Google Maps API Alternative: Why and When Choose Scrap.io ?

When you need to extract business data from Google Maps, the official Google Maps API might seem like the obvious choice. But what happens when you hit the 120-result limit per query? Or when your costs spiral out of control at $32-40 per 1,000 requests? That's exactly when developers start looking for a Google Maps API alternative.

The Google Maps API is a vast subject with four different uses: maps, routes, places, and environment. The one we're focusing on is Places API - the one that allows you to extract business data. But here's the thing: it comes with significant limitations and costs that can make or break your project.

Why consider Scrap.io as an alternative? Simple. When you need more than 120 results per query, when you want access to email addresses and social media data, or when you need a more cost-effective solution for large-scale operations, Scrap.io becomes the logical choice.

When should you make the switch? If you're building lead generation tools, conducting market research, or need unrestricted access to Google Maps business data without the traditional API constraints, then Scrap.io offers what the official API cannot.

But what data can be exactly gathered with each approach, at what cost, and how do you bypass the potential Google Maps API limitations? Let's dive deep into this comparison between the official API and Scrap.io, which enables Google Maps scraping without the traditional restrictions.

Understanding Google Maps API: The Places Focus

If we take a look at the Google Maps Platform in the places tab, we can see a lot of subcategories - there are 10 of them. There are APIs for very specific uses: some for extracting coordinates, time zones, or photos, and finally there are those that allow you to scrape business data: text search, place details, and nearby search.

Text Search: Simple Yet Powerful

Let's start with text search. As its name suggests, it is based on the insertion of text. For example: "vegetarian restaurants in Sydney, Australia." It is very similar to a normal use of Google Maps, but programmatically accessible.

Place Details: Deep Data Enrichment

What about place details? Starting from a place ID - meaning the ID of a business on Google Maps - we can enrich available data, which implies retrieving data on detailed pages. These include:

• Full address
• Telephone number
• Rating and reviews
• Opening hours
• Website URL
• Company features (usually available in the "About" tab)

The last one is the one we are most interested in.

Nearby Search: Category-Based Discovery

Nearby search is based on one or more Google Maps categories and the location. The category is one among the 4,000 different categories listed on Google Maps: restaurants, real estate agencies, pharmacies, beauty salons, and so on.

As for the location, it is created via coordinates - latitude and longitude - a circle and a radius ranging from 0 to 50,000 meters. Once it is done, you can scrape businesses and get all this data.

It is a bit confusing, but here is what is interesting about the data you can extract:

• Name
• ID
• Location
• Primary type
• Opening hours
• Phone number
• Price level
• Rating
• Rating count
• Website URL
• Company features

The Cost Reality: Google Maps API Pricing

Of course, all this data comes at a cost. From $32 per 1,000 results for the basic version to $35 for the advanced version and rising to $40 for the preferred version. Please note that these Google Maps API pricing rates are non-degressive.

A final limitation is the number of results retrieved: a maximum of 120 results can be extracted per query. The only way to get more is to do several queries. You are going to tell me that this is just a detail, but in the long run, this is what limits scalability for businesses requiring large-scale data extraction.

The Scrap.io Alternative: Breaking Through Limitations

So how to get around these limitations? That's where Scrap.io comes in. Launched in October 2021, Scrap.io is a specialized platform created for unrestricted Google Maps scraping with 200 million indexed businesses and the capacity to handle 5,000 queries per minute.

What makes Scrap.io unique? It's the only solution that allows you to extract all Google Maps listings at country scale in just two clicks, without any coding required. All you need to do is create an account, and you can then obtain your CSV or Excel file of leads directly via the tool within a few clicks.

But of course, you can also scrape Google Maps data thanks to the Scrap.io API (complete documentation at https://apidoc.scrap.io/). The API supports up to 300 requests per minute and provides real-time data extraction. You can use it for a variety of purposes, but here are the two main ones:

Enhanced Nearby Search Equivalent

Something we can call the "nearby search equivalent" - you set up a category, a location, and you get the related data. The difference is that you get much more data. Not only do you have access to Google Maps data, but also to data displayed on websites. That's how you can collect:

• Email addresses (up to 5 per business)
• Social network URLs (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn)
• Website technologies detected
• Contact form presence
• Advertising pixels
• Meta-descriptions and SEO data
• And much more

Advanced Data Enrichment

With the Scrap.io API, you can also enrich data from company IDs - something similar to place details - but also enrich using URLs, phone numbers, or emails. This data is then matched with the current spanning data on Google Maps, and this is something that has no equivalent on the official API.

