"This page cannot load Google Maps correctly." Here's the solution!

Google Maps API undoubtedly ranks among the most popular online services in Serbia, as well as worldwide.

The popularity of Google Maps over the years has been attributed not only to its excellent functionality and appealing design but also to the very favorable usage conditions that were either completely or nearly free for most small and medium-sized businesses in Serbia, while being extremely beneficial.

By using the Google Maps API, you could easily "guide" thousands of potential customers in finding your company, branch, service, store, depot, salon, café, or restaurant, and most importantly, you received such a service in the majority of cases completely free of charge. Thanks to this, the Google Maps API has become an integral part of the websites of many domestic companies for whom location is an important aspect of their business.

However, in recent weeks, it can be noticed that this service is no longer available on many of these websites, with a darkened map and the message This page can't load Google Maps correctly. The reason lies in the changed, or rather significantly tightened, terms of use for the Google Maps platform, which came into effect last summer.

Specifically, in mid-July of this year, Google changed the terms of use and billing for its API, resulting in a significant increase in the cost of using key Google Maps features (maps, routing, and objects), which in certain cases have become up to 1400% more expensive.

This change had been announced for months and has recently come into effect here as well. While some users of the Google Maps API, predominantly large business systems, prepared for these changes, many were unpleasantly surprised and caught off guard by the discontinuation of this service on their websites.

The most significant changes to the terms of use of the Google Maps platform involve a much smaller number of free map loads on your website compared to what was available until recently. With a massive 775,000 free loads per month, which was valid until July, Google now only provides a mere 28,000 views for free. In addition, the charge for every subsequent 1000 views is $7, instead of the previous $0.5. A similar ratio applies to other Google Maps API functions. You can view the complete price list and changes to the terms of use of the Google Maps platform here.

Undoubtedly, Google's move like this can have undesired consequences for the operations of certain companies in terms of unplanned additional costs and potential decrease in the number of clients, and thus, revenue.

Another potentially "off-putting" novelty, especially for our people who are still not sufficiently accustomed to online payment methods, is the obligation to enter credit or debit card data, even if you operate within the framework of free API usage. This way, Google ensures the payment of any amount that would be due in case of exceeding the free package limit.

These are just some of the changes that could have an unfavorable effect, primarily on large and medium-sized enterprises with a large network of branches and clients, while small businesses are in a slightly more favorable position and can still "get away" with this reduced package of free Google Maps services. By analyzing website traffic and the usage of the Google Maps API, it is easy to do the math and determine how much Google's change in strategy can affect your business.

Among several alternative solutions, such as transitioning from Google Maps to other, primarily more cost-effective models, PlanPlus stands out as the first digital map of Serbia, which has been successfully serving large systems such as Halo Oglasi, Lanus, Bros Media, and others with its JavaScript API for years. The PlanPlus JavaScript API allows you to easily use an interactive map of Serbia or Montenegro on your website and implement the following functions:

- Display an interactive map with panning and zooming 
- Display user objects on the map with arbitrary names, icons, and HTML descriptions 
- Display user routes on the map with different colors and widths 
- (XML) Direct geocoding (the service returns geocoordinates for a given address) 
- (XML) Reverse geocoding (for given geocoordinates, the service returns the nearest address) 
- (XML) Search the PlanPlus database of public and business objects 
- (XML) Find the shortest route based on the starting and ending points 
- Map rendering (if you are building your own map display engine or need an overlay)

You can see how the JavaScript API service works and how to implement it on your website here. Additionally, PlanPlus offers the possibility of obtaining a free license to test the API service. You can inquire about the terms of use of the PlanPlus API by calling (011) 2083-909 or by emailing prodaja@contrast.rs.