Frequently Asked Questions: License Renewals

This FAQ is for customers who are renewing a previous Maps API for Business or Maps APIs for Work license with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, which became available in January 2016. For more information about the Premium Plan, see Premium Plan Overview.

Introducing the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan

Renewing your license

Understanding the usage model

Viewing Usage reports

Developing your application

Getting support

Introducing the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan

How is Google Maps APIs for Work licensing changing?

Previously, Google Maps APIs for Work customers needed to purchase separate licenses and quota for some of our APIs—the Places API, mobile SDKs, Roads API,and Geolocation API. With the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, we're now offering scaled access to our suite of services with a single usage quota. In addition, the Premium Plan includes these key changes:

  • New rates at which requests to our Maps APIs consume quota, called Maps APIs Credits.
  • Higher default queries-per-second (QPS) limits for web service APIs
  • New usage charges for client-side requests
  • New shared pool of free queries-per-day (QPD) for web services and client-side services
  • Updated Maps JavaScript API usage model that uses map loads instead of page views
Why are you changing Maps APIs for Work licensing to the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

Over the years, our Google Maps offerings have grown more robust with the addition of new APIs that have helped developers and businesses integrate mapping into new applications and solutions. However, we realized that, along with growth of our API suite, our offerings had also become more complex. With the introduction of the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, our goal is to simplify our offerings and usage model:

  • With access to our suite of services, you have all the tools you need to implement customizable, mobile-ready, scalable maps for your apps and sites. You no longer need to decide which APIs you want to use ahead of time or purchase individual APIs with different prices and usage limits.
  • With our simplified usage model, it's easier to understand and track your application's usage against a common quota pool. Now you'll know exactly how much quota your application is using and what you need to ensure it continues to run smoothly, reducing the need for mid-term upgrades, additional quota, and QPS uplifts.
Which APIs are included in the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

For a list of APIs included in the Premium Plan, see Premium Plan Overview.

Can I still purchase Places API, Mobile SDKs, Geolocation API, or Roads API individually?

We're no longer making these APIs available individually. With your Premium Plan, you'll have access to our suite of services.

Renewing your license

Why should I renew with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

We're no longer providing renewals under the Google Maps APIs for Work licenses. You should renew with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan if your business or organization still requires any of the following:

  • An SLA with 24-hour technical support
  • Ability to sell a product or service with embedded Google Maps
  • Ability to use Google Maps Platform for an internal application or website
  • A specific amount of quota
  • Ability to use Google Maps Platform (excluding the Places API) for asset tracking applications
  • Premium features that are available with your existing Google Maps APIs for Work license
When can I renew my existing license with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

When your current license is up for renewal, you can transition to the new Premium Plan. Mid-term transitions are not available at this time. When it's time for you to renew, contact your Google sales representative or Google Maps Partner for details on the new Premium Plan and to receive a price quote based on your application’s usage.

Auto-renewal customers: You'll receive a notification before your license end date indicating that auto-renewals for your previous Google Maps APIs for Work license have been cancelled. Once you renew your license with the new Premium Plan, you can set up auto-renewals again.

Do I need a Google Account to renew my license with the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

Yes, you need a Google Account to access the Google Cloud Platform Console, where your Google Maps Platform are provisioned. For details on setting up a Google Account, see the article on how to sign in to the Google Cloud Platform Console.

Can I downgrade to the Google Maps APIs Standard Plan?

Yes, if your needs have changed and your Maps APIs implementation qualifies, you can choose to use our Standard Plan, a pay-as-you-go offering, instead of the Premium Plan upon your license renewal. See Pricing and Plans for details.

Understanding the usage model

What are Maps APIs Credits and how are they consumed?

Instead of setting separate usage limits for different APIs, we've combined all quotas for API usage into one pool of Maps APIs Credits that you purchase. For details about Maps APIs Credits and the rates at which requests to different APIs consume them, see Usage Rates and Limits.

What are the usage limits with the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

For details about the usage limits for the Premium Plan, see Usage Rates and Limits.

What is the difference between the new map loads and page views for the Maps JavaScript API?

