Google Map API key Free

This article covers creating a Google Maps API key in WP Google Maps.

• Option 1: Using our Cloud API Key [standard users]

• Option 2: Create a Google Maps Key automatically [standard users]

• Option 3: Creating a Google Maps API key manually [technical users]

• API Changes introduced by Google Maps

Option 1: Using our Cloud API Key

For: Standard Users

Navigate over to our Cloud API Key purchase page and get an API key with the click of a button.

Option 2: Creating a Google Maps API Key automatically

For: Standard Users

Navigate over to the Google Maps Platform and get a Google API Project setup automatically for your site.

Option 3: Creating a Google Maps API Key manually

For: Technical Users

Getting Started

Navigate to the Google Maps Platform and click on the Get Started button in the top right corner of the site.

Enable Google Maps Platform

Select the Maps, Routes and Places check boxes and press continue.

Select a Project

If this is your first time creating an API key, you will have to create a Project first.

• Give your Project a name.

• Click the next button at the bottom-right of the window.
  
  

Set up your billing

Wait for the billing prompt and select Create Billing Account

Select your country and accept Terms of Service. Click Continue.

Enter your customer info (details) and card information.

Select START MY FREE TRIAL.

Please note that you a 12-month or $300 credit free trial. When this free trial ends, you will get up to 28 000 map requests per month and 40 000 direction calls per month, free of charge. You will only be billed when your usage exceeds your monthly $200 credit limit.

For more information about the free trial, please refer to Google’s documentation.

Once your billing has been set up, you can move onto creating your API Key.

Generate Your API Key

You will now receive your API Key

• Copy the API key to your clipboard.

• Return to your WordPress site and paste the API Key into the box labeled “Google Maps API Key” at the top of the page at WordPress Dashboard → Maps→ Settings→ Advanced.

• Click the Save Settings button.

After pasting the API Key to your WordPress site and saving the settings, return to the Google API Manager. You will want to restrict access to your API Key to avoid having it “hijacked” and going over your quota. Click the API Console link on the Enable Google Maps Platform window as shown above.

Select HTTP referrers (web sites) and enter the following domains under Accept requests from these HTTP referrers (web sites) replacing yourdomain.com with your domain name.

*yourdomain.com/*

Please note that the Google Maps API is very specific about how this field is formatted – please use exactly this format.

Click the Save button to save your Key Restrictions.

Enable Required API Functions

Now you need to enable the required API functions for your project. Click the Library link in the API Manager sidebar menu. Click on the Google Maps JavaScript API panel.

The JavaScript API will probably already be enabled as shown in the screenshot below. If the JavaScript API is not enabled, then click Enable on the Google Maps Javascript API window.

The following is a quick list of all the APIs that need to be enabled along with your JavaScript API:

• Google Maps JavaScript API

• Google Maps Geocoding API

• Google Places API

• Google Maps Directions API

API Changes Introduced By Google

Recently, Google Maps have announced certain API changes that will affect everyone using Google Maps. Essentially, Google has implemented new pay-as-you-go pricing plans for their API. On this plan mention, users will get up to 28 000 map requests per month and 40 000 direction calls per month, free of charge.

Other rates and limits found here.

The only thing required from existing users, is to add a credit card to their Google Console account if they haven’t done so already. Unfortunately, the changes introduces are completely out of our control. However, WP Google Maps will be implementing an Open Street Maps integration for the users that would like an alternative solution to Google Maps.

For more information and questions on this topic, please refer to the FAQ for the new Google Maps API changes.

This article covered creating a Google Maps API key in WP Google Maps. If you need further assistance or are having other issues with the plugins, feel free to visit our Support Desk.