Free Client-side Reverse Geocoding API: Usage Guidelines and Fair Use Policy

The Free Client-side Reverse Geocoding API is designed exclusively for client-side applications and must be used in compliance with our fair use policy. Breaches of this policy may result in your IP address being banned, restricting access to all free APIs provided by BigDataCloud.

If your IP is banned, you will receive a 402 error message explaining the restriction. To resolve this, you can contact support@bigdatacloud.com and request the removal of the ban. Note that your IP may have been flagged for unrelated activities in the past. If you believe your current application complies with our fair use policy, please provide your banned IP address along with a brief explanation of your intended use.

Example Error Message

{"status":402,"description":"This endpoint does not support server-side operations. Use the '/data/reverse-geocode' endpoint instead. Your IP address X.X.X.X is now banned. To lift the ban, email support@bigdatacloud.com."}

Compliance with the Fair Use Policy

Strict adherence to the fair use policy is essential to ensure the API remains reliable and accessible for all users.

Key Guidelines:

1. Client-side Use Only: This API is exclusively for converting the current geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) of a client device, obtained with the user's consent.
2. Direct Client-side Calls: API requests must originate directly from the client-side environment where the geolocation data is being collected.
3. Real-time Location Data: Only use this API to process the current and most accurate location of the calling client device, as obtained via client-dependent geolocation services such as GPS or WiFi-based positioning. Pre-stored coordinates or data from other client instances are not permitted.
4. Platform-specific Methods: For web projects, utilise the HTML5 Geolocation API. For mobile apps or IoT devices, leverage their respective SDKs to collect geolocation data.

Alternative Solution

If your use case does not align with the fair use policy, we recommend using our Server-side Reverse Geocoding API. This alternative provides the same functionality and includes 50,000 free queries per month. To access it, simply create an account and obtain an API key.

Promoting Responsible API Use

By following these guidelines, you help maintain the integrity, reliability and availability of BigDataCloud’s free geocoding services. For any questions or assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to us at support@bigdatacloud.com.