Quick answer
IPWho - IPWho wins for most builders because its free tier is simpler, much more feature-complete, and upgrades into very low-cost paid plans, while IP2Location.io is better only if you need specific IP geolocation and WHOIS quotas at scale.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve related but different problems. IP2Location.io is a multi-endpoint geolocation and domain intelligence API with separate quotas for IP lookups, WHOIS, and hosted-domain queries. That makes it more useful if your app needs several lookup types and you care about database updates, proxy detection depth, and per-endpoint control. IPWho is the cleaner starter choice for most builders: one endpoint, a higher-sounding daily request cap, and a free tier that already includes the full launch feature set, though it forbids commercial use and has no support or SLA. The upgrade paths also diverge sharply. IPWho stays cheap at the low end with a $2.50/mo Launch tier, while IP2Location.io jumps to a $49/mo Starter plan and then higher flat tiers.
IP2Location.io vs IPWho free tier, side by side
| IP2Location.ioFTV 58 | IPWhoFTV 49 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free request quotaA splits quotas across API types; B uses one daily request cap. | 50K IP Geolocation API queries/month | 2,000 requests/day |
| Domain WHOIS quotaOnly IP2Location.io exposes WHOIS in the free tier. | 500 queries/month | Not included |
| Hosted Domain API quotaOnly IP2Location.io includes this endpoint. | 50 queries/month | Not included |
| IP attributes includedB does not give an attribute count, only that launch features are included. | 11 | Full launch features included |
| Free supportB also has no SLA guaranteed. | Standard support | No support included |
| Credit card required for free tierftv_no_cc_required is true for both products. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
IP2Location.io uses flat monthly tiers starting at $49/mo, then $249/mo and $499/mo, so the cost jump after free is steep even though the free tier is legitimate. IPWho also uses flat tiers, but starts at $2.50/mo, then $10/mo, then $69/mo. For most small builders, IPWho is dramatically cheaper after free. IP2Location.io only makes more sense if you need its extra endpoint coverage or higher quotas, not because it is the easier or cheaper upgrade path.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | IP2Location.io | IPWho |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 requests/dayA's free tier is monthly and endpoint-specific; B's is a daily total request cap. | Free (within tier, if only IP Geolocation API) | Free (within tier) |
| 3,000 requests/dayB's free tier caps at 2,000 requests/day, so this would require Launch. | Not supported on free tier; paid plan starts at $49/month | ~$2.50/mo |
| 5,000 requests/dayB's Launch tier matches 5,000 requests/day. | Not supported on free tier; paid plan starts at $49/month | ~$2.50/mo |
| 150K IP geolocation queries/monthA's Starter tier explicitly includes 150K IP Geolocation API queries/month. B's plans are daily, not monthly, so this only works if usage stays under the daily cap. | $49/mo | At least $2.50/mo if within 2,000/day average, otherwise higher |
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 IP geolocation plus WHOIS and hosted-domain lookups in one service.
- Your app needs monthly quotas you can budget against per endpoint, not just one request pool.
- You care about daily database updates and more explicit proxy detection features.
- You expect to outgrow free usage and want a more established paid ladder with higher quota tiers.
Pick IPWho when…
- You are building a side project, prototype, or student tool that only needs IP geolocation.
- You want the cheapest path from free to paid, with a $2.50/mo entry tier.
- You want the full launch feature set on the free plan and can live with the no-commercial-use rule.
- You need a simple one-endpoint API rather than separate geolocation, WHOIS, and hosted-domain services.
- You are okay with a hard daily cap and no support on the free tier.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, IPWho is the better free-tier pick because it gives you a fuller geolocation API experience and a very cheap path to paid use. IP2Location.io is the better choice only when you need its extra data products, separate endpoint quotas, or higher-volume geolocation and WHOIS tooling. If you are trying to stay free as long as possible and then pay as little as possible, IPWho is the easier fit.
Read the full listings: IP2Location.io and IPWho. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.