Previously, applications that used the Maps JavaScript API consumed quota according to page views. A page view was generated when the Maps JavaScript API <script> tag was included in a web page, whether or not a map was actually displayed on that page. With the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, your application will generate maps loads instead of page views. A map load is generated only when a map is actually instantiated on a web page (by calling new google.maps.Map()) or in a mobile application.

An important benefit of this change is that you'll no longer need to worry about whether the Maps JavaScript API tag was inadvertently included in pages on your site that don't display a map, which would consume quota and incur charges unnecessarily. This problem could occur, for example, if your site template included the Maps JavaScript API tag. For efficiency, we still recommend that you avoid loading the Maps JavaScript API when it's not necessary, but if you do, you'll no longer be charged.

Will client-side requests for the Places API now be charged the same as web service requests?

Yes, with the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, both client-side (via the JavaScript Places library) and web service (server-side) requests for the Places API will be charged 2 Maps APIs Credits. Previously, your client-side Places requests were not reported against your Places quota. Now, with your client ID, you can get full reports on Places usage in the Google Cloud Support Portal.

Why are Place Details requests charged 2 Maps APIs Credits and Place Autocomplete requests are charged only 0.1 credits?

The Places API uses an extensive database of business and other place data. It takes a lot of time and effort to keep this database accurate, as businesses open and close frequently. Therefore, we need to charge more for Place Details requests. For Place Autocomplete, we realize that users often need to type several characters to find a place, so we are charging only a fractional credit for each request.

How can I estimate my application's usage of Maps APIs Credits?

For details about how to calculate credits usage, see Credits Calculation Examples.

Viewing reports

Where can I view reports on my application's requests and Maps APIs Credits usage?

For details about the reporting tools available for the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, see Reporting Overview.

Developing your application

Will I be issued both a Google Cloud Platform Console project ID and a client ID?

Yes, your Welcome letter will include your Google Cloud Platform Console project ID and your client ID.

Will the Google Cloud Platform Console project I'm provided have all included APIs enabled?

Yes, with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, we’re automatically provisioning all of our APIs with the same Google Cloud Platform Console project. You can access all the included Maps APIs in one project with the same API key. Your API key provides real-time usage reports and historical usage data for up to 30 days. If you need features such as Maps APIs Analytics, usage reports by channel, and historical report data beyond the 30 days, you can use your client ID instead of the API key for any API, except the Places API, Geolocation API, Roads API, and the Mobile SDKs (Android, iOS).

Under the new usage model, is there a difference between client-side and server-side usage?

No, with the new Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, all client-side and web service (server-side) requests consume the same number of Maps APIs Credits. See Usage Rates and Limits.

Now that client-side requests are charged the same as web service requests, should I change the implementation of my application?

There's no need to change your implementation. However, we generally recommend that your application use client-side requests whenever possible for greater efficiency.

Are there changes to which services are enabled in the Google Cloud Platform Console?

Yes, with the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan, the Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work no longer needs to be enabled for you in your Google Cloud Platform Console project. However, you'll still have access to all the same premium features that these services provide. Another benefit of this change is that you'll no longer need to request authorization for additional project owners to see these services on the Google Cloud Platform Console.

How do I access the mobile features previously available with the Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work?

Although you'll no longer see the Google Maps Mobile SDK for Work enabled on the Google Cloud Platform Console, you can still access premium mobile features using the standard endpoints enabled on your console: the Maps SDK for iOS and the Maps SDK for Android. To access premium features, you don't need to change any of your code—just make sure you keep using the API key from the project created for you during signup, which allows you to use the static library. To verify that you have access to premium mobile features, simply load a map using the static library. For more information about loading maps, see the Developers Guide.

Is the dynamic library available for Android with the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

Yes, with the Premium Plan, you can now also use the dynamic library for Android instead of only the static library.

Getting support

How do I get technical support for the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

Your Premium Plan includes the same 24-hour technical support you have now. For details, see Support and Resources.

Are there any changes to the SLA under the Google Maps APIs Premium Plan?

No, your Premium Plan includes the same robust service level agreement you have now. For details, see Support and Resources.