Alternative to IP-API: HTTPS + Lower Cost Paid Plans
ip-api.com is good for quick no-key HTTP lookups. IPWho is better when you need HTTPS on a free plan, bulk lookup, and lower cost paid plans.
IPWho offer better value at most request volumes
Compare IPWho paid plans with IP-API Pro across common monthly request volumes.
| Requests per month | IPWho price | IP-API Pro price (USD*) |
|---|---|---|
| 5K | $2.50/month - Launch | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 10K | $2.50/month - Launch | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 50K | $2.50/month - Launch | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 250K | $10/month - Startup | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 500K | $10/month - Startup | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 1 million | $10/month - Startup | Approx. $15.38/month |
| 50 million | High-volume pricing | Approx. $15.38/month |
*USD conversion: IP-API Pro is priced at €13.30/month. Approximately $15.38/month using an indicative EUR/USD conversion on August 14, 2026; exchange rates vary. IPWho prices shown are monthly equivalents with annual billing. Monthly request volumes use an approximate 30-day period and the published daily plan allowances. High-volume pricing applies at the 50 million request level.
See the free HTTPS and usage-limit difference first.
Compare the three decisions that matter before moving from a quick personal lookup to a secure application workflow.
ip-api.com Free
- ✕Free HTTPS: No — HTTP-only endpoint
- –Free limit: 45 requests/minute per IP
- –Paid Plan: Pro from €13.30 per month
IPWho Free
- ✓Free HTTPS: Yes
- ✓Free limit: 2,000 requests/day
- ✓Paid Plan: From $2.50/month
Quick decision proof
ip-api.com vs IPWho Pricing: Free Testing to Production
Compare the free limits first, then review the published paid options for production traffic. ip-api.com Pro is €13.30 per month, while IPWho paid plans start at $2.50/month.
| Decision point | ip-api.com | IPWho |
|---|---|---|
| Secure free testing | HTTP-only, non-commercial use, 45 requests/minute per source IP | HTTPS, 2,000 requests/day, full feature access |
| First commercial release | Pro: €13.30 per month for SSL, API keys, commercial use, and unlimited requests | Paid plan from $2.50/month with HTTPS and full feature access |
| Steady production growth | Pro remains an unlimited-request commercial plan | Higher-volume paid plans are available as usage grows |
Why Teams Switch to IPWho
HTTPS From the First Test
Run the same HTTPS integration in testing and later on paid commercial plans. There is no HTTP-only free endpoint in between.
Predictable Production Pricing
IPWho paid plans start at $2.50/month, providing a more affordable commercial path when a project moves beyond testing.
Full IP Intelligence in One Response
Combine geolocation, timezone, currency, ASN and ISP, connection, and flag data in one structured response.
Use Only the Data You Need
Request only the fields your application needs, process multiple IPs in bulk, and return single-IP results in JSON, XML, or CSV.
Quick decision proof
The differences that matter after a prototype
Both services return useful geolocation data. The practical difference is how the free endpoint, commercial path, and security context fit into your application workflow.
| Decision point | ip-api.com | IPWho |
|---|---|---|
| HTTPS before paying | Free endpoint is HTTP-only | HTTPS access on the free plan |
| Free-plan allowance | Non-commercial use, limited to 45 requests/minute per source IP | 2,000 requests/day with HTTPS |
| Commercial route | Pro adds commercial use, SSL, API keys, and usage statistics | Paid plans start at $2.50/month with full feature access |
| All features across plans | SSL, API keys, commercial use, and usage statistics are added on Pro | The same IPWho feature set is available from free testing through paid plans |
| Response workflow | Custom field selection, multiple response formats, and batch requests | JSON, XML, CSV, bulk lookup, field filtering, and optional user-agent parsing |
Why switch
Switch from ip-api.com when production value and workflow fit matter.
- ✓HTTPS during free testing.
- ✓2,000 free requests/day.
- ✓A more affordable commercial usage path when the project moves beyond testing.
