According to recent reports from next year Google will be charging for Google Maps API. The move however, is only expected to affect heavy users of the service that receive in excess of 25,000 hits through Google Maps on a daily basis.
The charges according to Google will only affect 0.35% of service users, predominately thought to be travel websites that direct a large amount of traffic through Google Maps. It is rumoured that such websites will have to pay $4 for every thousand views over the 25,000 hits limit although there are also rumours that for extremely high users, a Maps API Premium Licence would be the most cost effective option.
Product Manager of Maps API, Thor Mitchell said that Google “understand that the introduction of these limits may be concerning” but argued that the move has been taken to secure its long term future and ensure that the service remains viable in the future.
