{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "arcgis",
      "name": "ArcGIS Location Platform",
      "vendor": "Esri",
      "vendorUrl": "https://location.arcgis.com",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "maps",
      "summary": "Esri's pay-as-you-go location services for developers. REST APIs cover geocoding, reverse and batch geocoding, place search, routing, basemap tiles, static maps, elevation and demographic enrichment, with an Esri-hosted MCP server in beta.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/arcgis.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-rest-js",
      "license": "Proprietary service under the ArcGIS Location Platform Agreement. The ArcGIS REST JS client library is Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://geocode-api.arcgis.com",
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@esri/arcgis-rest-geocoding"
        },
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@esri/arcgis-rest-request"
        },
        {
          "registry": "pypi",
          "name": "arcgis"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Self-serve. A free ArcGIS Location Platform account created in a browser issues API key credentials with selected privileges, an expiry date of up to one year, optional referrer limits and two tokens for rotation. OAuth 2.0 user authentication and app authentication (client ID and secret, short-lived tokens) are also supported. Requests take the token as a `token` parameter or in an `X-Esri-Authorization` or `Authorization` header. Accounts are for one person and may not be shared.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "Usage-based in US dollars with a monthly free tier and no contract. Free each month are 20,000 unstored geocodes, 20,000 routes, 500 place searches, 2 million basemap tiles, 1,000 static maps and 50,000 elevation points. A payment method (card, purchase order or voucher) is needed only to turn on pay-as-you-go, which services without a free tier, among them stored geocodes, require. The sign-up form is drawn by script and we couldn't read whether it asks for a card.",
      "priceSummary": "$0.50 / 1k req",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 on the pricing page, the billing help or the REST and MCP documentation (checked 2026-10-08).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 8,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 392,
        "npmWeekly": 65286,
        "pypiWeekly": 32974,
        "asOf": "2026-10-08"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/location-based-services/",
      "capabilities": [
        "geo.geocode",
        "geo.reverse",
        "geo.places",
        "geo.routing",
        "geo.tiles"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "maps",
        "geocoding",
        "routing",
        "places",
        "api-key",
        "oauth",
        "mcp",
        "beta-mcp",
        "free-tier",
        "usage-priced",
        "sla",
        "status-page",
        "typescript",
        "python"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-29",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 65.4,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 259,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 722,
        "categoryRank": 6,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 78,
          "maintenance": 83,
          "payments": 40,
          "reliability": 65,
          "schema": 61,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 72
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-08"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Per-unit prices are public for every service, with a monthly free tier of 20,000 geocodes and 20,000 routes, keys limited to chosen privileges and a 99.9 per cent SLA. No rate limits or OpenAPI description were found, results may not be stored unless the dearer stored geocode is bought, and the agreement bars benchmarking without written permission.",
        "bestFor": "Organisations already on Esri software, and work that needs demographic enrichment, service areas or fleet routing beside geocoding.",
        "strengths": [
          "Every service has a public unit price and most have a monthly free tier, such as 20,000 geocodes, 20,000 routes and 2 million basemap tiles (https://location.arcgis.com/pricing/).",
          "API key credentials carry selected privileges, an expiry date of up to one year, optional referrer limits and two tokens for rotation. OAuth 2.0 user and app authentication are also supported.",
          "A published SLA commits to 99.9 per cent monthly uptime for ten services, with credits of 10 or 20 per cent of the monthly bill for the affected service (document G632a, 23 December 2025).",
          "The agreement promises 90 days' notice for deprecations of SDKs, APIs and location services (ArcGIS Location Platform Agreement, revised 21 November 2025, section 4.1).",
          "An Esri-hosted MCP server at `https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp` has eight tools, filters them by the token's privileges and adds no charge on top of service rates."
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "The agreement bars benchmarking availability, performance or functionality, and publishing benchmark results, without prior written permission from Esri and its licensors (sections 3.1.b.6 and 3.1.c.6.F).",
          "No request rate limits, 429 behaviour or retry guidance were found in the geocoding, places or routing reference pages we read.",
          "No OpenAPI description or llms.txt was found. `/llms.txt` returns 404 on developers.arcgis.com and location.arcgis.com.",
          "Storing a geocode needs `forStorage=true` at $4 per 1,000 with no free tier, against $0.50 per 1,000 for results that may not be kept. The MCP geocoding tools bill at the stored rate.",
          "The MCP server is a beta under an Early Access programme, and the SLA excludes beta, evaluation and free services. Technical support is sold separately."
