Best Free IP Geolocation API (2026)
Seven free IP-data APIs, source-verified on the facts that matter
Search "best free IP API" and you get a dozen results that all say "free" — but free means something different at each provider: free-with-signup, free-for-a-daily-quota, free-but-HTTP-only, free-for-non-commercial-only. This is a source-verified roundup of seven widely used free IP geolocation / IP-data APIs, including HackMyIP’s own free API. Every figure below was checked against each provider’s own pricing or docs in June 2026.
Looking for a single head-to-head instead? See the free IPinfo alternative and the four-API free comparison. This page is the wider multi-provider roundup.
Free IP geolocation API comparison
| Provider | Free tier / rate limit | HTTPS (free) | API key / signup | VPN/proxy/datacenter (free) | Notable fields | Commercial use (free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HackMyIP | 60 req/min per IP, no daily cap; bulk 50/req | Yes | None | Yes — hosting/proxy/datacenter + privacy grade | City geo, ASN/ISP, privacy score, email breach, DNS/WHOIS/rDNS/blacklist | Allowed |
| ipinfo.io (Lite) | Unlimited (Lite), $0 | Yes | Token (free signup) | No — paid (Core from $49/mo) | Country + continent, ASN name/domain | Allowed, with attribution |
| ip-api.com | 45 req/min per IP | No — HTTP only on free | None | Yes — proxy/hosting/mobile fields | City geo, lat/lon, timezone, ISP, ASN | Not allowed (non-commercial only) |
| ipapi.co | ~1,000 lookups/day (~30K/mo) | Yes | None on free | — (not on free tier) | City geo, ASN, org | Trial / not for production |
| ipgeolocation.io | 1,000 req/day (~30K/mo) | Yes | Signup (no card) | No — paid plans only | City geo, ASN, ISP, timezone, currency | Check provider terms |
| MaxMind GeoLite2 | DB download (30/day) + web service (1,000/day) | Yes (web service) | MaxMind account + license key | No — anonymizer data is paid GeoIP2 | City / Country / ASN databases (.mmdb, CSV) | Allowed under EULA (restrictions + attribution) |
| AbstractAPI | 1,000 req/month, 1 req/sec | Yes | Signup (no card) | Check provider (free-tier inclusion unconfirmed) | City geo, ASN, timezone, currency, company | Restricted (commercial license = Enterprise) |
Free-tier data as of June 2026; verify before relying on it. Sources, verified June 2026: ipinfo.io/pricing; ip-api.com (rate-limit + commercial-use statement) plus a live HTTPS request to its free endpoint that returned "SSL unavailable for this endpoint"; ipapi.co/#pricing; ipgeolocation.io/pricing; dev.maxmind.com GeoLite2 docs; abstractapi.com. HackMyIP facts verified against its live API (/api/ip, /api/lookup, /api/score, /api/bulk) and this site’s API handlers. A dash means we could not verify the feature on the free tier — not that it is absent.
How to pick the right one
- Keyless + HTTPS + city-level, no daily cap: HackMyIP — no signup, 60 req/min per IP, and VPN/proxy/breach tools in the same free API.
- Just country + ASN, unlimited volume: IPinfo Lite — free and unlimited, if you can use a token and don’t need city-level.
- Rich free fields for a non-commercial/internal tool: ip-api.com — just remember it is HTTP-only and non-commercial on the free endpoint.
- Self-hosted, offline, high volume: MaxMind GeoLite2 — download the City/Country/ASN databases and look up locally (free account + license key required).
An honest note on HackMyIP
HackMyIP’s edge is free + no signup wall + a privacy toolkit in one API — not enterprise SLAs or best-in-class accuracy. For raw geolocation precision, contractual SLAs, or licensed offline datasets, MaxMind and IPinfo’s paid products are built for that. Where HackMyIP wins is friction: keyless city-level lookups over HTTPS, with VPN/proxy/datacenter detection, a privacy score, email-breach checking, and DNS/WHOIS/blacklist tools in the same free, CORS-enabled API.
Try the keyless API in 5 seconds
curl https://hackmyip.com/api/lookup?ip=8.8.8.8Full reference, including the privacy score and bulk endpoint, is in the API docs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free IP geolocation API in 2026?
It depends on your constraints. For keyless, HTTPS, city-level lookups with no daily cap, HackMyIP works with no signup. IPinfo Lite is free and unlimited but country-level and needs a token. ip-api.com has rich free fields but is HTTP-only on the free endpoint and non-commercial. ipapi.co and ipgeolocation.io give city-level data with ~1,000 requests/day, and AbstractAPI gives 1,000/month. MaxMind GeoLite2 is a downloadable database for self-hosting.
Which free IP APIs need no API key or signup?
HackMyIP and ip-api.com require no key or account on their free tiers, and ipapi.co works keyless on its free tier. IPinfo needs a free token, while ipgeolocation.io, AbstractAPI, and MaxMind GeoLite2 require a free account (MaxMind also needs a license key).
Which free IP APIs support HTTPS?
HackMyIP, IPinfo, ipapi.co, ipgeolocation.io, AbstractAPI, and the MaxMind web service all serve free requests over HTTPS. ip-api.com is the exception: a live HTTPS request to its free JSON endpoint returns "SSL unavailable for this endpoint, order a key" — HTTPS is a paid feature there.
Can I use a free IP geolocation API commercially?
Check each provider’s terms. ip-api.com explicitly disallows commercial use of its free endpoint. IPinfo Lite allows commercial use with attribution. AbstractAPI’s commercial license sits on its Enterprise tier. MaxMind GeoLite2 permits internal business use under its EULA with restrictions and attribution. HackMyIP’s free API has no commercial restriction. ipapi.co positions its free tier as trial/non-production.
Does HackMyIP detect VPN and proxy IPs on the free tier?
Yes. GET /api/lookup returns hosting/proxy/mobile flags and GET /api/score returns a VPN/datacenter/residential classification and privacy grade — no key needed. Classification is network-based (ASN/hosting), so treat it as a risk signal, not absolute proof.
Related: Free IPinfo alternative · Free IP API comparison · ipapi vs HackMyIP