{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "locationiq",
      "name": "LocationIQ",
      "vendor": "LocationIQ (Unwired Labs)",
      "vendorUrl": "https://locationiq.com",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "maps",
      "summary": "Forward and reverse geocoding, autocomplete, nearby places, directions, matrix and map tiles, from US and EU endpoints.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/locationiq.json",
      "transports": [
        "http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://us1.locationiq.com/v1",
      "packages": [],
      "auth": "api-key",
      "authNotes": "Access token passed as the key query parameter. Same API on us1.locationiq.com and eu1.locationiq.com.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "Free 5,000 requests a day at 2 a second, no card, with a prominent link back required. Maps Lite $45 a month (10,000 a day, maps only), Developer $100 (25,000 a day, all APIs), Startup $200 (60,000 a day), Growth Plus $500 (7.5 million a month), Business Plus $950 (30 million a month), Enterprise custom. Paid plans need a card (https://locationiq.com/pricing).",
      "priceSummary": "$100 / mo",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://docs.locationiq.com",
      "llmsTxt": "https://docs.locationiq.com/llms.txt",
      "openapi": "https://docs.locationiq.com/openapi.yaml",
      "capabilities": [
        "geo.geocode",
        "geo.reverse",
        "geo.places",
        "geo.routing",
        "geo.tiles"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "llms-txt",
        "free-tier",
        "no-card",
        "eu",
        "closed-source"
      ],
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 60.6,
        "grade": "C",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 243,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 5,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 74,
          "maintenance": 3,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 78,
          "security": 55,
          "transparency": 65
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "5,000 free requests a day with no card, commercial use allowed with a link back. No changelog, release notes or blog.",
        "strengths": [
          "5,000 free requests a day with no card, commercial use allowed with a link back",
          "Public OpenAPI 3.0 spec and an llms.txt with Markdown pages",
          "Scoped tokens with referrer or IP restrictions and per-token rate limits",
          "No incidents posted between 2 April and 1 October 2026, with history back to 2018",
          "Error messages that separate per-second, per-minute and per-day limits"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "No changelog, release notes or blog",
          "Official SDKs untouched since 2020",
          "No MCP server",
          "Key only in the query string",
          "Free plan must delete cached results after 48 hours and gets a single token"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Use eu1.locationiq.com for European users or data",
          "Add format=json and limit=1 to keep responses small",
          "On 429 Rate Limited Second wait a second, on Rate Limited Day stop until the next day",
          "Call /balance before a large batch to see what's left of the day's quota",
          "Redact the key parameter before logging request URLs"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 4.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "C",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 60.6
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 74,
          "maintenance": 3,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 78,
          "security": 55,
          "transparency": 40
        },
        "provenanceScore": 90
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl \"https://eu1.locationiq.com/v1/search?key=$LOCATIONIQ_API_KEY\u0026q=10%20Downing%20Street%2C%20London\u0026format=json\u0026limit=1\""
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/geo.geocode",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/locationiq"
      },
      "area": "everyday",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Developer plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 100,
          "note": "25,000 requests a day, 20 a second, all APIs"
        },
        {
          "item": "Startup plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 200,
          "note": "60,000 requests a day, 22 a second"
        },
        {
          "item": "Growth Plus plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 500,
          "note": "7.5 million requests a month, 30 a second"
        },
        {
          "item": "Business Plus plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 950,
          "note": "30 million requests a month, 40 a second"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Unwired Labs (India) Pvt Ltd",
        "domain": "locationiq.com",
        "domainRegistered": "2005-09-20",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://locationiq.com/tos",
        "privacy": "https://locationiq.com/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.locationiq.com",
        "changelog": "",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The terms were last updated 31 March 2026.",
          "security.txt lists hello@locationiq.com and expires 2028-01-01.",
          "LocationIQ's own privacy policy is at locationiq.com/privacy, last updated 22 May 2020. The parent's page at unwiredlabs.com/privacy embeds a Google Doc our reader couldn't see.",
          "The status page's RSS feed holds 74 incidents from March 2018 to 2 April 2026.",
          "We found no changelog or blog."
