Get Started with Google Maps Platform

Overview

Google Maps Platform is a set of APIs and SDKs that are managed from the Google Cloud Platform console. To get started with Google Maps Platform you need to:

  1. Create a billing account
  2. Create a project
  3. Enable one or more APIs or SDKs
  4. Get, add, and restrict an API key

You can perform these procedures using the Quickstart or by following the instructions in the Get Started Videos and Get Started Procedures for the GCP console.

Quickstart

To get started, click the Get Started button below. You will be guided to (1) pick one or more products, (2) select or create a project, (3) set up a billing account, and enable the APIs associated with the products you picked.

Get Started

At the end of the process, an API key will be created for you. To add and restrict your API key see Get, Add, and Restrict an API key.

You are now eligible for the Google Cloud Platform and Google Maps Platform billing account credits. Make sure you understand how these credits work.

Get Started Videos

The videos in this section demonstrate how to use the GCP console to perform the get started procedures.

The videos are available on the Google Maps Platform YouTube channel, and are listed here:

Get Started Procedures

The instructions in this section describe how to use the GCP console to perform the get started procedures.

Note: As you continue your development work, you can return to the GCP console to perform any of these procedures, as needed (for example, you may want to create an additional billing account or get a second API key).

1. Create a billing account

To use Google Maps Platform, you must have a billing account. The billing account is used to track costs associated with your projects. Make sure you understand how the billing account credits work.

To create a billing account:

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console.
  2. Click the menu button and select Billing.
  3. Set up your billing account.
    • If this is your first billing account, on the Billing page:
      • Click the Add billing account button.
      • Follow the steps to set up your first billing account.
    • If you already have a billing account, on the Billing page:
      • Click the billing drop-down and select Manage billing accounts.
        You'll see a list of your current billing accounts.
      • Select Create account
      • Follow the instructions to set up your next billing account.

2. Create a project

To use Google Maps Platform, you must have a project. The project is the basis for managing services, credentials, billing, APIs, and SDKs. Project usage costs (for Google Cloud Platform and Google Maps Platform products) will be charged to the billing account linked with the project.

To create a project:

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console.
  2. Click the menu button and select Home.
  3. Click the project drop-down and select NEW PROJECT.
  4. On the New Project page, fill in the required information.
    • Project name: Accept the default or enter a customized name.
    • Project ID: Accept the default or click EDIT to enter a customized ID.
      • The project ID cannot be changed after the project is created, so choose an ID that you'll be comfortable using for the lifetime of the project.
    • Billing account: Select a billing account for the project (if you only have one billing account, you won't see this option).
    • Location: If you have an organization you want to link your project to, click Browse and select it, otherwise choose "No organization".
  5. Click CREATE

3. Enable one or more APIs or SDKs

To use Google Maps Platform, you must enable the APIs or SDKs you plan to use with your project. If you are not sure which APIs or SDKs to enable, try using the API Picker.

To enable one or more APIs or SDKs:

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console.
  2. Click the menu button and select APIs & Services > Library.
  3. On the API Library page, locate Maps and click VIEW ALL (15).
    • The 15 Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs that you can enable are displayed.
  4. On the Maps page, click the API or SDK you want to enable.
    • Note: Enabling the Places API also enables the Places SDK for Android and Places SDK for iOS.
  5. Back on the API Library page, under the name of the API or SDK you selected:
    • If the button says ENABLE, click the button to enable the API or SDK.
    • If the button says MANAGE, the API or SDK is already enabled and you don't need to do anything further.
    • Note: Clicking either button will display the dashboard for the API or SDK. (Click the DISABLE button to remove the API or SDK from this project.)
  6. Repeat Steps 2-5 for each API or SDK you want to enable.

To view the APIs or SDKs you have enabled:

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console.
  2. Locate the Google Maps API page:
    • Click the menu button .
    • Under Home, scroll down the menu to locate and then click Google Maps.
    • Under Overview, APIs will appear in the menu if you have enabled at least one API or SDK.
  3. Click APIs to view the status of the APIs:
    • Enabled APIs: These API or SDKs are enabled.
    • Additional APIs: These API or SDKs are not enabled.

4. Get, add, and restrict an API key

To use Google Maps Platform you must have an API key. The API key is added to all of your requests and applications. We strongly recommended that you restrict your API key.

To get, add, and restrict an API key:

  1. In the table below, select the API or SDK you are interested in. You will be directed to the Get an API Key guide for the API or SDK you selected.
  2. Follow the instructions in the guide to get, add, or restrict the API key.

Next steps

Once you are set up, you can begin using the Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs. To learn more, see the Overview, Developer, and Get Started guides for the API or SDK you are interested in. The APIs and SDKs are listed at Google Maps Platform Documentation (by product) and Google Maps Platform APIs (by platform).