- ✓API-key workflow for application testing.
- ✓Bulk IP lookup and field filtering.
- ✓JSON, XML, or CSV response formats.
When not to switch
Stay with ip-api.com when its specific strengths are central to your workflow.
- –You only need quick personal IP lookups.
- –HTTP-only usage is fine for your use case.
- –You do not need commercial usage.
- –You do not want to create or manage an API key.
- –Your existing integration already works and migration is not worth it.
Production-safe migration
How to compare ip-api.com and IPWho before switching
- 1Create a free IPWho API key.
- 2Test the same sample IPs in both APIs.
- 3Compare fields such as country, region, city, ISP, ASN, timezone, and coordinates.
- 4Replace the endpoint in staging first.
- 5Test bulk lookup and field filtering if your app processes many IPs.
- 6Monitor errors and response differences before production rollout.
ip-api.com alternative FAQ
Common questions before switching from ip-api.com
Does ip-api.com support HTTPS on the free plan?
ip-api.com’s free endpoint is mainly useful for quick HTTP lookups. IPWho includes HTTPS access on the free plan, so developers can test secure API workflows before moving to production.
What is a good ip-api.com alternative with HTTPS?
IPWho is a good ip-api.com alternative if you need HTTPS, 2,000 free requests/day, full feature access, and a clear commercial upgrade path.
Is IPWho free like ip-api.com?
IPWho has a free plan with HTTPS and 2,000 requests/day. Paid IPWho plans start at $2.50/month.
How does IPWho compare with ip-api.com’s free tier?
ip-api.com’s free tier is useful for quick no-key lookups, but it is HTTP-only, non-commercial, and limited to 45 requests/minute per source IP. IPWho is a fit when you need HTTPS, a published 2,000 requests/day testing allowance, and a separate paid production path.
Why switch from ip-api.com to IPWho?
Switch to IPWho if your app needs HTTPS, commercial usage later, predictable daily limits, bulk lookup, field filtering, or multiple response formats.
When should I stay with ip-api.com?
Stay with ip-api.com if you only need quick personal lookups, do not need HTTPS, do not need commercial usage, and prefer a no-key endpoint.
Performance and Latency vs ip-api.com
Latency is one of ip-api.com's strongest claims. Their public materials describe dedicated servers across US, EU, and APAC, Anycast-based routing, and real response times under 50 milliseconds in most parts of the world.
IPWho also targets low-latency global delivery, with published median latency below 50ms, regional hotpaths below 28ms, and 16 global data centres. The practical difference is that IPWho combines this with HTTPS access and full feature availability across all plans.
ip-api.com Limitations
- ✕Free endpoint is HTTP-only
- ✕Free endpoint is limited to non-commercial use
- ✕Free usage is limited to 45 requests per minute per IP address
- ✕SSL, API keys, usage statistics, and commercial support require Pro
IPWho Features
- ✓HTTPS access across IPWho plans
- ✓16 global data centres available on all plans
- ✓Full geolocation, timezone, currency, connection, and security payload
- ✓Bulk lookup, field filtering, and JSON/XML/CSV output
| Location | ip-api.com | IPWho.org |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt, DE | 92 ms | 49 ms |
| Ashburn, VA, USA | 9 ms | 30 ms |
| Singapore, SG | 32 ms | 37 ms |
| Mumbai, IN | 152 ms | 30 ms |
| Los Angeles, CA, USA | 18 ms | 39 ms |
Note: Measurement figures represent median values from a sample of HTTP synthetic request measurements per city, executed via GlobalPing datacenter network probes on April 8, 2026.
Latency figures can be independently verified via the GlobalPing network.
Verify vs ip-api.com ↗Comparison Methodology
Research date: August 2026. This comparison uses published free-plan restrictions, paid-plan terms, and feature documentation. The 2,000 requests/day IPWho allowance and the 45 requests/minute per source IP ip-api.com limit use their stated cadences and are not converted into a multiplier. Verify current terms before choosing a production service.