        ],
        "score": 90
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "locationiq",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://us1.locationiq.com/v1",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-05T00:15:25.795511966Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 403,
          "lastMs": 227,
          "lastNote": "asks for credentials",
          "authRequired": true,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 230,
          "p95ms24h": 348,
          "samples24h": 272,
          "samples30d": 903,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-10-01",
              "probes": 109,
              "ok": 109
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-02",
              "probes": 248,
              "ok": 248
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-03",
              "probes": 271,
              "ok": 271
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-04",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-05",
              "probes": 3,
              "ok": 3
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.locationiq.com",
          "indicator": "unknown",
          "summary": "no machine-readable status found",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T21:40:13.355600913Z"
        },
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://locationiq.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "valid",
          "expires": "2028-01-01T00:00:00Z",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:15:37.071056485Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://docs.locationiq.com/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:57.180551219Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "locationiq.com",
          "registered": "2005-09-20",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/locationiq.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:04:09.085884687Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://locationiq.com/pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:40.456577184Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "8ef406b8d494"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://locationiq.com/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:42.570074696Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "f99922f73f1e"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://locationiq.com/tos",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:45:44.50940215Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "13f087788a40"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T00:15:25.795511966Z"
      }
    },
    "b": {
      "slug": "mapbox",
      "name": "Mapbox APIs + MCP",
      "vendor": "Mapbox",
      "vendorUrl": "https://www.mapbox.com",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "maps",
      "summary": "Geocoding v6 with batch, Search Box for places and categories, Directions, Matrix, Isochrone, Map Matching, route optimisation, static images and map tiles.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/mapbox.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/mapbox/mcp-server",
      "license": "MIT (MCP server)",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http",
        "stdio"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://api.mapbox.com",
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@mapbox/mcp-server"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Access tokens (public pk. or secret sk.) passed as the access_token query parameter on every REST call. The hosted MCP at mcp.mapbox.com signs in with an OAuth flow in the browser. The local server reads MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "Free monthly allowance per API, then tiered pay as you go. Temporary Geocoding 100,000 free, then $0.75 per 1,000 down to $0.45 above 1 million. Permanent Geocoding (results you may store) has no free allowance and costs $5 per 1,000, then $4 above 500,000. Search Box 500 free sessions then $3 per 1,000 sessions, or 50,000 free requests then $1 per 1,000. Directions, Matrix (by element), Isochrone, Map Matching and route optimisation 100,000 free each, then $2 per 1,000 down to $1.20. Static Images 50,000 free then $1 per 1,000. Vector tiles 200,000 free then $0.25 per 1,000. GL JS map loads 50,000 free then $5 per 1,000 (https://www.mapbox.com/pricing).",
      "priceSummary": "$0.75 / 1k req",
      "where": "both",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 29,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 353,
        "npmWeekly": 1974,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://docs.mapbox.com/api/",
      "llmsTxt": "https://docs.mapbox.com/llms.txt",
      "registryName": "io.github.mapbox/mcp-server",
      "capabilities": [
        "geo.geocode",
        "geo.reverse",
        "geo.places",
        "geo.routing",
        "geo.tiles"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "official",
        "oauth",
        "typescript",
        "free-tier",
        "enterprise",
        "closed-source"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-07-30",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 75.2,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 39,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 1,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 88,
          "maintenance": 80,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 82,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 71,
          "transparency": 86
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Official MCP server, hosted at mcp.mapbox.com with OAuth or run locally, listed in the MCP registry. Storing geocodes needs the Permanent tier at $5 per 1,000, about 6.7 times the temporary rate.",
        "strengths": [
          "Official MCP server, hosted at mcp.mapbox.com with OAuth or run locally, listed in the MCP registry",
          "Every MCP tool annotated read-only and idempotent, with typed Zod input and output schemas",
          "Scoped public and secret tokens, URL restrictions and one-hour temporary tokens",
          "SOC 2 Type II, a HackerOne bug bounty and a dated subprocessor list (4 June 2026)",
          "At least 90 days' emailed notice before an API endpoint is deprecated"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Storing geocodes needs the Permanent tier at $5 per 1,000, about 6.7 times the temporary rate",
          "Geocoding results may only be used with a Mapbox map",
          "REST calls take the token as the access_token query parameter",
          "29 MCP tools load at once on the hosted endpoint, with filtering documented only for the local server",
          "No SLA on the pricing page or in the API docs, and no security.txt"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Set permanent=true only when the result goes into a database, since it moves the call to the $5 per 1,000 rate",
          "Keep search_and_geocode_tool queries under 200 characters, the live limit, not the 256 the API docs state",
          "On 429, wait until the X-Rate-Limit-Reset timestamp, since no Retry-After is sent",