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Send the token in an `X-Esri-Authorization: Bearer` or `Authorization` header. The docs' examples put it in a `token` parameter, which Esri's own best-practice page calls less secure.",
          "Set `forStorage=true` on `findAddressCandidates` or `reverseGeocode` only when results will be kept. It needs pay-as-you-go and the Geocode (stored) privilege, and costs eight times the unstored rate.",
          "Cap geocoding output with `maxLocations` (default and maximum 50) and `outFields`, because billing counts results returned and the default returns every field.",
          "Page place searches with `pageSize` (maximum 20) and `offset`. A nearby or extent search costs $8 per 1,000 requests after 500 free a month.",
          "Check the JSON body for an `error` object with `code`, `message` and `details`. Code 499 means the token is missing and 403 means it lacks the privilege."
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 0,
        "avgRating": 0,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 65.4
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 78,
          "maintenance": 83,
          "payments": 40,
          "reliability": 65,
          "schema": 61,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 54
        },
        "provenanceScore": 89
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "npm install @esri/arcgis-rest-request @esri/arcgis-rest-geocoding",
        "http": "curl https://geocode-api.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeocodeServer/findAddressCandidates \\\n  -d \"f=pjson\" \\\n  -d \"address=1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, DC\" \\\n  -d \"token=\u003cACCESS_TOKEN\u003e\"",
        "config": {
          "servers": {
            "mcpArcGISLocationServices": {
              "headers": {
                "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:esriApiKey}"
              },
              "type": "http",
              "url": "https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/geo.geocode",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/arcgis"
      },
      "area": "everyday",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Geocodes, not stored (after 20,000 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.5
        },
        {
          "item": "Geocodes, stored (`forStorage=true`, no free tier)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 4
        },
        {
          "item": "Places nearby and extent search (after 500 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 8
        },
        {
          "item": "Routes (after 20,000 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.5
        },
        {
          "item": "Routes, stop-optimised (no free tier)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 50
        },
        {
          "item": "Service areas (after 5,000 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 50
        },
        {
          "item": "Basemap tiles (after 2 million free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.15
        },
        {
          "item": "Static maps (after 1,000 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.9
        },
        {
          "item": "Elevation, per 1,000 points (after 50,000 free a month)",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 1
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.",
        "domain": "arcgis.com",
        "domainRegistered": "1999-06-09",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/media/legal/platform/platform-legal.pdf",
        "privacy": "https://www.esri.com/en-us/privacy/privacy-statements/privacy-statement",
        "statusPage": "https://status.location.arcgis.com",
        "changelog": "https://location.arcgis.com/help/release-notes/2026-07/",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "notes": [
          "The ArcGIS Location Platform Agreement (E204 Platform Legal, revised 21 November 2025) is between the customer and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., a California corporation at 380 New York Street, Redlands, California 92373-8100.",
          "The privacy statement (revised 31 July 2026) is the one the product's pages link. Esri also publishes a Products \u0026 Services Privacy Statement Supplement (9 September 2025) and a Data Processing Addendum (12 March 2024). Neither names ArcGIS Location Platform. The agreement's section 11.5 points to the addendum.",
          "The services answer on arcgis.com subdomains, among them geocode-api.arcgis.com, places-api.arcgis.com and location-services-mcp.arcgis.com.",
          "`/.well-known/security.txt` returns 404 on www.esri.com, developers.arcgis.com, location.arcgis.com and www.arcgis.com. The trust centre takes reports through a form, with a PGP key and a safe harbour statement.",
          "RDAP gives 1999-06-09 for arcgis.com and 1990-04-18 for esri.com, both registered through MarkMonitor Inc.",
          "The status page is Esri's own. Its event history is drawn by script, so we read the RSS feed it links, whose newest entry is dated 16 June 2026."
