Many common website capabilities are dependent on API services such as IP geolocation. The capability to detect a user’s location to source local language or currency is enabled by IP geolocation. Typically, an API detects your IP address using IP lookup and compares it to data provided by ISPs (Internet Service Providers).
While many IP geolocation APIs supply the same information, differences remain in how readily they’re exposed to customers and what additional functionality they offer. Let’s compare 6 of the best IP geolocation APIs to demonstrate.
IP geolocation API by Abstract
Abstract’s IP Geolocation API is a REST API compatible with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It’s easy to implement using languages including jQuery, Ruby, and Python. It can detect a visitor’s location in real time by sourcing the city, ZIP or postal code, ASN (ISP), latitude/longitude, and more. All data uses 256 bit SSL encryption and can then be exported in JSON or XML formats. Bulk uploads from CSV are also possible
It’s also capable of detecting cyber security threats which can be important as cyber criminals will often use tools to circumvent attempts to detect their true location. Abstract’s capability to detect VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), proxies and TOR (anonymizer) can also help defend your business.
All of Abstract’s functionalities are also available at all pricing levels, even if you’re using the free API key that enables 20,000 API requests per month. Higher product tiers add some richer data and enable scaling to high or enterprise levels of usage such as tens of millions of API calls per month.
ipdata.co
ipdata.co can source visitor location data including country code and country flag, currency and language.
This API can detect TOR, proxies, BOGON (illegitimate IP addresses) and compare this data to known threats.
The free (trial) plan can support up to 1,500 API calls per month. This enables you to get started with development of the API in JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and other languages. Almost all features, including threat detection, are available at all paid tiers. Higher tiers add SLAs and high or enterprise level features.
ipinfo.io
ipinfo can source location information such as country code, time zone, city, latitude/longitude.
It has the capability to detect VPNs, proxies, TOR, and other potential threats to your security.
There’s a free trial, limited to 7 days, as well as a free IP geolocation which allows up to 50,000 API requests per month. However, threat detection capabilities only become available at the second paid tier at $249 per month.
ip2location
The IP2Location IP Geolocation Web Service can source commonly available geolocation data such as country, region and city. Alongside that, though, it can also provide elevation, weather station and internet speed.
This API can detect proxies, but full threat data is only available through a separate product.
IP2Location is very granular in nature. You purchase credits which you then spend to acquire the level of detail you need. This granular approach extends to add ons and additional products.
ipstack
ipstack’s API can source geolocation information including country code, region code, calling code, ZIP code, and more.
This API can detect potential threats such as crawlers, TOR and proxies while comparing this to known threat data.
ipstack’s website says that the free API key supports 100 API calls per month, but this is an atypically low number. The free plan also only provides location data. Threat detection functionality and data beyond geographical location only start to become available at the second paid tier which supports 50,000 requests per month.
Maxmind
Maxmind can supply a user’s location and, atypically, add confidence scores, accuracy radius and demographic data. This data can include country, time zone, ASN, and more.
It can detect TOR and VPNs, but full threat detection capabilities are in a separate product.
The payment plans see clients pay per API call. The free plan’s limited to 5 US dollars’ worth of API returns. Data more accurate than country is only available in the second paid tier. The confidence scores, accuracy radius and demographic data is only available in the third (top) tier.
Summary
If your use cases are very light, requiring only basic location data, then there are lots of options available to you. However, some products can ‘hide’ information that you could conceivably need behind higher price tiers. Also, don’t forget that you need to ensure that you minimize threats to your business from cyber criminals, especially if you’re holding customer data. Customer data loss can lead to massive fines and equally massive reputational or brand damage.
IP geolocation services which can supply all the information and threat detection capabilities that your business needs at all product tiers are ideal. Otherwise, you could find yourself paying much more for high levels of API calls that you won’t ever use.