500k — Google PAYG 10,000+90,000×7+400,000×5.60=2,870; Mapbox 50,000 free+50,000×5+100,000×4+300,000×3=1,550. 1M — Google PAYG 10,000+90,000×7+400,000×5.60+500,000×4.20=4,970; Mapbox 50,000 free+50,000×5+100,000×4+800,000×3=3,050. Mapbox is lower at all five tiers; Google subscriptions save 180/355/270 at 50k/100k/250k versus PAYG but remain above Mapbox.
| Monthly map loads | Google PAYG | Google subscription | Mapbox | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 | 280.00 | 100.00 (Starter) | 0 | Mapbox |
| 100,000 | 630.00 | 275.00 (Essentials) | 250.00 | Mapbox |
| 250,000 | 1,470.00 | 1,200.00 (Pro) | 800.00 | Mapbox |
| 500,000 | 2,870.00 | Overage not modelled | 1,550.00 | Mapbox |
| 1,000,000 | 4,970.00 | Overage not modelled | 3,050.00 | Mapbox |
Editorial calculation, not a quote. Google PAYG uses Dynamic Maps tiers (10,000 free; 7.00/5.60/4.20/2.10/0.53); Google subscriptions use 100/275/1,200 for 50k/100k/250k; Mapbox uses map-load tiers (50,000 free; 5.00/4.00/3.00/2.50). Excludes tax, geocoding, other SKUs, enterprise discounts, support and migration; Google subscription overage above 250k is not expanded on the page and is not modelled.
Maps + geocoding: 50k/100k each
If you use both maps and geocoding: 50k each/month — Google PAYG = maps 280 + geocoding (10,000 free + 40,000×5=200) = 480; Essentials 100,000 calls can cover 50k+50k=100k, 275; Mapbox = maps 0 + temporary geocoding 0 (≤100k free) = 0. 100k each/month — Google PAYG = 630 + (10,000+90,000×5=450) = 1,080; 100k calls is not enough for 200k, so Pro 250k = 1,200; Mapbox = maps 250 + geocoding 0 (100k free) = 250. Mapbox’s free tiers are an even bigger advantage in the combined case; Google’s subscription “calls” are the two capabilities combined, with overage per terms/PAYG.
| Monthly usage (each) | Google PAYG | Google subscription | Mapbox | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50,000 maps + 50,000 geocodes | 480.00 | 275.00 (Essentials 100k) | 0 | Mapbox |
| 100,000 maps + 100,000 geocodes | 1,080.00 | 1,200.00 (Pro 250k) | 250.00 | Mapbox |
Editorial calculation, not a quote. Google geocoding uses 10,000 free + 5.00/1,000; Mapbox temporary geocoding 100,000 free, then 1.70/1,000. Excludes tax, Routes/Places, permanent geocoding, enterprise discounts, support and migration; Google subscription call aggregation/overage follows the terms.
Why Mapbox is cheaper at low-to-mid volume: free tiers + tiers
Mapbox’s free tier is a monthly reset of 50,000 map loads + 100,000 temporary geocodes; Google PAYG gives only 10,000 free per SKU, and subscriptions have no “free tier” but include calls in the monthly fee. For low-to-mid projects, Mapbox’s 0 tier covers 50k map loads/100k geocodes, while Google either charges 100/275 subscription or 280/630 PAYG. At 250k map loads, Mapbox 800 vs Google subscription 1,200, a 400 gap; at 1M, Mapbox 3,050 vs Google PAYG 4,970, a 1,920 gap. Google’s advantage is data/coverage/Places/Routes/ecosystem and subscription predictability; if you only need maps+geocoding, Mapbox is cheaper at low-to-mid volume. Above 5M loads, Mapbox 2.50/1,000 vs Google 0.53/1,000 — Google’s high-volume tiers can overtake, so recalculate at the real volume.