Real-time extraction means you're always getting fresh, up-to-date information directly from Google Maps and associated websites, not from an outdated database.

Geographic Coverage Capabilities

Unlike Google Maps API's query-by-query approach, Scrap.io offers scalable geographic searches:

• City-level searches (Basic plan)
• Department/County searches (Professional plan)
• State/Region searches (Agency plan)
• Entire country extraction (Company plan)

This means you can extract all restaurants in California or all hotels across the United States with a single request.

Advanced Filtering Before Extraction

Scrap.io's intelligent filtering system ensures you only pay for contacts you actually need:

• Email presence filtering - only export businesses with email addresses
• Social media filtering - target businesses with specific social platforms
• Website technology detection - find businesses using specific tools
• Price range filtering - target businesses by their price category
• Rating and review filters - focus on highly-rated businesses

🔗 Start Free: Get your first 100 leads free with a 7-day trial at https://scrap.io

Key Advantages of Scrap.io Over Google Maps API

No Result Limitations

In addition to wider data access, you no longer suffer from the 120 result limit. This is crucial for scalability. While Google Maps API caps you at 120 results regardless of your radius, Scrap.io can extract tens of thousands of businesses in a single search.

Real example: You can extract all 50,000+ restaurants across the United States with the Company plan, something impossible with Google Maps API without thousands of individual queries.

Better Value for Money

Finally, you get better value for money. Here's the pricing comparison:

Scrap.io Pricing:

• Basic Plan: $49/month for 10,000 leads
• Professional Plan: $99/month for 20,000 leads
• Agency Plan: $199/month for 40,000 leads
• Company Plan: $499/month for 100,000 leads

Compare this to Google Maps API's $32-40 per 1,000 requests, and Scrap.io becomes significantly more cost-effective for bulk operations.

Moreover, the extraction of your first 100 leads is free of charge with a 7-day trial.

Real-Time Data Guarantee

Unlike many competitors who use outdated databases, Scrap.io guarantees real-time extraction directly from Google Maps and associated websites. This means:

• No obsolete data - every search pulls fresh information
• Always up-to-date contact details
• Complete traceability of where each email/phone was found

Advanced Integration Capabilities

Make.com Integration:
Scrap.io provides a dedicated Make.com module for complete automation:

• Automated lead generation workflows
• CRM enrichment from existing contact data
• Scheduled searches and data updates
• Custom filtering and data processing

🔗 Free Make.com Scripts: Access ready-to-use workflows at https://scrap.io/fr/make-com

Free Chrome Extension:
The Maps Connect extension allows you to see enriched data directly on Google Maps:

• Display emails and social media links on any Google Maps page
• One-click contact export
• Perfect for manual research combined with automated extraction

🔗 Download Extension: Chrome Web Store - Maps Connect

Legal Compliance and Data Quality

GDPR Compliant: Scrap.io operates fully within European and US legal frameworks, extracting only publicly available data.

Quality Guarantee: Advanced filtering ensures you only pay for useful contacts, with options to exclude businesses without emails, phones, or specific criteria.

Zero Duplicates: Built-in deduplication system ensures you never pay for the same contact twice across different searches.

Code Examples: Implementing Both APIs

To help developers understand the practical differences, here are comprehensive code examples for both approaches:

Google Maps API - Places Nearby Search Example

// Initialize the Google Maps API
function initMap() {
  const map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
    center: { lat: 40.7128, lng: -74.0060 }, // New York coordinates
    zoom: 13,
  });

  const request = {
    location: { lat: 40.7128, lng: -74.0060 },
    radius: 5000, // 5km radius
    type: ['restaurant']
  };

  const service = new google.maps.places.PlacesService(map);
  service.nearbySearch(request, (results, status) => {
    if (status === google.maps.places.PlacesServiceStatus.OK) {
      console.log(`Found ${results.length} restaurants`); // Max 120 results
      results.forEach(place => {
        console.log(place.name, place.rating, place.place_id);
        // Note: No email addresses available
      });
    }
  });
}

