Best Alternatives to Place Details APIs for 2025

Top Place Details API Alternatives in 2025

Place Details API is a popular choice for obtaining accurate geographic coordinate-based address information. However, there are several alternatives that offer unique features and capabilities. In this blog post, we will explore the best alternatives to the Place Details API, including the Local Search API, Nearby Places API, Location Identification API, and Location Information API. Each alternative will be examined in detail, highlighting their key features, pricing, pros and cons, ideal use cases, and how they differ from the Place Details API.

1. Local Search API

Local Search API is designed to provide information about businesses and points of interest near a specific location. This API is particularly useful for developers looking to create applications that require local search capabilities, such as travel guides or restaurant finders.

Key Features and Capabilities

Get Places. To use this feature, developers must provide parameters including latitude, longitude, type (e.g., coffee), and a maximum radius of 10,000 meters. This allows users to retrieve a list of nearby establishments based on their location.

{"results":[{"id":"A3178B71DBCC0FA82D4F6285B2C1C03B","name":"La vida argentina","address":"California 93657, USA","location":{"lat":36.778265,"lng":-119.417914},"types":["cafe","food","store"],"distance":4}]}

Get Places by Text, which allows users to search for places by name. Developers simply need to provide the name of the place in the parameters.

{"results":[{"id":"4CF8CF243454935EE20AE4CB2C266F01","name":"The Getty","address":"1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049, United States","phone_number":"+13104407300","website":"https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/","location":{"lat":34.078044,"lng":-118.474074},"types":["museum","tourist_attraction"]}]}

Pricing Details

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive database of local businesses and points of interest.
• Flexible search parameters for customized results.
• Easy integration into travel and food applications.

Cons:

• May require additional data sources for comprehensive results.
• Potentially limited to specific geographic regions.

Ideal Use Cases

• Travel applications providing local attractions.
• Food and beverage apps helping users find nearby restaurants.
• Social media platforms integrating location-based features.

How It Differs from Place Details API

View the integration guide for step-by-step instructions.

2. Nearby Places API

Nearby Places API is another powerful alternative that provides information on establishments within a certain distance from a specific latitude and longitude coordinate. This API is particularly useful for applications that require location-based services, such as mapping or geolocation features.

Key Features and Capabilities

Establishment Types. This allows developers to categorize establishments, such as restaurants, gas stations, or shopping centers, making it easier for users to find what they need.

["Amusement Park","Aquarium","Art Gallery","Art Museum","Billiards","Bowling Alley","Casino","Cinema","Historical Monument","History Museum","Indoor Sports","Jazz Club","Landmark","Library","Live Music","Museum","Other Arts and Entertainment","Performing Arts","Ruin","Science Museum","Tourist Attraction","Wild Animal Park","Zoo"]

Nearby Places, which returns nearby places sorted by distance from the origin coordinates in ascending order. Developers can specify the maximum number of places to return, with a limit of 50.

{"status":"OK","results":[{"location":{"lat":"27.6682300","lng":"85.3205500"},"name":"Pan Hospital","address":"Lalitpur, Bagmati Province","distanceMeter":"1040.11"},{"location":{"lat":"27.6612800","lng":"85.3189900"},"name":"Shubhatara Hospital & Research Center Pvt.Ltd","address":"Lalitpur, Bagmati Province","distanceMeter":"1801.19"}]}

Pricing Details

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Ability to filter results by establishment types for personalized experiences.
• Accurate distance calculations for nearby establishments.
• Easy integration into mapping and geolocation applications.

Cons:

• Limited to establishments within a specified radius.
• Data accuracy may vary based on the source.

Ideal Use Cases

• Mapping services displaying nearby establishments.
• Travel applications showing local attractions.
• Emergency services locating nearby hospitals or services.

How It Differs from Place Details API

Try the API playground to experiment with requests.

3. Location Identification API

Location Identification API is a web service that allows developers to convert latitude and longitude coordinates into readable location descriptions. This API is commonly used in applications that require location-based services, such as navigation, asset tracking, and emergency response systems.

Key Features and Capabilities

Get Location. To use this feature, developers simply need to enter latitude and longitude coordinates in the parameters.

{"results":[{"address":"GV4C+VX London, UK","country":"United Kingdom","region":"England","area":"Greater London","location":{"lat":51.507204,"lng":-0.127615},"location_type":"centroid","type":"poi"}]}

Get Location by Text, which allows users to obtain location information by entering an address.

{"results":[{"address":"48 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DH, UK","postal_code":"WC2H 7DH","country":"United Kingdom","region":"England","area":"Greater London","street":"Leicester Square","house":"48","location":{"lat":51.510204,"lng":-0.130908},"location_type":"exact","type":"street_address"}]}

Pricing Details

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Accurate reverse geocoding capabilities for latitude and longitude coordinates.
• Flexible input options for location queries.
• Easy integration into navigation and tracking applications.

Cons:

• Data accuracy may vary based on the source.
• Limited to specific geographic regions.

Ideal Use Cases

• Navigation services converting coordinates into readable addresses.
• Asset tracking applications needing location descriptions.
• Emergency response systems identifying locations based on coordinates.

How It Differs from Place Details API

Read our technical guides for implementation tips.

4. Location Information API

Location Information API serves as a gateway to a vast universe of geographic data, providing real-time geolocation data for IP addresses. This API is particularly useful for applications that require personalization, security, and marketing.

Key Features and Capabilities

Get Geo Data. To use this feature, developers must specify an IP address in the parameters.

{"ip": "163.172.220.199", "country_code": "NL", "country_name": "Netherlands", "region_name": "Noord-Holland", "city_name": "Amsterdam", "latitude": "52.378502", "longitude": "4.899980", "zipcode": "1000", "timezone": "+02:00"}

Pricing Details

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Real-time geolocation data for IP addresses.
• Comprehensive information for targeted marketing campaigns.
• Easy integration into applications requiring location-based services.

Cons:

• Data accuracy may vary based on the source.
• Limited to IP address-based geolocation.

Ideal Use Cases

• Targeted marketing campaigns based on user location.
• Content localization for enhancing user experience.
• User authentication for fraud prevention based on geographic location.

How It Differs from Place Details API

Check out the API documentation to get started.

Conclusion