| Item | Google Maps | Mapbox |
|---|---|---|
| Map load pricing | PAYG from 7.00; subscription 100/275/1,200 | From 5.00; first 50k free |
| Geocoding | From 5.00; first 10k free | From 1.70; first 100k free |
| Low volume (50k maps) | 280 (PAYG)/100 (subscription) | 0 |
| Mid volume (250k maps) | 1,470 (PAYG)/1,200 (subscription) | 800 |
| High volume (1M maps) | 4,970 (PAYG) | 3,050 |
| Strength | Data/coverage/Places/Routes/ecosystem | Low-to-mid free tiers/tiers |
| Watch | Subscription calls are maps+geocoding combined | Maps/geocoding are separate SKUs; high-volume tiers |
Sources: Google Maps Platform Pricing/price list and Mapbox Pricing (accessed 7 November 2026). This is a public pricing overview; coverage, data freshness, SLA, support, enterprise contracts, other SKUs and tax need line-by-line confirmation.
Which option fits which scenario?
Only maps+geocoding, 50k–250k monthly loads, budget-first: Mapbox; need Google’s Places/Routes/Street View/coverage/ecosystem or an existing Google Cloud contract: Google subscriptions (Starter/Essentials/Pro) are more predictable than PAYG; very low volume (<10k/month): Google PAYG 10k free or Mapbox 50k free both cover it — choose by features/coverage; very high volume (>5M): Google’s 0.53/1,000 high tier may overtake Mapbox 2.50, so recalculate at real volume; enterprise compliance/SLA/private contracts: both negotiate — compare coverage/support/contract. Do not compare only “per 1,000” — include free tiers, the maps+geocoding mix, other SKUs and the contract.
| Scenario | First choice | Monthly (example) | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low volume/budget-first | Mapbox | 0 (≤50k maps) | Coverage/data/support |
| Maps+geocoding 50k–100k | Mapbox | 0–250 | Geocoding free tier |
| Need Google ecosystem/coverage | Google subscription | 100/275/1,200 | Call aggregation/overage |
| Very low volume/trial | Either free tier | 0 | Features/coverage/terms |
| Very high volume (>5M) | Recalculate | Google from 0.53/1,000 | High tiers/contract |
| Enterprise compliance/SLA | Both contracts | Custom | Coverage/support/SLA |
Sources: the two official pricing pages (accessed 7 November 2026). This is an editorial decision matrix, not vendor advice; map coverage, data freshness, load speed, SLA, support response and migration cost were not tested.
What should procurement and acceptance specify?
At least ten things: monthly map loads/geocodes, peaks, coverage countries/cities, map styles/3D/Street View, geocoding accuracy, Routes/Places and other SKUs, free tier/subscription, SLA/support, compliance/residency, migration/contract. Run a 2–4 week POC on real traffic and record loads/geocodes, coverage/accuracy, latency, failure rate, free-tier usage and the bill; do not compare only “per 1,000”.
- Volume: monthly map loads, geocodes, peaks, growth.
- Coverage: countries/cities/address accuracy, data freshness.
- Features: styles/3D/Street View/Places/Routes/matrix.
- Free tier: monthly reset/per SKU/subscription inclusion.
- Subscription: call aggregation, overage, change/cancel.
- Performance: load latency, availability, rate limits.
- SLA/support: uptime, response, credits.
- Compliance: residency, privacy, map data licensing.
- Migration: styles/coordinates/addresses/cache, dual-run.
- Contract: usage/commitment, enterprise discount, renewal, exit.
FAQ
Is Google or Mapbox cheaper?
Map loads only, 50k–1M/month: Mapbox is lower at all five tiers (0/250/800/1,550/3,050 vs Google subscription 100/275/1,200 or PAYG 280/630/1,470/2,870/4,970). But Google has stronger data/coverage/Places/Routes/ecosystem; choose by needs.
How much does a Google subscription save vs PAYG?
50k map loads: Starter 100 vs PAYG 280, saves 180; 100k: Essentials 275 vs 630, saves 355; 250k: Pro 1,200 vs 1,470, saves 270. Subscription calls are Dynamic Maps + Geocoding combined; overage follows terms/PAYG.
How much is Mapbox free?
