Quick answer
IPLocate.io - IPLocate.io wins for most builders because its free tier includes the same API endpoints and data as paid plans, with a much larger daily quota and no hidden throttling.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve different problems. Free IP API is a simple geolocation endpoint with a light but practical rate limit: 60 requests per minute, commercial use allowed, and a clean path to an unlimited flat-rate plan. It is a better fit if you want predictable cost and mostly need IP geolocation with some extras like bulk lookups and proxy detection. IPLocate.io is broader and more generous on feature parity: its free tier includes the same endpoints and data as paid plans, covering geolocation plus threat, privacy, company, and network intelligence. The tradeoff is quota shape. IPLocate gives 1,000 requests per day, while Free IP API gives a minute-based limit that can fit bursty traffic better. If you outgrow free, Free IP API stays simple and flat-priced, while IPLocate moves into usage-based or sales-led pricing.
Free IP API vs IPLocate.io free tier, side by side
| Free IP APIFTV 54 | IPLocate.ioFTV 77 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free request limitA is rate-based, B is daily quota-based. | 60 requests per minute | 1,000 requests per day |
| Geolocation dataB includes city, region, postal code, lat/long, time zone, currency code, and calling code. | Included | Included |
| Threat / privacy detectionB also includes abuser/spammer, VPN, Tor, relay, and hosting detection. | Proxy detection included | Included |
| Company / network dataB adds company, ASN, registry, and abuse contact information. | Not listed | Included |
| Bulk lookupA explicitly supports bulk IP lookup on the free tier. | Included, up to 50 IPs per request | Not listed |
| Credit card required for free tierBoth inputs state no credit card required. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Free IP API moves from free to a simple flat monthly price: €9.90/month, or €99/year on the yearly plan. That makes costs easy to forecast, and unlimited requests per minute are included once you pay. IPLocate.io is more flexible but less explicit on price: its first paid option is usage-based, starting from 100,000 requests/month, while a separate monthly quota plan exists with pricing available only through contact sales. For small teams that want a known bill, Free IP API is easier to budget. For teams that need richer data and are comfortable with variable or sales-led pricing, IPLocate is the more expansive option.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Free IP API | IPLocate.io |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 requests/monthB's usage-based plan starts from 100,000/month, but no rate card is provided. | €9.90/mo | contact sales / varies by usage |
| 300,000 requests/monthB lists a 300,000/month monthly quota plan, but no public monthly price is provided. | €9.90/mo | contact sales / varies by usage |
| 1M requests/monthB says the pay-as-you-go path can scale up to millions per month, but exact pricing is not given. | €9.90/mo | contact sales / varies by usage |
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 need bursty lookup traffic and care more about requests per minute than daily volume.
- You want a simple flat monthly price after free rather than usage-based billing.
- You mainly need geolocation, country data, timezone, proxy detection, and bulk IP lookup.
- You want an API with servers in Europe only on the free tier and a clear upgrade to unlimited requests per minute.
Pick IPLocate.io when…
- You want the same API endpoints and data on free as on paid plans.
- You need threat, privacy, company, ASN, and network data, not just geolocation.
- You are building a small tool or prototype that can stay under 1,000 requests per day.
- You want no hidden throttling beyond the published daily quota.
- You expect to scale toward larger monthly volumes and want a path into quota-based or usage-based plans.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, IPLocate.io is the stronger free tier because it gives you the same API surface and data as paid plans, not a stripped-down demo. Pick Free IP API if your main concern is a simple, predictable upgrade to unlimited request rates and you do not need the broader intelligence fields. Pick IPLocate if you want to stay on the free tier longer and still build against the full product.
Read the full listings: Free IP API and IPLocate.io. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.