While you can use the Google Maps API for free, it has actually some pretty limiting restrictions: Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service, 9.1.1 Genera

While you can use the Google Maps API for free, it has actually some pretty limiting restrictions: Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service, 9.1.1 General Rules, (a): "(a) Free Access (No Fees). Your Maps API Implementation must be generally accessible to users without charge and must not require a fee-based subscription or other fee-based restricted access. This rule applies to Your Content and any other content in your Maps API Implementation, whether Your Content or the other content is in existence now or is added later." See: http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html#section_9_1_1 http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html#section_9_1_1 I am not a lawyer, but I think that would limit solutions where you use the Google Maps API within any Log In based, payed service. There seems to be an exception for mobile applications though, see "9.1.2 Exceptions (b)", and if you have certain agreements with or permissions from Google, "9.1.2 Exceptions (a)": http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html#section_9_1_2 http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html#section_9_1_2 If you do not comply with the Free Access (No Fees) requirements, you have to use the "Google Maps API for Business", and the price starts (currently) at $10.000, see: "What is the cost of Google Maps API for Business?" http://www.google.com/enterprise/earthmaps/maps-faq.html http://www.google.com/enterprise/earthmaps/maps-faq.html