GeoLite2 was the workhorse of IP geolocation. MaxMind gave it away free, it covered country and city data with decent accuracy, and the .mmdb binary format was fast enough for inline lookups. For years, it was the default answer to "how do I know where my visitor is?"
Then MaxMind ended the free GeoLite2 program in late 2025. Existing license keys still work for downloads, but the database is no longer updated for free users — and a geolocation database that doesn't update is worse than no database, because it gives you confident wrong answers.
If you're here, you need a replacement. Let's find the right one.
The Two Types of Replacement
Before comparing providers, understand the fundamental choice:
| Approach | How it works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downloadable database | A file (.mmdb, .csv, .bin) you download periodically and query locally | No per-request cost, zero latency, works offline | Data goes stale between downloads, no real-time threat data, you manage updates |
| API service | A REST endpoint you call per request | Always current, includes VPN/proxy/fraud signals, no file management | Per-request limits on free tiers, network latency |
GeoLite2 was a downloadable database. The closest replacements in that category are DB-IP Lite and IP2Location LITE. But many teams are better served by moving to an API.
A frozen database is a liability. IP blocks are reassigned constantly. An ISP in Frankfurt hands a /24 block to a customer in Warsaw. A hosting provider adds a new range in Singapore. A VPN provider launches servers in Tokyo. Your GeoLite2 file doesn't know about any of this.
The 6 Best Free Alternatives
| Provider | Type | Free tier | VPN/Proxy detection | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeoIPHub | API | 1,500 requests/day | Yes (full) | REST JSON |
| IPinfo | API | 50,000 requests/month | Paid only | REST JSON |
| IP2Location | Database + API | Free LITE DB | Limited (paid) | .BIN, .CSV, REST |
| DB-IP | Database + API | Free Lite DB | No | .mmdb, .CSV |
| Ipregistry | API | 100,000 lookups/month | Paid only | REST JSON |
| Abstract API | API | 20,000 requests/month | No | REST JSON |
1. GeoIPHub — Best overall for real-time intelligence
GeoIPHub is the only free-tier provider that includes full threat intelligence on every lookup. The free plan gives you 1,500 requests per day with no credit card required, and every response includes geolocation (country, region, city, coordinates, accuracy radius), VPN detection, proxy detection, residential proxy detection, Tor exit node detection, and a 0-100 fraud risk score.
This is the key difference from GeoLite2: GeoLite2 told you where an IP is. GeoIPHub tells you where it is AND whether you should trust it.
Free tier: 1,500 requests/day (~45,000/month). Every field included — no gated features.
Migration from GeoLite2: Replace your MaxMind endpoint with https://api.geoiphub.com/v1/lookup/{ip} and parse the JSON response:
{
"ip": "8.8.8.8",
"country_code": "US",
"country_name": "United States",
"region_name": "Virginia",
"city_name": "Ashburn",
"latitude": 39.03,
"longitude": -77.5,
"isp": "Google LLC",
"is_vpn": false,
"is_proxy": false,
"is_residential_proxy": false,
"is_tor": false,
"fraud_score": 5
}
Those last six fields — is_vpn, is_proxy, is_residential_proxy, is_tor, and fraud_score — are things GeoLite2 never gave you.
Best for: Teams who want to upgrade from "where is this IP?" to "should I let this IP in?" without paying.
2. IPinfo — Best for high-volume basic lookups
IPinfo offers the most generous free API tier by volume: 50,000 requests per month. The data quality is solid — IPinfo maintains its own infrastructure mapping and has good coverage for ISP, ASN, and geolocation data.
The catch is that threat detection (VPN, proxy, abuse detection) is gated behind paid plans. If you only need geolocation and don't care about VPN/proxy flags, IPinfo is excellent.
Free tier: 50,000 requests/month. Geolocation, ASN, hostname, and company data.
Best for: High-volume applications that need accurate geolocation but not threat detection.
3. IP2Location — Best downloadable database replacement
IP2Location offers the closest thing to the old GeoLite2 experience: a free LITE database you download and query locally. The DB5.LITE edition covers country, region, city, latitude, longitude, and ZIP code in .BIN and .CSV formats.
The free LITE database is updated monthly, which is less stale than a frozen GeoLite2 file but still lags behind API-based services.
Free tier: DB5.LITE database (monthly updates). ~4 million IPv4 records.
Best for: Offline or ultra-low-latency applications that need a local database.
4. DB-IP — Closest format compatibility with GeoLite2
DB-IP is the easiest migration path if you're deeply integrated with the .mmdb format. Their free Lite database is available in MaxMind-compatible .mmdb format, so you can often swap the file without changing your code.
Free tier: Lite database (monthly updates). Available in .mmdb and .CSV.
Best for: Drop-in .mmdb replacement with zero code changes.
5. Ipregistry — Generous free API with good data
Ipregistry offers 100,000 free lookups per month. Their data includes geolocation, connection info (ISP, ASN, connection type), and carrier data. However, threat detection features are gated behind paid plans.
Free tier: 100,000 lookups/month.
Best for: High-volume geolocation with connection-type intelligence.
6. Abstract API — Simple geolocation endpoint
Abstract API provides a clean, simple geolocation API with 20,000 free requests per month. It's a good option for small projects that need basic geolocation without complexity.
Free tier: 20,000 requests/month. Basic geolocation only.
Best for: Simple projects that need minimal geolocation data.
Quick Migration Guide
If you're migrating from GeoLite2 today:
- Choose your replacement. Need a downloadable database? Pick DB-IP Lite or IP2Location LITE. Want an API with threat detection? Pick GeoIPHub.
- Update your lookup logic. For .mmdb replacements (DB-IP), you may need zero code changes — just swap the file. For API migrations, update your HTTP client endpoint.
- Add caching. If you're moving from a local database to an API, add a Redis or in-memory cache for repeated lookups. Most users hit the same IP ranges repeatedly.
- Add error handling. API calls can fail — your GeoLite2 file couldn't. Add timeouts, fallback values, and rate-limit awareness.
The Bottom Line
GeoLite2 served the industry well, but it's gone. The question isn't whether to migrate — it's whether to replace like-for-like (another database) or upgrade to a real-time API with threat intelligence.
If your application touches authentication, payments, or fraud prevention, move to an API that includes VPN/proxy detection and fraud scoring. GeoIPHub gives you all of that at 1,500 requests/day free.
If you just need geolocation for content localization and don't care about security signals, DB-IP Lite is the easiest drop-in replacement for your .mmdb file.
Either way, migrate now. Every day your GeoLite2 database sits un-updated is another day of wrong answers.
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