Places API (New) provides improved performance and additional functionality compared to Places API (Legacy). Use this guide to understand key differences between the two Places API versions, along with how to handle necessary changes. For more details on other Places API (New) features, see the product overview.
Key features added to Places API (New)
This section covers key features added to Places API (New).
Implemented on the Google Cloud standard platform
Places API (New) is implemented on the service infrastructure
on Google Cloud. This implementation brings with it a more secure and trusted platform with enhanced security options like OAuth. This standard API design brings a level of consistency across the APIs that improve the efficiency of development with Places API (New).
Improved performance
Places API (New) provides improved performance, making it worthwhile to replace apps that use the existing Places API.
Simplified pricing
Pricing is simplified with Places API (New) so that you only pay for the data you use. Simplified pricing is implemented using a field mask.
With Place Details (New), Nearby Search (New), and Text Search (New) you use the field mask to control the list of fields to return in the response. You are then only billed for the data requested. Using field masking is a good design practice to ensure that you don't request unnecessary data, which helps to avoid unnecessary processing time and billing charges.
Consistent response data for a place
With the legacy APIs, the Place Details (Legacy), Nearby Search (Legacy), and Text Search (Legacy) APIs returned different response data for a place. Places API (New) standardizes the response so these APIs all return the same data for a place.
Expanded place types
The API response can now contain a place's primary type. Every place can have a single type value that is specified as the place's primary type, as listed in Table A.
The new API also includes several new types. You can use these new types, and the existing types, in a search with Nearby Search (New) and Text Search (New). The new types are all included in Table A.
Dynamic place data
Places API (New) supports dynamic response data, such as the availability of an EV charging station or the latest fuel prices for a gas station. Use these response fields to create dynamic user experiences.