Quick answer
The IP API - The IP API wins for most builders because its free tier is much easier to use at real application traffic levels, while Abstract API is better only if you need a no-card starter with narrower, lower-volume usage.
How the free tiers compare
Both products do the same core job, but they shape the free tier differently. Abstract API gives you a tighter, no-card entry point with 1,000 requests per month and a 1 request/second limit, plus a broad bundle of fields on the free plan. The IP API is more generous for ongoing usage at 1,000 requests per day, and it keeps commercial use and daily updates in the free tier. That makes it far more practical for a live app, even though it drops email support. After the free tier, Abstract API’s paid structure is tiered around 60,000 requests per year and a few feature bundles, while The IP API uses flat monthly plans with much larger request ceilings. For builders testing ideas, Abstract API is the gentler start. For builders shipping traffic, The IP API is the stronger free-tier choice.
IP Geolocation API vs The IP API free tier, side by side
| IP Geolocation APIFTV 61 | The IP APIFTV 58 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsB is far more generous for sustained use. | 1,000 requests/month | 1,000 requests/day |
| Rate limitOnly A provides an explicit free-tier rate limit in the input. | 1 request/second | Not stated |
| ASN data | Included | Included |
| Location / geolocation data | Included | Included |
| Timezone data | Included | Included |
| Currency data | Included | Included |
| Company information | Included | Included |
| Commercial use on free planOnly B explicitly lists commercial use on the free tier. | Not stated | Included |
| Data updates on free plan | Not stated | Daily data updates |
| Support on free plan | Not stated | No email support |
After you outgrow the free tier
Abstract API is tiered, with the first paid plan at $17/month and only 60,000 requests/year plus 3 requests/second. The IP API uses flat monthly pricing, starting at $19/month for 600,000 requests/month, which is much easier to scale on if you have steady traffic. For small-team usage, The IP API is usually cheaper per request once you leave the free tier. Abstract API’s paid plans mainly change feature bundles and keep a much tighter volume cap, while The IP API’s plans are priced around request volume.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | IP Geolocation API | The IP API |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 requests/monthB’s free plan is still far above this usage at 1,000 requests/day. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 10,000 requests/monthA’s free plan is exceeded; B remains within its free daily allowance. | $17/mo (Starter) | Free (within tier) |
| 60,000 requests/yearA’s first paid tier is built around this annual cap; B’s free tier is still below this level. | $17/mo (Starter) | Free (within tier) |
| 600,000 requests/monthA has no provided plan at this volume; B’s first paid tier explicitly includes it. | Not covered by provided plans | $19/mo (Beginner) |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick IP Geolocation API when…
- You want no credit card required and only need a small, controlled volume of IP lookups.
- You are prototyping a feature that will stay below 1,000 requests per month.
- You care more about a broad set of fields on the free plan than about daily throughput.
- You want a free tier that includes security-related fields and domain data from the start.
Pick The IP API when…
- You need a free tier that can handle a live product with daily traffic.
- You want commercial use included in the free tier.
- You need daily data updates on the free plan.
- You expect to grow into a low-cost paid plan with much larger monthly request caps.
- You want a simple path from free usage to a flat monthly plan instead of a tight request throttle.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, The IP API is the better pick because its free tier is usable beyond a quick prototype and its first paid step scales to real monthly traffic at a modest flat price. Abstract API is still a good choice if your priority is no-card access and a small, tightly limited test setup. But once the question is which free tier lasts longer in a live app, The IP API is easier to keep using without immediately paying.
Read the full listings: IP Geolocation API and The IP API. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.