BizData API: A Free, Open-Source Alternative to Google Places
For developers building location-based services, the cost of business data has become a significant barrier. Historically, the Google Places API has been the gold standard for business information, but recent pricing shifts have made it prohibitively expensive for small projects and independent developers.
BizData API emerges as a lightweight, open-access alternative designed to democratize access to business data. By leveraging OpenStreetMap (OSM), it provides a free REST API that allows developers to retrieve business names, addresses, contact details, and coordinates without the friction of API keys or billing accounts.
The Cost of Proprietary Data
One of the primary drivers for seeking alternatives to Google Places is the evolving pricing model of proprietary geospatial APIs. As noted in the BizData documentation, Google Places has moved toward a model that can cost upwards of $275 per month, creating a high entry barrier for developers.
In contrast, BizData API is entirely free and requires no API key. While other services like Geoapify offer free tiers, they eventually transition to a paid model (e.g., $0.40 per 1,000 requests). By utilizing OpenStreetMap—a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world—BizData removes the financial risk associated with scaling a location-based application.
Core Functionality and Endpoints
BizData API focuses on simplicity and accessibility. It provides global coverage across 37 distinct business categories, ranging from essential services like pharmacies and hospitals to lifestyle categories like cafes and galleries.
Key API Endpoints
/api/businesses: This is the primary endpoint for discovering businesses. By providing a location (city or address) and a category, users can retrieve a list of businesses including their phone numbers, websites, and opening hours./api/count: Designed for market research, this endpoint allows users to count the number of businesses in specific categories within a given radius, helping developers compare different geographic locations./api/categories: A utility endpoint that lists all 37 supported business categories to ensure query accuracy.
Example Request
A simple curl command demonstrates the ease of integration:
curl "https://bizdata-web.vercel.app/api/businesses?location=Stockholm&category=restaurant&limit=3"
AI Integration via MCP
Beyond a standard REST API, BizData is built for the modern AI ecosystem. It includes a built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, allowing it to be integrated directly into AI tools like Claude or Cursor.
By adding the BizData MCP configuration to an AI tool's settings, developers can use natural language to query business data. For example, asking an AI, "Find all dentists within 3km of Berlin Mitte," will trigger the MCP server to fetch structured data from the API and present it directly within the AI's chat interface.
Trade-offs: Open Data vs. Proprietary Data
While BizData offers significant cost advantages, it is important to recognize the trade-offs inherent in using OpenStreetMap data compared to proprietary sources like Google.
| Feature | BizData API | Google Places API |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | High Monthly Minimum |
| API Key | Not Required | Required + Billing |
| Reviews/Photos | Not Available | Extensive |
| MCP Support | Built-in | No |
Because BizData relies on community-driven data, it lacks the rich user-generated content—such as photos and reviews—that Google provides. However, for applications that primarily require contact information, coordinates, and business categories, the open-source approach is a highly efficient and cost-effective alternative.