# Best maps, geocoding and places APIs for AI agents (slim)

> Mapbox APIs + MCP (BB), Amazon Location Service (BB) and OpenCage Geocoding API (B) lead the 13 ranked maps, geocoding and places APIs. Picks by need, strengths, weaknesses and prices from the Anchor benchmark.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/maps/index.md (~5,850 tokens) · this version ~1,430 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/maps/index.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/maps/
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-09

The 10 highest-scoring of 13 maps, geocoding and places APIs on the Anchor benchmark, with a pick for each need and where each one falls short. Scores come from public evidence, re-checked as vendors change.

- Ranked: 13 · agent-ready (BB or better): 2 · accept x402: 0 · hosted endpoints: 13
- Full ranked table: https://www.anchorterminal.com/categories/maps.md
- Head-to-head comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/maps/index.md (78)
- Methodology: https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/index.md

## The shortlist

| # | Tool | Grade | Score | Best for | Price | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Mapbox APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.md) | BB | 75 | An agent that needs search, routing, isochrones, map matching and route optimisation from one vendor with a hosted, OAuth-protected MCP. | $0.75 / 1k req | hosted and local |
| 2 | [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md) | BB | 74.1 | Operators already on AWS who want geocoding, places and routing inside IAM, CloudTrail and one bill, with HERE data and GrabMaps for Southeast Asia. | $0.50 / 1k req | hosted |
| 3 | [OpenCage Geocoding API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/opencage.md) | B | 69.2 | Bulk or repeated geocoding where results go into a database, and for EU data residency. | $50 / mo | hosted and local |
| 4 | [Google Maps Platform + Grounding Lite MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/google-maps-platform.md) | B | 68.2 | Best when the answer has to match what the user sees in Google Maps, for place details, opening hours and reviews. | $5 / 1k req | hosted |
| 5 | [Azure Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/azure-maps.md) | B | 67.9 | Teams already on Azure that want geocoding and routing under Entra ID roles and one flat price. | $4.50 / 1k req | hosted |
| 6 | [ArcGIS Location Platform](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.md) | B | 65.4 | Organisations already on Esri software, and work that needs demographic enrichment, service areas or fleet routing beside geocoding. | $0.50 / 1k req | hosted |
| 7 | [Stadia Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/stadia-maps.md) | B | 65.2 | Cost-sensitive geocoding, routing and tiles on OpenStreetMap data, with traffic-influenced routing since April 2026. | $20 / mo | hosted and local |
| 8 | [LocationIQ](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq.md) | C | 60.3 | A prototype or a cost-sensitive geocoding and routing job, with EU and US endpoints. | $100 / mo | hosted |
| 9 | [HERE Location Services](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/here-location-services.md) | C | 58 | Fleet and logistics work that needs truck routing, large matrices, isolines, traffic and transit from one vendor with an SLA. | Freemium | hosted |
| 10 | [Geoapify Location Platform + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/geoapify.md) | C | 55.3 | Cheap geocoding, category place search, routing and isolines on OpenStreetMap data, with commercial use on the free plan and EU hosting. | $59 / mo | hosted |

## Picks by need

- Highest score overall: [Mapbox APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.md), BB, 75/100 on the benchmark. Also [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md), BB, 74.1/100.
- Reliability: [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md), 95/100 on reliability, against 82 for the overall leader.
- Schema & documentation: [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md), 87/100 on schema & documentation, against 85 for the overall leader.
- Security & auth: [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md), 73/100 on security & auth, against 71 for the overall leader.
- Maintenance & community: [TomTom Maps APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/tomtom.md), 86/100 on maintenance & community, against 80 for the overall leader.
- Lowest paid price per 1,000 requests: [Amazon Location Service](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/amazon-location.md), $0.04 per 1,000 requests, the lowest of the 8 listings here with a paid price in this unit (free allowances aside). Also [ArcGIS Location Platform](https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.md), $0.15 per 1,000 requests.

## How to choose

- Country coverage for addresses: Test addresses from every country the agent will serve, since accuracy against known coordinates can vary between countries and data sources.
- Storage and caching terms: Read what the terms let you cache, store and display, because coordinates held beyond the permitted period can breach the agreed terms.
- AI use clause: Check whether the terms permit results to be passed to an AI model, because an agent that forwards coordinates to one may breach them.
- Price per thousand calls: Convert the price per thousand calls into a cost for the geocoding, places and route calls the agent makes, since one task may use several of them.

- How the benchmark tests this category: The same addresses in five countries geocoded and reverse geocoded, a place search and a route with traffic. We check accuracy against known coordinates, latency, the storage terms and the cost.

Each listing's verdict, strengths and weaknesses: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/maps/index.md