September 07, 2018
Alright, let's calm down a bit. It has been two months since Google Services introduced their new pricing structure, and it has had implications, especially for heavy users. Complex websites or applications that heavily rely on services like Google Maps are the ones feeling the pinch, and interestingly, this new structure was introduced for precisely such users. These users have been benefiting from these (almost) free services for a long time. Some applications, particularly business listing portals, rely on these services for up to 80% of their functionality. It was only a matter of time before a change was made. Those who will have to pay more are typically the ones with a substantial number of visitors, and they are undoubtedly making money from it. A bit of frustration about the change is justified, but let's not overreact.
For more "standard" websites (yes, you probably have one if you're reading this), regular usage is still free. Google has kept the most basic features free of charge. Additionally, everyone gets a monthly usage credit of $200. For instance, the first 14,000 calls to more complex Google Maps implementations are still free, and beyond that, it's $14.00 per 1000 calls. I believe that if you have more than 14,000 Google Maps calls on your website, there must be a monetization strategy in place.
What's important, however, is to secure your API to prevent others from hijacking your key and using it. Protect your key so that only your websites and applications can utilize it.
To access the pricing table, click on the image!
Need more assistance? Feel free to ask me: melvin@zaaks.nl.