Get a Maps Demo Key and use it with Google Maps Platform

The Maps Demo Key is a no-cost feature that lets you start prototyping with Google Maps Platform without entering billing information. Validate and see your ideas in action before committing to a paid account. This page explains how the Maps Demo Key works, quotas, what features you can use, and how to get and use your key.

Note: The Maps Demo Key is intended for testing and prototyping purposes only, and is not designed for production use. Use of the Maps Demo Key is also subject to the Maps Demo Project Terms of Service.

Which features can I use with the Maps Demo Key?

The Maps Demo Key supports a limited set of features from the Maps JavaScript API and the Weather API. To use any API or feature not listed below, you need to either add a billing account to your Maps Demo Key or create a new API key and enable billing. For more information, see Get Started with Google Maps Platform.

Supported Maps JavaScript API features

✔ Supported features

  • Map Rendering Load 2D/3D maps with satellite and terrain views.
  • Markers & Events Add markers, info windows, and handle user clicks.
  • Map Styling Apply custom themes and JSON styles to your map.
  • Places UI Kit Prebuilt components for place search and details.
  • Drawing Tools Draw shapes and polylines to visualize data.

✘ Unsupported features

  • Places API (New) Programmatic search methods like searchByText.
  • Routes & Navigation Directions service and Distance Matrix API.
  • Address Validation High-accuracy address correction services.

In addition to the features listed above, you can also use the Maps Demo Key with the Weather API.

Maps Demo Key quotas

The Maps Demo Key is subject to the usage limits, which are subject to change. If you reach the daily limit, your usage is paused until the following day with no risk of charges.

How to use the Maps Demo Key

Step 1: Get your Maps Demo Key

To generate your key, make sure you're signed in with your Google Account and click the Get a Demo Key button. After accepting the Maps Demo Key terms, your key will be displayed and will be ready to use right away.

You'll also receive an email with instructions for how to retrieve your key from the Google Cloud console.

Step 2: Use your Maps Demo Key with Google Maps Platform

You can use your Maps Demo Key in place of a standard API key in any of the supported Maps JavaScript API features or the Weather API. The following example demonstrates using the Maps Demo Key with a basic map. Replace YOUR_DEMO_KEY with the key you just retrieved.

<html>
<head>
  <title>Add a Map using HTML</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="./style.css" />
  <script type="module" src="./index.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <gmp-map
    center="38.7946,-106.5348"
    zoom="4"
    map-id="DEMO_MAP_ID"
    style="height: 400px"
  >
  </gmp-map>
  <!--
    The `defer` attribute causes the script to execute after the full HTML
    document has been parsed. -->
  <script
    src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=YOUR_DEMO_KEY&libraries=maps"
    defer
  ></script>
</body>
</html>

Next steps