LocationAPI vs Mapline

LocationAPI is a geolocation API that estimates connected-device locations from visible cellular towers and WiFi networks without GPS. Its calculations use cellular and WiFi data, datasets, and algorithms, and it describes coverage for IoT, M2M, and other connected devices worldwide. Requests use JSON POST to a regional endpoint. The documentation includes cURL, PHP, Python, and JavaScript examples, plus an interactive sandbox. Each request can include up to 7 cells and 15 WiFi objects. WiFi positioning is enabled only for eligible deployments based on region and intended use. Accuracy varies by source and location: the FAQ gives cell-based estimates around 450 metres in urban areas and 1500 metres in rural areas, and WiFi estimates around 25–50 metres in urban areas and 50–150 metres in rural areas. The Developer plan is free, has daily and monthly request limits, and is marked for no commercial use. Business offers flexible usage, with pricing priced on request and as low as $0.10 per device. The documentation recommends scoped access tokens, kept server-side and rotated regularly.

Mapline turns spreadsheet data into maps and supports location analysis, territory planning, and routing. Users can paste Excel data or upload Excel and CSV files; datasets can contain 10 to 100,000 locations. Pins can be styled by spreadsheet columns with colors, shapes, sizes, icons, labels, and images. Mapping tools include filters, segments, heat maps, territory reports, distance analysis, coverage views, and trend analysis. Users can draw or import ZIP-code and county boundaries and balance territory statistics. Routing tools optimize routes and stop assignments, generate driving directions, and calculate distances across thousands of locations. Mapline offers Geo Mapping, Geo BI, Geo Routing, and Geo Scheduling, along with connectors for services including Google Sheets, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Microsoft SQL Server. Its REST API uses API-key authentication and returns JSON. The web-based service has a free Mapping Starter plan at free, limited to 500 locations total, 250 per dataset, one map, two datasets, and five routes of 10 locations each. Geo BI, Geo Routing, and Geo Scheduling have a 7-day trial; other plan pricing is on request.