Quick answer
Free IP API - Free IP API wins for most builders because its free tier is more usable for real traffic, while IP.City is better only if you need a very small development-only allowance and do not mind email verification.
How the free tiers compare
These products solve the same basic problem, but the free tiers are shaped very differently. Free IP API is built like a lightweight production starter: 60 requests per minute, commercial use allowed, API keys included, bulk lookups, email support, and no credit card required. The main constraint is rate-based, not daily volume, and the paid jump is a simple flat unlimited plan. IP.City is more like a development gate: 100 requests per API key per day, email verification required, and the free plan is explicitly intended for development use only. Its paid tiers are also flat, but they scale by daily request caps rather than removing a rate limit. If you want something you can actually keep wired into a small app, Free IP API is the safer free-tier choice. If you only need occasional test lookups, IP.City is fine.
Free IP API vs IP.City free tier, side by side
| Free IP API FTV 54 | IP.City FTV 42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free request limit A is burst-friendly; B is a low daily cap and development-focused. | 60 requests/minute | 100 requests per API key/day |
| IPv4 and IPv6 support | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial use on free tier B is described as intended for development use only. | Allowed | Not stated |
| Bulk lookups | Included, up to 50 IPs per request | Not stated |
| Email support | Included | Not stated |
| No credit card required B requires email verification. | Yes | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly plans after the free tier, but they scale differently. Free IP API jumps from a capped free tier to an unlimited plan at €9.90/month, or €99/year, with the main change being removal of the per-minute limit and expanded server locations. IP.City keeps the same feature set and scales by daily request bundles, starting at $5/month for 2,000 requests/day and rising through higher caps. For very light usage, IP.City’s entry price is lower, but Free IP API is usually the better value once you want unrestricted usage or anything close to production traffic.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Free IP API | IP.City |
|---|---|---|
| 100 requests/day B is within its 100 requests/day free cap. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 1,000 requests/day B exceeds the free cap and lands on Basic. | Free (if kept under 60 requests/minute) | $5/mo |
| 10,000 requests/day A’s free tier will usually be too tight for sustained traffic. | €9.90/mo | $20/mo |
| 50,000 requests/day B reaches the Pro tier at this level. | €9.90/mo | $80/mo |
| 100,000 requests/day B reaches the Ultimate tier at this level. | €9.90/mo | $150/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Free IP API when…
- You want to use the free tier in a small production app or side project.
- You need commercial use on the free plan.
- You need bulk IP lookups up to 50 IPs per request.
- You want no credit card required to start.
- You care more about a per-minute limit than a strict daily cap.
Pick IP.City when…
- You only need IP geolocation during development or testing.
- You are fine with a hard 100 requests per day cap.
- You do not mind email verification to activate the API key.
- You want the cheapest possible entry point for very low-volume lookup needs.
- You are planning around daily request tiers rather than request bursts.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Free IP API is the better free-tier pick because it is usable beyond pure testing and does not require a credit card. IP.City makes sense when your need is strictly low-volume development lookups and you want the cheapest paid rung after that. If you expect bursts, bulk lookups, or any path toward production, Free IP API’s free tier and simple unlimited upgrade are easier to live with.
Read the full listings: Free IP API and IP.City. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.