Google Places API removed its free tier in February 2025. The new pricing starts at ~$275/month for 100K calls. If you need basic business/POI data and don't need Google's reviews or photos, here's a free alternative. BizData API A REST API wrapping OpenStreetMap's Overpass API. Free, no API key, no signup. curl "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/businesses?location=Paris&category=cafe&limit=3" Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode Returns structured JSON with name, address, phone, website, email, coordinates, and opening hours. Google Places vs BizData Feature Google Places BizData Price $275+/mo Free API key Required Not needed Categories 100+ 37 Reviews/photos Yes No Coverage (EU) Excellent Excellent Coverage (US) Excellent Good Rate limits Strict Fair use When to use this Lead generation (bulk business listings) Market research (how many cafes in a neighborhood?) Location-based apps needing basic POI data Prototyping before committing to Google's pricing MCP tool calls from AI assistants…