You’ve heard about the Mapbox API and how it can make life easier for your customers by displaying store locations, but what’s the catch? How much can you actually use for free, and when do you start getting billed? In this post, we’ll walk you through the fine print.
While Google Maps is often the go-to solution, Mapbox provides a powerful, customizable alternative—and it comes with a free tier. If you’re looking for a way to add interactive maps to your website without breaking the bank, Mapbox is an excellent choice.
Step 1: Sign Up for Mapbox
The first step is to sign up for a free Mapbox account. Mapbox offers a free tier that includes 50,000 map loads per month, which is ideal for small businesses with limited web traffic.
This free plan provides plenty of flexibility and customization, and you won’t need to worry about charges unless you exceed the monthly limit. For businesses that start growing, Mapbox also offers scalable pricing options, with the next tier allowing for 100,000 map views for $5.
Step 2: Get Your Mapbox Access Token
To link your custom map with your Storemapper store locator, you need an access token from Mapbox. This token allows Storemapper to use the map on your website. Here’s how to generate one:
- Log in to your Mapbox account.
- Go to Account > Access Tokens.
- Click Create a Token, give it a name, and generate your token.
- Copy the token—you’ll need it to set up Mapbox within Storemapper.
Step 4: Integrate Mapbox with Storemapper
Now that you have your custom map and access token, it’s time to integrate Mapbox into your Storemapper store locator. Follow these steps:
- Log in to your Storemapper dashboard.
- Navigate to the Settings > Map Provider.
- In the Mapbox access token field, paste your Mapbox Access Token in the provided field.
- Save the changes, and you’re done!
You’re now ready to start using your Mapbox-powered store locator! This setup allows you to provide your customers with a customized, mobile-friendly map experience.
For more detailed steps, feel free to check out our help doc on adding a Mapbox token to your store locator.
Step 5: Make the Most of Storemapper’s Features
While Mapbox provides the customizable map, Storemapper adds a variety of features to enhance your store locator, making it more user-friendly and valuable for your business:
- Real-time updates with Google Business Profile integration—automatically sync your business hours and locations.
- Smart Search Filters—help customers find exactly what they need quickly, whether by product availability, service offered, or location.
- Customizable branding—seamlessly match the look and feel of your website with easy-to-use customization tools.
- Analytics Integration—connect with Google Analytics to track store locator usage and optimize customer interactions.
Mapbox Pricing: How to Stay Within the Free Tier
The free Mapbox plan offers 50,000 map views per month, which is generally more than enough for small businesses. If you exceed that limit, Mapbox’s pricing is scalable and affordable. The next tier allows for 100,000 map views at $5, and costs gradually increase based on your usage.
For businesses with low-to-moderate traffic, staying within the free Mapbox API plan is usually easy. You can monitor your map usage directly from the Mapbox dashboard and set alerts if you’re getting close to your monthly limit. Here’s a quick overview of Mapbox’s pricing:
Why Choose Mapbox for Your Store Locator?
Mapbox’s standout feature is the strong mobile performance and flexible pricing, making it perfect for small businesses that expect to scale over time.
Conclusion: Get Started with Mapbox and Storemapper
By combining Mapbox and Storemapper, you can offer a sleek, branded store locator experience that helps customers find your locations easily. With Mapbox’s free tier and Storemapper’s seamless integration, you can have a fully functional store locator up and running without a large upfront investment.
Ready to enhance your store locator with Mapbox? Sign up for Storemapper today and start integrating custom maps that fit your brand perfectly!
Need a different choice? If you’re considering alternatives, we’ve got you covered! Check out our blog post on how to use the Google Maps API for free and see which solution best fits your business needs. Read more here.