        ],
        "score": 89
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "arcgis",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://geocode-api.arcgis.com",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-08T21:53:15.891018608Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 200,
          "lastMs": 134,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 134,
          "p95ms24h": 386,
          "samples24h": 28,
          "samples30d": 28,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-10-08",
              "probes": 28,
              "ok": 28
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.location.arcgis.com",
          "indicator": "unknown",
          "summary": "no machine-readable status found",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T19:38:14.482657019Z"
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T21:53:15.891018608Z"
      }
    },
    "answer": "ArcGIS Location Platform scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against MapQuest's 35.1 (F), and leads in every scored category.",
    "b": {
      "slug": "mapquest",
      "name": "MapQuest",
      "vendor": "MapQuest (System1)",
      "vendorUrl": "https://developer.mapquest.com",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "maps",
      "summary": "MapQuest's location APIs cover geocoding, directions, route matrices, place search, traffic and static maps. Agents call the REST API with a key or connect to a hosted MCP server over OAuth.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapquest",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapquest.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapquest.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/mapquest.json",
      "license": "Proprietary service. No API terms were found published without a login",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://www.mapquestapi.com",
      "packages": [],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Self-serve. A person registers at developer.mapquest.com and creates an API key. REST calls send it in the `key` query parameter. The MCP server uses OAuth through login.mapquest.com with the single scope `mcp:tools`, then picks one of the account's keys. Further keys can be created with `POST /account/v1/keys`.",
      "pricing": "usage",
      "pricingNotes": "MapQuestGO is pay-as-you-go at $0.0045 a transaction with no monthly minimum, after 50,000 one-time free transactions that expire on 1 January 2027. Monthly plans run from Basic at $119 (30,000 transactions) to Business Plus at $949 (500,000). Enterprise is by quote. An agent can start on the free credits without a contract. Whether sign-up needs a card was not established (https://developer.mapquest.com/plans, checked 2026-10-08).",
      "priceSummary": "$4.50 / 1k req",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the plans page, llms.txt or the MCP endpoint's 401 response (checked 2026-10-08).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-08"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://developer.mapquest.com/documentation/",
      "llmsTxt": "https://developer.mapquest.com/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "geo.geocode",
        "geo.reverse",
        "geo.routing",
        "geo.places"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "mcp",
        "oauth",
        "api-key",
        "llms-txt",
        "free-credits",
        "usage-priced",
        "closed-source"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-07-16",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 35.1,
        "grade": "F",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 710,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 722,
        "categoryRank": 11,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 60,
          "maintenance": 23,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 23,
          "schema": 47,
          "security": 28,
          "transparency": 28
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-08"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "One account reaches geocoding, routing, place search and traffic through a REST API or a hosted MCP server with OAuth, at a published $0.0045 a transaction. No API terms, status page, changelog or product OpenAPI spec was found, and REST keys travel in the query string.",
        "bestFor": "An agent that needs US-centred geocoding, routing with truck profiles, traffic and place search behind one account, with an MCP server ready to connect.",
        "strengths": [
          "Hosted MCP server at `https://www.mapquestapi.com/mcp` with OAuth and published protected-resource metadata",
          "Pay-as-you-go price of $0.0045 a transaction published without a login, with 50,000 one-time free transactions",
          "The Account API creates and lists keys and reports usage by key, service and hour",
          "`llms.txt` indexes every REST API, SDK and tool with a one-line purpose",
          "Async batch geocoding accepts up to 1 million rows, and batch calls take 100 locations"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "No API terms of service found. The legal link leads to System1's 2021 website terms, which allow personal, non-commercial use only",
          "No status page, changelog or published rate-limit numbers found",
          "REST keys are sent in the `key` query parameter, and no key scopes or restrictions are documented",
          "`openapi.json` describes the marketing site and has no paths, so the product APIs have no machine-readable contract",
          "Monthly plans forbid storing or caching geocodes. That needs an Enterprise account"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Register an account and create an API key before connecting the MCP server. Every tool needs an active key, chosen by nickname on first use",
          "Send REST calls to `https://www.mapquestapi.com` with `key` in the query string, and redact it from logged URLs",
          "Read `info.statuscode` in geocoding and directions responses. 0 is success, and errors such as 610 (ambiguous location) arrive in the body",
          "Set `thumbMaps=false` and `maxResults` on geocoding, and `pageSize` (1 to 50) on place search, to keep responses small",
          "Do not store or cache geocodes on a monthly or pay-as-you-go plan"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 0,
        "avgRating": 0,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "F",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 35.1
