Please see below for all the frequently asked questions relating to the new Google Maps API changes that comes into affect from the 11th of June 2018.
For more information on the impending changes, please review this blog post.
- Do these changes affect me, or only developers?
- How does the new pricing for the Google Maps API work?
- How do I limit my costs?
- Will keyless access still be allowed?
- All my clients are using an API key I created for them, what now?
Do these changes affect me, or only developers?
The changes will affect everyone using Google Maps. Everyone will be responsible for their own API key moving forward.
How does the new pricing for the Google Maps API work?
Google has implemented new pricing plans for their API. The system will be based on a pay-as-you-go model which means that as soon as you use the free $200 per month you receive, you will be billed per thousand views. You can review the pricing table and see the API-specific billing changes page for more information.
We strongly recommend limiting your daily usage in the Google Maps Console. You will be able to limit your spending in the Console by applying daily limits or setting up notifications for certain usage thresholds:
You only pay for what you use. You can review rates and access your spending any time in your Google Cloud Platform Console, where you can also set daily quotas to protect against unexpected increases. You can also set billing alerts to receive email notifications when charges reach a preset threshold determined by you
A guide for this will be available shortly.
Will keyless access still be allowed?
No. From the 11th of June, keyless calls to the Maps JavaScript API and Street View API will return low-resolution maps watermarked with “for development purposes only.”
All my clients are using an API key I created for them, what now?
There are two possibilities here:
- Request that your clients create their own Google API Console account and change their API keys to suit their new API key. By doing this you are limiting your exposure to additional costs, queries and administration. Please review “How do I limit my costs“
- You may continue using the API keys you have created for your clients and explain the new changes to them so they are made aware that should their website go over the $200 limits
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