          "Run the local server with --enable-tools to load only the tools the task needs",
          "Use category_search_tool for generic place types like coffee shops, not search_and_geocode_tool"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 8,
        "avgRating": 3.6,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 75.2
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 88,
          "maintenance": 80,
          "payments": 30,
          "reliability": 82,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 71,
          "transparency": 82
        },
        "provenanceScore": 90
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl \"https://api.mapbox.com/search/geocode/v6/forward?q=10%20Downing%20Street%2C%20London\u0026limit=1\u0026access_token=$MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN\"",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http mapbox https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "mapbox": {
              "args": [
                "-y",
                "@mapbox/mcp-server"
              ],
              "command": "npx",
              "env": {
                "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/geo.geocode",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/mapbox"
      },
      "area": "everyday",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Temporary Geocoding",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.75,
          "note": "After 100,000 free a month, $0.45 above 1 million"
        },
        {
          "item": "Permanent Geocoding",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 5,
          "note": "No free allowance, $4 above 500,000"
        },
        {
          "item": "Search Box sessions",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 3,
          "note": "Per 1,000 sessions after 500 free"
        },
        {
          "item": "Directions",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 2,
          "note": "After 100,000 free a month, $1.20 above 1 million"
        },
        {
          "item": "Matrix",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 2,
          "note": "Per 1,000 elements after 100,000 free"
        },
        {
          "item": "Static Images",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 1,
          "note": "After 50,000 free a month"
        },
        {
          "item": "Vector tiles",
          "unit": "1k-requests",
          "usd": 0.25,
          "note": "After 200,000 free a month"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Mapbox, Inc.",
        "domain": "mapbox.com",
        "domainRegistered": "2003-11-27",
        "domainNote": "mapbox.com was registered in 2003, years before Mapbox started, so the domain was bought later.",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://www.mapbox.com/legal/tos",
        "privacy": "https://www.mapbox.com/legal/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.mapbox.com",
        "changelog": "https://docs.mapbox.com/api/changelog/",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The terms of service were last updated 31 March 2024 and point to separate product terms for per-API rules.",
          "The terms let Mapbox create de-identified aggregated data from customer usage.",
          "www.mapbox.com/.well-known/security.txt returns 404.",
          "The top-level API changelog's newest entry is 5 November 2021. Current changes are in per-service changelogs and the MCP server's CHANGELOG.md on GitHub.",
          "Subprocessor list (22 entries with locations) last updated 4 June 2026."
        ],
        "score": 90
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "mapbox",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://api.mapbox.com",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-05T00:15:26.26284165Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 200,
          "lastMs": 18,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 24,
          "p95ms24h": 45,
          "samples24h": 272,
          "samples30d": 903,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-10-01",
              "probes": 109,
              "ok": 109
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-02",
              "probes": 248,
              "ok": 248
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-03",
              "probes": 271,
              "ok": 271
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-04",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-05",
              "probes": 3,
              "ok": 3
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.mapbox.com",
          "indicator": "none",
          "summary": "All Systems Operational",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-05T00:11:25.34887904Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "mapbox/mcp-server",
            "version": "v0.14.0",
            "released": "2026-07-30",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:32:28.642802016Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "mcp-registry",
            "name": "io.github.mapbox/mcp-server",
            "version": "99.0.0-dev",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T23:42:40.113054682Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@mapbox/mcp-server",
            "version": "0.14.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:32:27.7067637Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 358,
        "npmWeekly": 1814,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://mapbox.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:16:01.86557058Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://docs.mapbox.com/llms.txt",
          "ok": false,
          "status": 403,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:58.319982851Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "mapbox.com",
          "registered": "2003-11-27",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/mapbox.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:08:41.082804792Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://docs.mapbox.com/api/changelog/",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:43:48.189562984Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "395e3e05bd01"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.mapbox.com/pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:51:21.320380793Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "c404d9072f3f"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.mapbox.com/legal/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:51:17.093512152Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "23a9cfdfb638"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.mapbox.com/legal/tos",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:51:19.370372443Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "2091a3b9c941"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T00:15:26.26284165Z"
      }
    },
    "summary": "Mapbox APIs + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against LocationIQ's 60.6 (C). Both do geo geocode. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 77 points."
