Google Maps and a Coming Crisis for Real Estate Techies

I have a prediction: many developers are going to get caught with their pants down when Google Maps APIs become significantly more expensive come June (see this article and here).

It’s blatantly obvious Google Maps is the best product. However, at some point, price will be prohibitive for tech vendors to continue to support the platform. After all, even if developers prefer to work with Google Maps, clients are the ones who will be forced to foot the bill.

Even if you’re not using the full Maps API, literally every website I use seems to use the Google places auto complete for places. Including the startup I’ve been working on, Horizon.

Luxury real estate sites will likely stay the course, but anything at the middle and lower price points will likely be migrated off Google Maps in short order. I have to imagine Mapbox and OpenStreetMap are salivating at the real estate opportunity Google is presenting them.

If you agree Google Maps will become too cost prohibitive, here are a few options for you to consider:

• Mapbox
• OpenStreetMap
• CityMapper
• Here.com
• Maps.me
• Mapfit
• CartoDB
• TileHosting.com
• Bing Maps

Have you already made a decision? What else are you considering?

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