Quick answer
IPLocate.io - IPLocate.io wins for most builders because its free tier includes full API access and enough daily volume to be genuinely useful, while ipbase.com’s free plan is a much smaller starter cap.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers solve related but different problems. ipbase.com is a narrow IP geolocation starter: 150 requests total, one API key, and basic location data, with a low monthly ceiling and a clear jump to paid once you outgrow it. IPLocate.io is much closer to a usable production sandbox. Its free tier gives 1,000 requests per day, no credit card requirement, and the same endpoints and data as paid plans, including geolocation, threat and privacy signals, company data, and network details. So the decision is less about raw quotas and more about scope. If you only need a small geolocation check or a lightweight demo, ipbase can do that. If you want to build, test, and iterate on a broader IP intelligence workflow without hitting feature walls, IPLocate is the stronger free tier by a wide margin.
ipbase.com vs IPLocate.io free tier, side by side
| ipbase.comFTV 47 | IPLocate.ioFTV 77 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsipbase’s cap is monthly; IPLocate’s cap is daily. | 150 requests | 1,000 requests/day |
| API keysipbase explicitly limits to one key; IPLocate does not state a numeric key cap in the provided input. | 1 API key | Free API key |
| Rate limitIPLocate says there are no extra limits beyond the daily quota. | 10 requests / min. | No throttling or hidden limits beyond the daily request quota |
| Free data scopeIPLocate’s free tier matches paid-plan endpoints and data. | Location data | Full geolocation, threat/privacy, company, and network data |
After you outgrow the free tier
ipbase.com uses flat monthly tiers after free, starting at Small for $9.99/mo, then Medium at $39.99/mo and Large at $89.99/mo, with a Custom contact-sales option. IPLocate.io shifts to usage-based and sales-led pricing: a pay-as-you-go option starts from 100,000 requests/month, and a fixed monthly quota plan exists at 300,000 requests/month, but the input does not include dollar amounts. For small-team use, ipbase has the clearer posted price, while IPLocate is likely better if you need larger volumes or broader data, but the actual cost cannot be pinned down from the provided rates.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ipbase.com | IPLocate.io |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 requests/moIPLocate’s input gives a starting volume but no dollar rate. | ~$9.99/mo for Small, but exceeds the 65,000 request quota | contact sales / varies by usage |
| 300,000 requests/moIPLocate lists a 300,000/month fixed quota plan, but no price was provided. | ~$39.99/mo for Medium, but exceeds the 650,000 request tier? no, it fits within Medium | contact sales / varies by usage |
| 2,500,000 requests/moIPLocate says pay-as-you-go scales to millions per month, but no rate was provided. | $89.99/mo for Large | 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 ipbase.com when…
- You only need a tiny monthly allowance for a proof of concept or tutorial.
- You want a simple geolocation lookup with basic fields like country, city, ASN, and timezone.
- You prefer a very small starter plan and do not need threat, company, or hosting intelligence.
- You expect to upgrade quickly and want a low-cost flat paid plan path.
Pick IPLocate.io when…
- You need a free tier that is useful for real development work, not just a quick demo.
- You want geolocation plus threat, privacy, company, and network data in the free plan.
- You are testing IPv4 and IPv6 lookups and need the same API endpoints as paid plans.
- You want a free plan with no credit card and no extra throttling beyond the daily quota.
- You need enough free volume to support ongoing integration testing or a small live workload.
Bottom line
For most builders, IPLocate.io is the better free tier because it gives you a full-featured API, not just a narrow starter sample, and the daily allowance is high enough for real testing. ipbase.com only makes sense if you want a very small geolocation-only plan and you already know you will move to a cheap flat paid tier soon. If you are comparing free tiers as a place to start and stay productive, IPLocate is the easier pick.
Read the full listings: ipbase.com 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.