Quick answer
IPLocate.io - IPLocate.io wins for most builders because its free tier includes the same endpoints and data as paid plans, while IPGeolocation.io is better only if you want a simpler geolocation-only API with clearly published flat-rate plans.
How the free tiers compare
The main difference is not just quota size, but what the free tier actually lets you do. IPGeolocation.io gives you a perpetual, no-card-needed free plan with 1,000 API credits per day, but the paid tiers unlock more fields and more monthly volume. That makes it a straightforward geolocation starter with a predictable upgrade path. IPLocate.io is more generous in capability: the free tier also sits at 1,000 requests per day, but it already includes the same API endpoints and same data accuracy as paid plans, including geolocation, threat, company, and network data. So the free tier behaves more like a production-limited plan than a stripped-down trial. Pricing also diverges: IPGeolocation.io publishes flat monthly tiers, while IPLocate.io is usage-based or sales-led, so costs are less transparent as you scale.
IPGeolocation.io vs IPLocate.io free tier, side by side
| IPGeolocation.ioFTV 51 | IPLocate.ioFTV 77 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requestsBoth are daily caps with no credit card required. | 1,000 API credits/day | 1,000 requests/day |
| Free plan overagesIPLocate.io says there are no throttling or hidden limits beyond the daily quota. | No overages on Free | Not stated |
| Free data scopeIPLocate.io free tier includes the same endpoints and data accuracy as paid plans. | Core geolocation lookup, country metadata, currency data, ASN basics, organization data, time zone data | Full access to geolocation, threat/privacy, company, and network data |
| Starter paid tierIPLocate.io does not publish a monthly dollar price in the provided data. | $19/month for 150,000 API credits/month | Pay as you go from 100,000 requests/month |
| Highest published self-serve tierIPLocate.io also offers credits and pay-as-you-go options, but pricing is not specified here. | Premium at $249/month for 5,000,000 API credits/month | Monthly quota plan at 300,000 requests/month, price not stated |
After you outgrow the free tier
IPGeolocation.io uses flat monthly tiers with published prices and explicit overage rates, so the cost curve is easy to forecast. IPLocate.io is usage-based for the main pay-as-you-go path and sales-led for its quota and credits options, so the dollar amount is not fully visible from the supplied data. For small teams, IPGeolocation.io is easier to budget. For teams that value wider data coverage and can live with usage-based or sales-driven pricing, IPLocate.io may fit better, but exact costs are not provided here.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | IPGeolocation.io | IPLocate.io |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 requests/moIPLocate.io pricing is not specified in the input. | $19/mo | Not provided (usage-based from 100,000/month) |
| 300,000 requests/moIPGeolocation.io would need Plus to cover this volume without significant overages. | $49/mo minimum at Plus tier, or higher if using Starter with overages | Not provided (Monthly quota plan exists at 300,000/month, but no dollar price was provided) |
| 1,000,000 requests/moIPLocate.io has no published dollar figure in the supplied data. | $79/mo at Pro tier | Not provided |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick IPGeolocation.io when…
- You only need basic IP geolocation, country metadata, ASN basics, currency, and time zone data.
- You want a published flat monthly price instead of usage-based or sales-led pricing.
- You expect to stay on a small, predictable API budget and want simple upgrade steps.
- You prefer overage rules that are spelled out on the pricing page.
Pick IPLocate.io when…
- You want threat, privacy, hosting, company, and network data on day one without paying.
- You want the free tier to match paid-plan endpoints and data accuracy.
- You are testing a product where 1,000 requests per day is enough and you do not want a reduced-feature trial.
- You expect to buy usage in a less rigid way, or want to start with a usage-based model.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, IPLocate.io is the better free-tier pick because it gives you the full product surface, not a cut-down sample. If you only need standard geolocation and want a clear paid ladder with fixed monthly prices, IPGeolocation.io is the safer budgeting choice. The free tiers are similarly capped at 1,000 requests or credits per day, so the real decision is capability versus pricing clarity, not raw free volume.
Read the full listings: IPGeolocation.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.