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Alex Spinov
Alex Spinov

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IP-API Has a Free API — Get Geolocation for Any IP Address Without an API Key

#webdev #api #javascript #python

Every app that deals with users eventually needs to know where they are. Whether you're personalizing content, blocking suspicious traffic, or logging analytics — IP geolocation is essential.

Most geolocation APIs require signup, API keys, and credit cards. IP-API gives you all of this for free — no key, no signup, no limits for non-commercial use.

What You Get

One HTTP request returns:

  • Country, region, city, zip code
  • Latitude and longitude
  • Timezone
  • ISP name and organization
  • AS number

Try It Right Now 

curl http://ip-api.com/json/8.8.8.8
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Response:

{
  "status": "success",
  "country": "United States",
  "regionName": "Virginia",
  "city": "Ashburn",
  "lat": 39.03,
  "lon": -77.5,
  "timezone": "America/New_York",
  "isp": "Google LLC",
  "org": "Google Public DNS",
  "query": "8.8.8.8"
}
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That's Google's public DNS server — located in Ashburn, Virginia.

Python Example: Geolocate Any IP 

import requests

def geolocate(ip):
    response = requests.get(f"http://ip-api.com/json/{ip}")
    data = response.json()
    if data["status"] == "success":
        return {
            "ip": ip,
            "location": f"{data['city']}, {data['regionName']}, {data['country']}",
            "coordinates": f"{data['lat']}, {data['lon']}",
            "isp": data["isp"],
            "timezone": data["timezone"]
        }
    return {"error": data.get("message", "Unknown error")}

# Try it
result = geolocate("1.1.1.1")
print(result)
# {'ip': '1.1.1.1', 'location': 'Los Angeles, California, United States', ...}
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JavaScript (Node.js) Example 

async function geolocate(ip) {
  const res = await fetch(`http://ip-api.com/json/${ip}`);
  const data = await res.json();

  if (data.status === "success") {
    console.log(`${ip} is in ${data.city}, ${data.country}`);
    console.log(`ISP: ${data.isp}`);
    console.log(`Coordinates: ${data.lat}, ${data.lon}`);
  }
}

geolocate("8.8.8.8");
// 8.8.8.8 is in Ashburn, United States
// ISP: Google LLC
// Coordinates: 39.03, -77.5
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Batch Lookup (Up to 100 IPs)

Need to check multiple IPs at once? IP-API supports batch requests:

import requests

ips = ["8.8.8.8", "1.1.1.1", "208.67.222.222"]
response = requests.post(
    "http://ip-api.com/batch",
    json=ips
)

for result in response.json():
    print(f"{result['query']}: {result['city']}, {result['country']} ({result['isp']})")

# 8.8.8.8: Ashburn, United States (Google LLC)
# 1.1.1.1: Los Angeles, United States (Cloudflare, Inc.)
# 208.67.222.222: San Francisco, United States (Cisco OpenDNS, LLC)
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Real-World Use Cases

1. Security monitoring — A startup I worked with used IP-API to flag login attempts from unexpected countries. If a user usually logs in from Germany but suddenly appears from Nigeria, that's a red flag.

2. Content personalization — Show currency, language, or shipping options based on visitor location without asking them.

3. Analytics dashboards — Map your API traffic geographically. Know which regions use your service most.

4. Fraud detection — Cross-reference IP geolocation with billing address. Mismatches often indicate fraud.

Rate Limits & Pro Plan

Feature Free Pro ($12.99/mo)
Rate limit 45 req/min Unlimited
HTTPS No Yes
API key Not needed Provided
Commercial use No Yes
Batch requests 100 IPs 1000 IPs

For development, testing, and personal projects — the free tier is more than enough.

Compared to Alternatives

Service Free Tier Key Required HTTPS Free
IP-API 45 req/min No No
ipinfo.io 50K/month Yes Yes
ipstack 100/month Yes No
ipgeolocation.io 30K/month Yes Yes
ip-api.com Pro Unlimited Yes Yes

IP-API wins on simplicity: no signup, no key, just curl and go.

Quick Tips

  1. Use fields parameter to get only what you need: 
curl "http://ip-api.com/json/8.8.8.8?fields=country,city,lat,lon"
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  1. Check your own IP: 
curl http://ip-api.com/json/
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  1. Get CSV format for scripts: 
curl http://ip-api.com/csv/8.8.8.8
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More Free APIs (No Key Required)

Combine all three: detect location with IP-API → show local weather with Open-Meteo → display prices in local currency with ExchangeRate-API. Zero API keys needed.

Need to process thousands of IPs for security research or analytics? I've built production-grade data extraction tools that handle IP enrichment at scale — no rate limits, no bans.

Need a custom geolocation pipeline? Email me at spinov001@gmail.com

Have you used IP-API in a project? What's your go-to geolocation service? Drop a comment below!

Need data from the web without writing scrapers? Check my *Apify actors** — ready-made scrapers for HN, Reddit, LinkedIn, and 75+ more sites. Or email: spinov001@gmail.com*

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