Billing explained ​
Google requires a billing account to use the Maps APIs. This is primarily to prevent abuse. For the vast majority of WordPress sites, the free tier covers all usage.
Google Maps Platform pricing ​
Google provides $200 per month in free credits for Maps Platform usage. This renews every month and does not roll over.
Cost per API call (approximate) ​
| API | Cost per 1 000 calls | Free calls per month |
|---|---|---|
| Maps JavaScript (map loads) | $7.00 | ~28 500 |
| Street View Static | $7.00 | ~28 500 |
| Places Autocomplete | $2.83 | ~70 600 |
| Geocoding | $5.00 | ~40 000 |
Real-world example ​
A WordPress site with 10 000 monthly pageviews, where 30% of pages contain a map:
- Map loads: ~3 000/month
- Cost: ~$21
- After free credit: $0
You would need roughly 28 500 map loads per month before incurring any charge. Most small to medium businesses never exceed this.
Budget alerts ​
Set up budget alerts in the Cloud Console to receive email notifications before costs exceed a threshold:
- Go to Billing → Budgets & alerts
- Create a budget (e.g., $10/month)
- Set alert thresholds at 50%, 90%, and 100%
Free trial ​
New Google Cloud accounts receive $300 in free trial credits valid for 90 days. This is separate from the ongoing $200/month Maps Platform credit.