shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use IP-API.com - Geolocation API?

Free IP Geolocation API - lookup any IP address - ip-api.com

Worth it. Buy if you're a hobbyist or developer needing simple IP geolocation at low volume — the free tier costs nothing. Skip it for commercial products on the free tier (license forbids it) or if you need HTTPS and vendor support.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14+ public sources; review data is thin (a single G2 review), so user-sentiment scores lean on docs and community usage instead.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support reviews found
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
ProFrom €13.30/mo

Best for

  • Non-commercial hobby projects
  • WordPress plugins and site widgets
  • Low-volume batch IP lookups
  • Proof-of-concept integrations

Not for

  • Commercial products hoping to ride the free tier
  • High-traffic apps exceeding 45 requests/minute
  • HTTPS-only sites — free endpoint is HTTP
  • Buyers wanting reviews, SLAs, or support guarantees

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Commercial use on the free tier violates the license — budget for Pro before building.

high

Free endpoint is HTTP-only, so IP lookups travel unencrypted.

medium

Exceeding 45 requests/minute triggers usage limits per the terms.

low

Pro pricing (€13.30/mo) is confirmed only via a third-party comparison site.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Genuinely free for non-commercial use
  • JSON, XML, and CSV response formats
  • Batch endpoint for bulk IP lookups
  • Flat, simple Pro pricing without sales calls
  • Widely cited in open-source tools and academic research

Cons

  • Free tier bans commercial use
  • Only 45 requests/minute on the free endpoint
  • G2 rating 3.5/5 from a single review
  • Free endpoint lacks HTTPS; rivals advertise this as a switch reason

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/21/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x4security x1news x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free tier, flat-rate Pro, no sales process
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Simple JSON endpoint, described as clean and well-documented
  • Feature depth: 3/5. JSON, XML, CSV and batch endpoints; basics only
  • Support quality. No support reviews found
  • Security posture: 3/5. No known vulns, but free endpoint lacks HTTPS
  • 3.5/5 G2 rating Only 1 review
  • Yes Free tier Non-commercial use only
  • 45 req/min Free rate limit Per official docs
  • From €13.30/mo Pro price Listed by third-party comparison site

Pricing

Free

$0

  • Non-commercial use only
  • 45 requests/minute
  • JSON, XML, CSV endpoints

Pro

From €13.30/mo

  • Commercial use allowed
  • HTTPS support
  • Per third-party comparison site

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Formal reviews are scarce — one 3.5/5 G2 rating — but the API is widely embedded in WordPress plugins, open-source tools, and academic studies.

“Getting hammered by requests to ip-api.com”
Reddit, r/pihole

Alternatives

Compare IP-API.com - Geolocation API with each alternative.

Full analysis

Based on 14+ public sources; review data is thin (a single G2 review), so user-sentiment scores lean on docs and community usage instead.

Free and fast for non-commercial projects; commercial users must pay for Pro or pick an HTTPS-capable rival.

Methodology

Based on 14+ public sources; review data is thin (a single G2 review), so user-sentiment scores lean on docs and community usage instead.

Sources

  1. IP-API.com - Geolocation APIip-api.com
    official
  2. Geolocation API - Documentation - JSONip-api.com
    official
  3. Geolocation API - Privacy Policy and usage limitsip-api.com
    official
  4. ip-api | promembers.ip-api.com
    official
  5. ip-api Reviews - G2g2.com
    review
  6. Getting hammered by requests to ip-api.com - Redditreddit.com
    review
  7. What is the best IP geolocation API for software developers - G2 discussiong2.com
    review
  8. ip-api.com Alternative: HTTPS + Lower Cost Paid Plans - IPWhoipwho.org
    review
  9. Ip-api.com Hosting Provider Review (79/100 Trust Score) - Gridinsoftgridinsoft.com
    security
  10. BT Visitor Insights - WordPress pluginco.wordpress.org
    news

Rate this review

Anonymous. You can change your vote.

Loading votes…

Comments

One queue. No nested comments. Give a display name first. Limit: 200 words per comment and 7 comments per day. You can edit or delete yours.

Save a name to write a comment.

0 / 200 words

No comments yet.