Quick answer
IPLocate.io - IPLocate.io wins for most builders because its free tier keeps the same API and data as paid plans, while IP2Location.io mainly wins if you want a smaller but more narrowly defined monthly quota on geolocation, WHOIS, and hosted-domain lookups.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. IP2Location.io is a classic capped starter plan: you get monthly allowances across three API products, plus a limited set of IP attributes and daily database updates. It is straightforward if your app mainly needs geolocation and a bit of WHOIS or hosted-domain data, and it has a clear flat-price upgrade path. IPLocate.io is more generous in capability than in quota. The free tier includes the same endpoints and the same data as paid plans, with 1,000 requests per day as the main limit. That makes it better for builders who want to prototype against real production behavior and avoid feature surprises when they upgrade. The tradeoff is pricing clarity: once you outgrow free, IPLocate shifts into usage-based or sales-led pricing rather than simple published monthly tiers.
IP2Location.io vs IPLocate.io free tier, side by side
| IP2Location.ioFTV 58 | IPLocate.ioFTV 77 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsA’s free tier is split by endpoint; B’s limit is a single daily request cap. | 50K IP Geolocation API queries/month | 1,000 requests/day |
| WHOISB’s free tier includes full data access, but no separate quota is published. | 500 Domain WHOIS API queries/month | Included in free access |
| Hosted domain lookupsB does not publish a separate hosted-domain quota. | 50 Hosted Domain API queries/month | Included in free access |
| IP attributes / data depthB’s free tier states the same data as paid plans. | 11 IP attributes | Full access to geolocation, threat, company, and network data |
| Credit card requiredftv_no_cc_required is true for both. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
IP2Location.io uses flat monthly tiers, starting at $49/month for Starter and scaling to $249/month and $499/month. IPLocate.io is usage-based or sales-led: the first paid path is pay as you go, with monthly quota plans and credits also available, but no public monthly price is provided. That means IP2Location.io is easier to budget, while IPLocate.io may fit better if your usage is variable or you need to negotiate volume. For small teams, IP2Location.io is the cheaper and clearer paid upgrade; IPLocate.io becomes a pricing conversation once free is not enough.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | IP2Location.io | IPLocate.io |
|---|---|---|
| 50K geolocation requests/moB’s free tier is 1,000 requests/day, which is up to about 30,000 per 30-day month. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 100K requests/moB’s paid costs are not disclosed, so only the free-to-paid transition can be stated. | $49/mo | Free (within tier) if spread under 1,000/day; otherwise paid pricing not published |
| 300K requests/moB’s 300,000/month quota plan has no public monthly price. | $249/mo or higher if exceeding Starter quota | Contact sales / varies by usage |
| 600K requests/moB does not publish a rate for this usage level. | $499/mo or higher if exceeding Security quota | 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 IP2Location.io when…
- You mostly need IP geolocation and only occasional WHOIS or hosted-domain checks.
- You want a simple monthly quota with clear flat-rate upgrades.
- You are okay with attribution on the free plan.
- You prefer a smaller, scoped free tier that maps closely to a starter production workload.
- You want a published lowest paid tier with an exact monthly price.
Pick IPLocate.io when…
- You want the free tier to match paid-plan endpoints and data as closely as possible.
- You need threat and privacy signals such as proxy, VPN, Tor, relay, or hosting detection.
- You need company and network data like ASN, abuse contact details, and RIR/RWHOIS data.
- You want to test against the same API behavior before paying.
- You prefer no credit card required and no hidden throttling beyond the stated daily quota.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, IPLocate.io is the better free tier because it keeps the same endpoints and data as paid plans, so you can build without a feature gap. IP2Location.io is the better choice if your needs are narrower and you want a simple monthly quota with a published flat-price upgrade path. If you care most about predictable budgeting after free, IP2Location.io is easier. If you care most about testing real production behavior before paying, IPLocate.io wins.
Read the full listings: IP2Location.io 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.