Disclaimer: Camino AI is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Foursquare Labs Inc. This guide is provided for informational purposes to help developers understand Foursquare's pricing. Pricing information was last verified January 2025 and may change. Always check Foursquare's official pricing page for current rates.
Foursquare Places API Pricing Overview
Foursquare Places API uses a tiered pricing model based on endpoint type (Pro vs Premium) and monthly call volume. Understanding which fields are included in each tier is essential for estimating your costs accurately.
Which Foursquare Fields Are Pro vs Premium?
This is the most common question developers have. Here's the complete breakdown based on Foursquare's documentation:
Pro Tier Fields (Included in Free Tier)
| Category | Fields Included |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | fsq_place_id, name, name_translated |
| Location | latitude, longitude, address, locality, region, postcode, admin_region, post_town, po_box, country |
| Contact | tel, website, email |
| Social Media | facebook_id, instagram, twitter |
| Classification | fsq_category_ids, fsq_category_labels, neighborhoods, census_block_id, dma |
| Chain Data | fsq_chain_ids, fsq_chain_names, chain_store_id |
| Hierarchy | subvenue_count, parent_id |
| Metadata | date_created, date_refreshed, date_closed, placemaker_url, unresolved_flags |
Premium Tier Fields (No Free Tier)
| Category | Fields Included |
|---|---|
| Hours | hours, hours_popular |
| Photos | total_photos, photos, photo_labels |
| User Content | total_tips, tips, tastes |
| Ratings & Details | rating, price, description, popularity |
| Amenities | atm, delivery, hasparking, reservations, outdoorseating, restroom, takescreditcards, wifi |
| Data Quality | veracity_rating |
Key insight: If you need hours, ratings, photos, tips, or amenity info, you're in Premium territory with no free calls.
Foursquare Free Tier Limits
| Tier | Monthly Allowance | Endpoints Included |
|---|---|---|
| Developer Sandbox | 10,000 calls + $200 credit | Pro endpoints only |
| Pay-as-you-go | Unlimited | Pro + Premium |
| Enterprise | Custom | All + SLA |
Important: The free tier does NOT include Premium endpoints. If you need photos, tips, hours, or ratings, every call is billed from the first request.
Cost Per 1000 Calls (CPM)
Foursquare uses a tiered CPM model where the rate decreases with volume:
Pro Endpoints Pricing
| Monthly Volume | CPM (Cost per 1000) | Per-Call Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 10,000 | Free | $0.00 |
| 10,001 - 100,000 | $15.00 | $0.015 |
| 100,001 - 500,000 | $12.00 | $0.012 |
| 500,001 - 1,000,000 | $9.00 | $0.009 |
| 1,000,001 - 5,000,000 | $4.50 | $0.0045 |
| 5,000,001+ | $1.25 | $0.00125 |
Premium Endpoints Pricing
| Monthly Volume | CPM (Cost per 1000) | Per-Call Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 100,000 | $18.75 | $0.01875 |
| 100,001 - 500,000 | $15.00 | $0.015 |
| 500,001 - 1,000,000 | $11.25 | $0.01125 |
| 1,000,001 - 5,000,000 | $5.75 | $0.00575 |
| 5,000,001+ | $1.75 | $0.00175 |
Note: Premium has no free tier. You pay from the first call.
Monthly Cost Estimates
Here's what you can expect to pay at common usage levels:
| Monthly Calls | Pro Only | Pro + 20% Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | $0 (free tier) | $37.50 |
| 25,000 | $225 | $244 |
| 50,000 | $600 | $638 |
| 100,000 | $1,350 | $1,425 |
| 250,000 | $3,150 | $3,488 |
| 500,000 | $6,150 | $6,825 |
"Pro + 20% Premium" = 80% Pro calls + 20% Premium calls. Premium has no free tier, so even small Premium usage adds cost.
Common Pricing Questions
Do place details count as one call or multiple?
Each API request counts as one call, regardless of how many fields you request. However, requesting Premium fields (like photos or tips) requires the Premium endpoint, billed at Premium rates.
Is autocomplete Pro or Premium?
Autocomplete is a Pro endpoint, included in the free tier and billed at Pro rates.
Are Search and Details endpoints Pro or Premium?
It depends on which fields you request. Search and Details are Pro when using default fields, but become Premium when you request Premium tier fields (hours, photos, ratings, etc.).
What happens if I exceed the free tier?
You'll need a payment method on file. Pro calls beyond 10,000 are billed at $15 CPM. Premium calls are billed from the first call at $18.75 CPM.
Foursquare vs Other Location APIs
Here's how Foursquare compares to alternatives:
| API | Cost per 1000 calls | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Foursquare Pro | $15.00 | 10,000/month |
| Foursquare Premium | $18.75 | None |
| Google Places | $17.00 - $40.00 | $200 credit/month |
| Camino AI | $1.00 | 1,000/month |
| HERE Places | ~$5.00 | 250,000/month |
Foursquare excels at rich venue data (photos, tips, hours). For basic place search without user-generated content, alternatives may offer better value.
Tips for Reducing Foursquare API Costs
- Stay in Pro tier: If you don't need hours/photos/tips, stick to Pro endpoints and get 10k free calls.
- Cache aggressively: Venue details rarely change. Cache for 24-48 hours.
- Lazy-load Premium data: Only fetch photos/tips when users tap on a venue, not for all search results.
- Use field filtering: Request only the fields you need with the
fieldsparameter. - Consider alternatives: For high-volume use cases without needing UGC, alternatives like Camino AI offer place search at 1/15th the cost.