Quick answer
IPLocate.io - IPLocate.io wins for most builders because its free tier is production-usable, includes the full paid data set, and does not require a credit card, while ipapi’s free trial is better viewed as a testing cap with tighter limits and weaker production fit.
How the free tiers compare
These two products are both IP intelligence APIs, but they are built for different stages of use. ipapi’s free offer is a trial: 1,000 lookups per day, about 30,000 per month, with testing and development language and limited bulk lookup capability. It is useful if you want a lightweight geolocation endpoint and expect to move into a low-cost flat plan quickly. IPLocate.io’s free tier is much more generous in practical terms. It keeps the same API endpoints and the same data as paid plans, adds threat, company, and network fields, and explicitly says there is no credit card required. The tradeoff is that its paid path is usage-based or sales-led, so if you outgrow free, pricing is less transparent than ipapi’s simple monthly ladder.
ipapi vs IPLocate.io free tier, side by side
| ipapiFTV 41 | IPLocate.ioFTV 77 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsipapi describes its offer as a free trial; IPLocate.io describes a free tier. | Up to 1,000 IP lookups/day, about 30,000/month | 1,000 requests/day |
| Geolocation fieldsBoth cover core geolocation; ipapi also lists languages. | City, region, country, postal code, latitude, longitude, timezone, calling code, currency, languages | Country, city, region, postal code, latitude/longitude, time zone, currency code, calling code |
| Threat and privacy dataThis is a key functional difference. | Not included in the free tier details provided | Included: abuser/spammer reports, proxy, VPN, Tor, relay, hosting detection |
| Company and network dataIPLocate.io is broader here. | ASN and organization fields mentioned in product description, but not detailed in free tier items | Included: company name, domain, company type, service/network type, ASN, registry, abuse contact, RIR/RWHOIS |
| Credit card required to startExplicitly stated for both. | No card required | No card required |
After you outgrow the free tier
ipapi uses a flat monthly ladder after the trial, starting at $15/month for 60,000 lookups and scaling up through fixed tiers. IPLocate.io is usage-based at the low end and sales-led for larger fixed quotas, with a monthly quota plan and credit packs that do not publish monthly prices here. That means ipapi is easier to budget, while IPLocate.io is easier to start with and potentially better value at small scale because the free tier matches paid-plan data. Once you need predictable billing, ipapi is the clearer option.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ipapi | IPLocate.io |
|---|---|---|
| 30,000 requests/moBoth fit within the provided free quotas. | Free (within trial cap) | Free (within free tier) |
| 60,000 requests/moipapi has a published flat tier here; IPLocate.io does not provide a dollar amount. | $15/mo | Not priced in the provided data; exceeds free quota and would move to paid usage-based or sales-led billing |
| 300,000 requests/moIPLocate.io lists a monthly quota plan at 300,000/month, but no price is provided. | $25/mo or more, depending on the tier chosen | Contact sales / varies by usage |
| 1,000,000 requests/moipapi has published flat tiers up to 6M/month; IPLocate.io says pay-as-you-go can scale to millions/month but gives no rates. | $49/mo or more, depending on the tier chosen | 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 ipapi when…
- You only need basic IP geolocation fields and want a simple, low-cost upgrade path.
- You expect to land on a fixed monthly bill quickly, starting at a clearly posted $15 plan.
- You are building a test or staging integration and do not need the full threat/company/network dataset.
- You want bulk IP lookup capability and a straightforward flat-price tier once you outgrow free.
Pick IPLocate.io when…
- You want a free tier that is usable for a real product, not just evaluation.
- You need threat and privacy signals such as proxy, VPN, Tor, relay, or hosting detection.
- You need company and network fields like domain, ASN, registry, and abuse contact details.
- You want the same API endpoints and data accuracy on free as on paid plans.
- You do not want to enter a credit card to start testing.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, IPLocate.io is the better free-tier pick because you get the full product, not a reduced trial, and you can start without a card. ipapi is the better choice if you know you want a simple flat-price upgrade path and you only need core geolocation. If the free tier is your deciding factor, IPLocate.io gives more useful data before you pay. If predictable paid pricing matters more, ipapi becomes easier to plan around once you leave free.
Read the full listings: ipapi 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.