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 60,
          "maintenance": 23,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 23,
          "schema": 47,
          "security": 28,
          "transparency": 21
        },
        "provenanceScore": 35
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl \"https://www.mapquestapi.com/geocoding/v1/address?key=$MAPQUEST_API_KEY\u0026location=Washington,DC\u0026maxResults=1\u0026thumbMaps=false\"",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http mapquest https://www.mapquestapi.com/mcp",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "mapquest": {
              "url": "https://www.mapquestapi.com/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/geo.geocode",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/mapquest"
      },
      "area": "everyday",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "MapQuestGO pay-as-you-go",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 4.5,
          "note": "$0.0045 a transaction after 50,000 one-time free transactions"
        },
        {
          "item": "Basic plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 119,
          "note": "30,000 transactions a month"
        },
        {
          "item": "Plus plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 249,
          "note": "75,000 transactions a month"
        },
        {
          "item": "Business plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 499,
          "note": "200,000 transactions a month"
        },
        {
          "item": "Business Plus plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 949,
          "note": "500,000 transactions a month"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Mapquest Holdings LLC",
        "domain": "mapquest.com",
        "domainRegistered": "1996-01-10",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": false,
        "terms": "",
        "privacy": "",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "notes": [
          "The developer site's footer reads '© 2026 Mapquest Holdings LLC, A System1 Company'.",
          "No terms link is given. The site's Terms of Use link, and developer.mapquest.com/legal, lead to https://system1.com/terms/terms-of-use, the parent's website terms (last updated 26 February 2021), which allow personal, non-commercial use only and do not mention the APIs. We found no API or platform terms published without a login.",
          "No privacy link is given. The only privacy document linked is the System1 OpCo, LLC group privacy policy at https://system1.com/terms/privacy-policy (last updated 5 July 2023), a parent company's notice.",
          "The REST API and the MCP server answer at www.mapquestapi.com, a second domain (registered 2008-09-08 per RDAP). MapQuest's own docs name that host. OAuth runs at login.mapquest.com.",
          "developer.mapquest.com/.well-known/security.txt redirects to the home page, www.mapquestapi.com/.well-known/security.txt returns 404, and www.mapquest.com returned an empty 202 to our reader.",
          "No status page is linked from the developer site, the docs or the plans page. No changelog was found. The blog carries two product announcements dated 16 July 2026.",
          "RDAP for mapquest.com gives a registration date of 1996-01-10."
        ],
        "score": 35
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapquest.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "mapquest",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://www.mapquestapi.com",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-08T21:53:26.922909357Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 404,
          "lastMs": 257,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 259,
          "p95ms24h": 311,
          "samples24h": 28,
          "samples30d": 28,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-10-08",
              "probes": 28,
              "ok": 28
            }
          ]
        },
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T21:53:26.922909357Z"
      }
    },
    "facts": [
      {
        "a": "HTTP API",
        "b": "HTTP API",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "Esri",
        "b": "MapQuest (System1)",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "https://geocode-api.arcgis.com",
        "b": "https://www.mapquestapi.com",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP",
        "b": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "OAuth or key",
        "b": "OAuth or key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Freemium",
        "b": "Pay per use",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "$0.50 per 1,000 requests",
        "b": "not published",
        "name": "Price for geo geocode"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "Proprietary service under the ArcGIS Location Platform Agreement. The ArcGIS REST JS client library is Apache-2.0",
        "b": "Proprietary service. No API terms were found published without a login",
        "name": "Licence"
      },
      {
        "a": "8",
        "b": "none",
        "name": "Tools exposed"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-09-29",
        "b": "2026-07-16",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "no document linked",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-07-31",
        "b": "no document linked",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
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        "a": "392 stars, 65k npm/wk, 33k PyPI/wk",
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        "name": "Popularity"
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    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "ArcGIS Location Platform scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against MapQuest's 35.1 (F), and leads in every scored category.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, ArcGIS Location Platform or MapQuest?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Both take an API key or an OAuth sign-in.",
        "question": "Do ArcGIS Location Platform and MapQuest need an API key?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. ArcGIS Location Platform has a hosted endpoint at https://geocode-api.arcgis.com and MapQuest at https://www.mapquestapi.com.",
        "question": "Can an agent call ArcGIS Location Platform and MapQuest without installing anything?"
