Quick answer
IPGeolocation.io - IPGeolocation.io wins for most builders because its free tier is perpetual, card-free, and much more flexible once you outgrow it, while IP2Location.io is better only if you specifically need its larger free geolocation quota plus WHOIS and hosted-domain endpoints.
How the free tiers compare
The two free tiers solve adjacent problems, but they are shaped very differently. IP2Location.io is the more specialized offer: the free plan is capped monthly, includes multiple API surfaces, and gives you meaningful access to geolocation, WHOIS, and hosted-domain lookups without a card. It is strongest if you want one API vendor for several network-related tasks and can live within modest monthly caps. IPGeolocation.io is broader on growth and simpler operationally. Its free plan is perpetual, card-free, and centered on daily credits, with a clearer upgrade ladder and explicit overage pricing. That makes it easier to start small and scale without jumping abruptly between tiers. If you are building a product that may grow unevenly, IPGeolocation.io is usually the safer long-term bet. If you need more free geolocation volume right now, IP2Location.io has the edge.
IP2Location.io vs IPGeolocation.io free tier, side by side
| IP2Location.ioFTV 58 | IPGeolocation.ioFTV 51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free geolocation allowanceA gives a higher monthly geolocation cap; B refreshes daily and is perpetual. | 50K IP Geolocation API queries/month | 1000 API credits/day |
| Free WHOIS allowanceOnly IP2Location.io includes WHOIS in the free tier. | 500 Domain WHOIS API queries/month | Not listed |
| Free hosted-domain allowanceOnly IP2Location.io includes hosted-domain lookups in the free tier. | 50 Hosted Domain API queries/month | Not listed |
| Free IP attributesThe products expose different field sets, so this is not a like-for-like quota. | 11 IP attributes | Core geolocation fields plus country metadata, currency data, ASN basics, organization data, and time zone data |
| Card required on free tierThis is explicitly stated for both products. | No card required | No card required |
| Free plan overagesB explicitly says free requests do not overrun into charges. | Not stated | No overages on the free plan |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly paid plans, but IPGeolocation.io has the clearer scaling path because it starts lower and adds explicit overage pricing at every tier. Its first paid plan is $19/month for 150,000 credits, then it steps through $49, $79, $129, and $249 plans before custom enterprise pricing. IP2Location.io starts at $49/month for 150K geolocation queries, then jumps to $249 and $499. For small teams, IPGeolocation.io is cheaper and more granular; IP2Location.io becomes costlier sooner, though it bundles multiple API surfaces rather than just geolocation credits.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | IP2Location.io | IPGeolocation.io |
|---|---|---|
| 150K API credits/mo or queries/moA’s Starter plan is 150K IP geolocation queries/month; B’s Starter plan is 150,000 API credits/month. | $49/mo | $19/mo |
| 300K API credits/mo or queries/moA’s Plus plan is 300K geolocation queries/month; B’s Plus plan is 500K API credits/month, so 300K is still within it. | $249/mo | $49/mo |
| 500K API credits/mo or queries/moA has no 500K tier until Security exceeds it at 600K; B’s Plus plan covers 500K. | $249/mo | $49/mo |
| 1M API credits/mo or queries/moA’s Security plan covers 600K geolocation queries/month, so 1M would require custom or extra usage not specified; B’s Pro plan covers 1M API credits/month. | $499/mo | $79/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick IP2Location.io when…
- You need 50K geolocation queries per month on the free tier.
- You want free WHOIS lookups or hosted-domain lookups in the same vendor.
- You are okay with a monthly cap and attribution on the free plan.
- You want daily database updates and basic proxy detection included upfront.
Pick IPGeolocation.io when…
- You want a perpetual free plan rather than a monthly quota that resets.
- You need a card-free free tier with no overages on the free plan.
- You expect to grow into a simple flat-paid ladder with explicit overage pricing.
- You are starting a small project or MVP and want the lowest-friction path to paid scale.
- You want more API-credit-based headroom across a broad range of plan sizes.
Bottom line
For most builders, IPGeolocation.io is the better free-tier choice because it is perpetual, card-free, and gives you a cleaner path to paid scale with lower entry pricing and explicit overages. Pick IP2Location.io if your immediate need is broader free-network lookup coverage, especially WHOIS or hosted-domain queries, and you can work within a monthly cap. If you are likely to outgrow the free tier, IPGeolocation.io is usually the less risky starting point.
Read the full listings: IP2Location.io and IPGeolocation.io. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.