  },
  "kind": "anchor.page",
  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-mapbox",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-mapbox.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-mapbox.md",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-mapbox.min.md"
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  "markdown": "Mapbox APIs + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against LocationIQ's 60.6 (C). Both do geo geocode. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 77 points.\n\n- LocationIQ: grade C, 60.6/100, rank #243 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/locationiq.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/locationiq.json\n- Mapbox APIs + MCP: grade BB, 75.2/100, rank #39 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/mapbox.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/mapbox.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\nPick LocationIQ for nothing in particular (no category where it leads by five points or more).\n\nPick Mapbox APIs + MCP for schema \u0026 documentation (+7), agent ergonomics (+14), security \u0026 auth (+16), maintenance \u0026 community (+77), transparency \u0026 trust (+21).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | LocationIQ | Mapbox APIs + MCP | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 83 | 82 | LocationIQ +1 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 78 | 85 | Mapbox APIs + MCP +7 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 74 | 88 | Mapbox APIs + MCP +14 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 55 | 71 | Mapbox APIs + MCP +16 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 30 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 3 | 80 | Mapbox APIs + MCP +77 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 65 | 86 | Mapbox APIs + MCP +21 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **60.6 · C** | **75.2 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | LocationIQ | Mapbox APIs + MCP |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | LocationIQ (Unwired Labs) | Mapbox |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://us1.locationiq.com/v1` | `https://api.mapbox.com` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio |\n| Auth | API key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | MIT (MCP server) |\n| Tools exposed | none | 29 |\n| Context cost (tools/list) | n/a | n/a |\n| p95 latency | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Availability (30d) | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | yes |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| MCP registry | not listed | `io.github.mapbox/mcp-server` |\n| Last release | none | 2026-07-30 |\n| Popularity | none | 353 stars, 2k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 4.5/5 (2) | 3.6/5 (8) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**LocationIQ.** 5,000 free requests a day with no card, commercial use allowed with a link back. No changelog, release notes or blog.\n\n**Mapbox APIs + MCP.** Official MCP server, hosted at mcp.mapbox.com with OAuth or run locally, listed in the MCP registry. Storing geocodes needs the Permanent tier at $5 per 1,000, about 6.7 times the temporary rate.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### LocationIQ\n\n1. Use eu1.locationiq.com for European users or data\n2. Add format=json and limit=1 to keep responses small\n3. On 429 Rate Limited Second wait a second, on Rate Limited Day stop until the next day\n4. Call /balance before a large batch to see what's left of the day's quota\n5. Redact the key parameter before logging request URLs\n\n### Mapbox APIs + MCP\n\n1. Set permanent=true only when the result goes into a database, since it moves the call to the $5 per 1,000 rate\n2. Keep search_and_geocode_tool queries under 200 characters, the live limit, not the 256 the API docs state\n3. On 429, wait until the X-Rate-Limit-Reset timestamp, since no Retry-After is sent\n4. Run the local server with --enable-tools to load only the tools the task needs\n5. Use category_search_tool for generic place types like coffee shops, not search_and_geocode_tool\n\n## Other comparisons with LocationIQ or Mapbox APIs + MCP\n\n- [Geoapify Location Platform + MCP vs LocationIQ](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/geoapify-vs-locationiq.md)\n- [Geoapify Location Platform + MCP vs Mapbox APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/geoapify-vs-mapbox.md)\n- [Google Maps Platform + Grounding Lite MCP vs LocationIQ](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-maps-platform-vs-locationiq.md)\n- [Google Maps Platform + Grounding Lite MCP vs Mapbox APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/google-maps-platform-vs-mapbox.md)\n- [LocationIQ vs OpenCage Geocoding API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-opencage.md)\n- [LocationIQ vs Stadia Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-stadia-maps.md)\n- [LocationIQ vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/locationiq-vs-tomtom.md)\n- [Mapbox APIs + MCP vs OpenCage Geocoding API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapbox-vs-opencage.md)\n- [Mapbox APIs + MCP vs Stadia Maps](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapbox-vs-stadia-maps.md)\n- [Mapbox APIs + MCP vs TomTom Maps APIs + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/mapbox-vs-tomtom.md)\n",
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    "description": "Mapbox APIs + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against LocationIQ's 60.6 (C). Both do geo geocode. The largest gap is maintenance \u0026 community, 77 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.",
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    "title": "LocationIQ vs Mapbox APIs + MCP for AI agents, C 60.6 vs BB 75.2",
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