      }
    ],
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          "Reliability, 65 against 23",
          "Schema \u0026 documentation, 61 against 47",
          "Agent ergonomics, 78 against 60",
          "Security \u0026 auth, 64 against 28",
          "Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 30",
          "Maintenance \u0026 community, 83 against 23",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 72 against 28"
        ],
        "also": null,
        "goodFor": "Organisations already on Esri software, and work that needs demographic enrichment, service areas or fleet routing beside geocoding.",
        "slug": "arcgis",
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        "goodFor": "An agent that needs US-centred geocoding, routing with truck profiles, traffic and place search behind one account, with an MCP server ready to connect.",
        "slug": "mapquest",
        "watchFor": "No API terms of service found. The legal link leads to System1's 2021 website terms, which allow personal, non-commercial use only"
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      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-location-vs-mapquest.json",
        "title": "Amazon Location Service vs MapQuest",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-location-vs-mapquest"
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-azure-maps.json",
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-geoapify.json",
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-google-maps-platform.json",
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-locationiq.json",
        "title": "ArcGIS Location Platform vs LocationIQ",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-locationiq"
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-mapbox.json",
        "title": "ArcGIS Location Platform vs Mapbox APIs + MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-mapbox"
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-opencage.json",
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        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-opencage"
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-stadia-maps.json",
        "title": "ArcGIS Location Platform vs Stadia Maps",
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      },
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-tomtom.json",
        "title": "ArcGIS Location Platform vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-tomtom"
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        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-maps-vs-mapquest.json",
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        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-maps-vs-mapquest"
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        "title": "Mapbox APIs + MCP vs MapQuest",
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        "title": "MapQuest vs OpenCage Geocoding API",
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      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapquest-vs-tomtom.json",
        "title": "MapQuest vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapquest-vs-tomtom"
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        "arcgis": 65,
        "by": 42,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "reliability",
        "mapquest": 23,
        "name": "Reliability",
        "weight": 16
      },
      {
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        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
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      {
        "arcgis": 61,
        "by": 14,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "schema",
        "mapquest": 47,
        "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation",
        "weight": 13
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      {
        "arcgis": 78,
        "by": 18,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "ergonomics",
        "mapquest": 60,
        "name": "Agent ergonomics",
        "weight": 13
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        "arcgis": 64,
        "by": 36,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "security",
        "mapquest": 28,
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "arcgis": 40,
        "by": 10,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "payments",
        "mapquest": 30,
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "key": "tasks",
        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "arcgis": 83,
        "by": 60,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "maintenance",
        "mapquest": 23,
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "weight": 7
      },
      {
        "arcgis": 72,
        "by": 44,
        "edge": "arcgis",
        "key": "transparency",
        "mapquest": 28,
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "weight": 7
      }
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    "summary": "ArcGIS Location Platform scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against MapQuest's 35.1 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do geo geocode.",
    "verdicts": {
      "arcgis": "Per-unit prices are public for every service, with a monthly free tier of 20,000 geocodes and 20,000 routes, keys limited to chosen privileges and a 99.9 per cent SLA. No rate limits or OpenAPI description were found, results may not be stored unless the dearer stored geocode is bought, and the agreement bars benchmarking without written permission.",
      "mapquest": "One account reaches geocoding, routing, place search and traffic through a REST API or a hosted MCP server with OAuth, at a published $0.0045 a transaction. No API terms, status page, changelog or product OpenAPI spec was found, and REST keys travel in the query string."
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  "markdown": "ArcGIS Location Platform scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against MapQuest's 35.1 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do geo geocode.\n\n- ArcGIS Location Platform: grade B, 65.4/100, rank #259 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/arcgis.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/arcgis.json\n- MapQuest: grade F, 35.1/100, rank #710 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapquest.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/mapquest.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### ArcGIS Location Platform (B)\n\nGood for: Organisations already on Esri software, and work that needs demographic enrichment, service areas or fleet routing beside geocoding.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 65 against 23\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 61 against 47\n- Agent ergonomics, 78 against 60\n- Security \u0026 auth, 64 against 28\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 30\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 83 against 23\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 72 against 28\n\nWatch for: The agreement bars benchmarking availability, performance or functionality, and publishing benchmark results, without prior written permission from Esri and its licensors (sections 3.1.b.6 and 3.1.c.6.F).\n\n### MapQuest (F)\n\nGood for: An agent that needs US-centred geocoding, routing with truck profiles, traffic and place search behind one account, with an MCP server ready to connect.