Scrap.io API - Unlimited Results with Full Data

import requests
import json

# Scrap.io API configuration
SCRAP_IO_API_URL = "https://scrap.io/api/v1/"
API_KEY = "your_api_key_here"

headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

# Example 1: City-wide restaurant search
def search_restaurants_city():
    payload = {
        "query": "restaurants",
        "location": "New York, NY, USA",
        "location_type": "city",
        "max_results": 10000,  # No 120-result limit
        "filters": {
            "has_email": True,
            "has_phone": True,
            "min_rating": 4.0
        }
    }
    
    response = requests.post(f"{SCRAP_IO_API_URL}search", headers=headers, json=payload)
    
    if response.status_code == 200:
        data = response.json()
        print(f"Found {len(data['results'])} restaurants with contact info")
        
        for business in data['results']:
            print(f"Name: {business['name']}")
            print(f"Phone: {business['phone']}")
            print(f"Email: {business['email']}")  # Available with Scrap.io
            print(f"Website: {business['website']}")
            print(f"Facebook: {business['social_media']['facebook']}")
            print(f"Instagram: {business['social_media']['instagram']}")
            print(f"Rating: {business['rating']} ({business['review_count']} reviews)")
            print("---")
    
    return data

🔗 Complete API Documentation: https://apidoc.scrap.io/

🚀 Free Chrome Extension: Get started instantly with the Maps Connect extension to see Scrap.io data directly on Google Maps.

Making the Right Choice for Your Project

Choose Google Maps API if:

• You need official Google integration
• You're building mapping applications with limited data needs
• You can work within the 120-result limitation
• Budget is not a primary concern

Choose Scrap.io if:

• You need large-scale data extraction
• Email addresses and social network data are crucial
• You want to bypass the 120-result limitation
• Cost-effectiveness is important
• You need data enrichment capabilities

The choice ultimately depends on your specific use case, budget constraints, and scalability requirements. For most business applications requiring extensive lead generation or market research, Scrap.io provides a more practical and cost-effective solution.

Both platforms serve the same fundamental need - accessing Google Maps business data - but they approach it from different angles, with different strengths and limitations. Understanding these differences is key to making the right choice for your 2025 development projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main limitations of Google Maps API?

The most significant limitation is the 120-result limit per query, regardless of the radius you specify. Additionally, the pricing can escalate quickly once you exceed the free tier, and you don't get access to email addresses or social network data that's available on business websites.

Why choose Scrap.io over Google Maps API?

Scrap.io removes the 120-result limitation and provides access to additional data like email addresses and social media URLs that aren't available through the official API. It's also more cost-effective for large-scale operations, offering 10,000 leads for €49 compared to Google's per-request pricing.

Key differentiators:

• Real-time extraction from Google Maps and business websites
• Advanced filtering before extraction - only pay for useful contacts
• Geographic scaling - from city to entire country searches
• Zero duplicates - built-in deduplication across searches
• 200+ million businesses indexed globally
• Make.com integration for complete automation
• Free Chrome extension for manual research

How much does Google Maps API cost vs alternatives?

Google Maps API pricing ranges from $32-40 per 1,000 requests, while Scrap.io offers much better value:

• Google Maps API: $32-40 per 1,000 requests (120 results max per request)
• Scrap.io Basic: €49 for 10,000 leads (unlimited results per search)
• Scrap.io Professional: €99 for 20,000 leads
• Scrap.io Company: €499 for 100,000 leads

For high-volume operations, Scrap.io typically provides 5-10x better value with more comprehensive data.

Can I get email addresses with Google Maps API?

No, the official Google Maps API doesn't provide email addresses. This is where alternatives like Scrap.io excel, as they visit business websites to extract additional contact information.

Scrap.io email extraction capabilities:

• Up to 5 email addresses per business
• Contact page detection
• Complete traceability of where each email was found
• Real-time verification of email validity
• Advanced filtering to only export businesses with emails

🔗 Try Scrap.io Free: Get your first 100 leads free at https://scrap.io

🔗 API Documentation: Complete integration guide at https://apidoc.scrap.io/

🔗 Chrome Extension: Install the free Maps Connect extension for instant data access on Google Maps