50,000 map loads/month free; 100,000 temporary geocodes/month free; 250,000 permanent geocodes/month free. It resets monthly, not a one-time trial; account limits/terms per the Mapbox pricing page.
Why is Mapbox cheaper at low-to-mid volume?
Larger free tiers (50k maps/100k geocodes) + lower tiers (5.00/4.00/3.00 vs Google 7.00/5.60/4.20). Google PAYG gives only 10k free per SKU; subscriptions trade a monthly fee for calls.
Who is cheaper at high volume?
1M map loads: Mapbox 3,050 vs Google PAYG 4,970; above 5M, Google’s 0.53/1,000 high tier may overtake Mapbox 2.50. Recalculate at real volume, contract and enterprise discounts.
How do maps + geocoding combine?
50k each/month: Google PAYG 480, Essentials 275, Mapbox 0; 100k each/month: Google PAYG 1,080, Pro 1,200, Mapbox 250. Mapbox’s 100k geocoding free tier is the key in the combined case.
What hidden costs should we expect?
Routes/Places/Environment and other SKUs, Static Maps/tiles, calls beyond the subscription, enterprise contract, SLA/support, data/coverage, migration/dual-run, tax and FX. Google subscription “calls” are two capabilities combined — do not assume “50k each”.
How do we choose and accept?
Low-to-mid/budget-first: Mapbox; Google ecosystem/coverage: subscription; very low volume: free tiers; very high volume: recalculate. A 2–4 week POC on real traffic records loads/geocodes, coverage/accuracy, latency, free-tier usage and the bill.
Research method and limitations
This article separates “official facts” from “editorial modelling”: Google’s Dynamic Maps 7.00/5.60/4.20/2.10/0.53 with 10,000 free, Geocoding 5.00/4.00/3.00/1.50/0.38 with 10,000 free, and subscriptions 100/275/1,200 for 50k/100k/250k come from Google Maps Platform Pricing and the price list; Mapbox’s map loads 50,000 free and 5.00/4.00/3.00/2.50, temporary geocoding 100,000 free and 1.70/1.50/1.25, permanent geocoding 250,000 free and 0.75/0.60/0.45 come from Mapbox Pricing. The TCOs are arithmetic at 50k–1M map loads and 50k/100k combined, not vendor quotes.
Eight limitations: (1) only US public list prices are used, excluding tax, enterprise discounts, commitments, support and regional differences; (2) only map loads/geocoding are counted, excluding Routes/Places/Environment/Static Maps/tiles/3D/Street View; (3) Google subscription “calls” are Dynamic Maps + Geocoding combined per the page, and overage is not expanded, so only 50k/100k/250k are modelled; (4) Mapbox free-tier/account limits/terms need confirmation on the pricing page; (5) map coverage, data freshness, address accuracy, load speed, SLA and support were not tested; (6) Azure Maps, HERE and TomTom are excluded; (7) migration, style/coordinate/cache re-engineering, training and dual-run are excluded; (8) prices and terms can change by contract, region and exchange rate. Treat this as a pricing-conversion template and replace assumptions with a 2–4 week real-traffic POC.
Sources and basis
- Google Maps Platform, Pricing: mapsplatform.google.com/pricing. Dynamic Maps first 10,000/month free, 7.00/5.60/4.20/2.10/0.53 per 1,000; Geocoding first 10,000 free, 5.00/4.00/3.00/1.50/0.38; subscriptions Starter 100 (50k calls), Essentials 275 (100k), Pro 1,200 (250k). Accessed 7 November 2026.
- Google Maps Platform, price list: developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/pricing. Dynamic Maps/Geocoding/Static Maps tier prices, free allowances and per-1,000 billing. Accessed 7 November 2026.
- Mapbox, Pricing: mapbox.com/pricing. Map loads 50,000 free, 5.00/4.00/3.00/2.50 per 1,000; temporary geocoding 100,000 free, 1.70/1.50/1.25; permanent geocoding 250,000 free, 0.75/0.60/0.45. Accessed 7 November 2026.
Data cut-off 7 November 2026; prices are public list prices excluding tax; all models are editorial calculations. This is not procurement advice.