\n\nWatch for: No API terms of service found. The legal link leads to System1's 2021 website terms, which allow personal, non-commercial use only\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | ArcGIS Location Platform | MapQuest | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 65 | 23 | ArcGIS Location Platform +42 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 61 | 47 | ArcGIS Location Platform +14 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 78 | 60 | ArcGIS Location Platform +18 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 64 | 28 | ArcGIS Location Platform +36 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 40 | 30 | ArcGIS Location Platform +10 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 83 | 23 | ArcGIS Location Platform +60 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 72 | 28 | ArcGIS Location Platform +44 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **65.4 · B** | **35.1 · F** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | ArcGIS Location Platform | MapQuest |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Esri | MapQuest (System1) |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://geocode-api.arcgis.com` | `https://www.mapquestapi.com` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Pay per use |\n| Price for geo geocode | $0.50 per 1,000 requests | not published |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Proprietary service under the ArcGIS Location Platform Agreement. The ArcGIS REST JS client library is Apache-2.0 | Proprietary service. No API terms were found published without a login |\n| Tools exposed | 8 | none |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-09-29 | 2026-07-16 |\n| Terms last updated |  | no document linked |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-07-31 | no document linked |\n| Customer content may train models |  |  |\n| Terms restrict automated access |  |  |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking |  |  |\n| Terms or service can change without notice |  |  |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  |  |\n| Popularity | 392 stars, 65k npm/wk, 33k PyPI/wk | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**ArcGIS Location Platform.** Per-unit prices are public for every service, with a monthly free tier of 20,000 geocodes and 20,000 routes, keys limited to chosen privileges and a 99.9 per cent SLA. No rate limits or OpenAPI description were found, results may not be stored unless the dearer stored geocode is bought, and the agreement bars benchmarking without written permission.\n\n**MapQuest.** One account reaches geocoding, routing, place search and traffic through a REST API or a hosted MCP server with OAuth, at a published $0.0045 a transaction. No API terms, status page, changelog or product OpenAPI spec was found, and REST keys travel in the query string.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### ArcGIS Location Platform\n\n1. Send the token in an `X-Esri-Authorization: Bearer` or `Authorization` header. The docs' examples put it in a `token` parameter, which Esri's own best-practice page calls less secure.\n2. Set `forStorage=true` on `findAddressCandidates` or `reverseGeocode` only when results will be kept. It needs pay-as-you-go and the Geocode (stored) privilege, and costs eight times the unstored rate.\n3. Cap geocoding output with `maxLocations` (default and maximum 50) and `outFields`, because billing counts results returned and the default returns every field.\n4. Page place searches with `pageSize` (maximum 20) and `offset`. A nearby or extent search costs $8 per 1,000 requests after 500 free a month.\n5. Check the JSON body for an `error` object with `code`, `message` and `details`. Code 499 means the token is missing and 403 means it lacks the privilege.\n\n### MapQuest\n\n1. Register an account and create an API key before connecting the MCP server. Every tool needs an active key, chosen by nickname on first use\n2. Send REST calls to `https://www.mapquestapi.com` with `key` in the query string, and redact it from logged URLs\n3. Read `info.statuscode` in geocoding and directions responses. 0 is success, and errors such as 610 (ambiguous location) arrive in the body\n4. Set `thumbMaps=false` and `maxResults` on geocoding, and `pageSize` (1 to 50) on place search, to keep responses small\n5. Do not store or cache geocodes on a monthly or pay-as-you-go plan\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, ArcGIS Location Platform or MapQuest?\n\nArcGIS Location Platform scores 65.4 (B) on agent readiness against MapQuest's 35.1 (F), and leads in every scored category.\n\n### Do ArcGIS Location Platform and MapQuest need an API key?\n\nBoth take an API key or an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call ArcGIS Location Platform and MapQuest without installing anything?\n\nYes. ArcGIS Location Platform has a hosted endpoint at https://geocode-api.arcgis.com and MapQuest at https://www.mapquestapi.com.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-mapquest.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-mapquest.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"arcgis\", \"b\": \"mapquest\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare arcgis mapquest`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/arcgis.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/mapquest.json\n\n## Other comparisons with ArcGIS Location Platform or MapQuest\n\n- [Amazon Location Service vs ArcGIS Location Platform](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-location-vs-arcgis.md)\n- [Amazon Location Service vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amazon-location-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs Azure Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-azure-maps.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs Geoapify Location Platform + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-geoapify.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs Google Maps Platform + Grounding Lite MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-google-maps-platform.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs LocationIQ](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-locationiq.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs Mapbox APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-mapbox.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs OpenCage Geocoding API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-opencage.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs Stadia Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-stadia-maps.md)\n- [ArcGIS Location Platform vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/arcgis-vs-tomtom.md)\n- [Azure Maps vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-maps-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [Geoapify Location Platform + MCP vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/geoapify-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [Google Maps Platform + Grounding Lite MCP vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-maps-platform-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [LocationIQ vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [Mapbox APIs + MCP vs MapQuest](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapbox-vs-mapquest.md)\n- [MapQuest vs OpenCage Geocoding API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapquest-vs-opencage.md)\n- [MapQuest vs Stadia Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapquest-vs-stadia-maps.md)\n- [MapQuest vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapquest-vs-tomtom.md)\n",
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