SerpApi Local & Maps Cost Math: Per-Search Credits vs Per-Place Billing

import os
import requests

# BEFORE (SerpApi): $75/mo floor, 20 results/call cap, no website email enrichment
# params = {"engine": "google_maps", "q": "specialty coffee", "ll": "@40.722,-74.001,14z", "api_key": "..."}

# AFTER (PlacesData API): $0.20-$0.50 / 1,000 places, up to 100/call, 0 Credits on empty cells
API_KEY = os.getenv("PLACESDATAAPI_KEY", "pd_live_your_api_key")
HEADERS = {"x-api-key": API_KEY}

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.placesdataapi.com/v1/places/search",
    headers=HEADERS,
    params={"q": "specialty coffee in Manhattan NY", "limit": 50},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()
places = res.json()["data"]

for p in places[:3]:
    print(p["place_id"], p["name"], p.get("phone"), p.get("domain"))

const headers = { "x-api-key": process.env.PLACESDATAAPI_KEY ?? "pd_live_your_api_key" };

// Single synchronous GET replaces paginated start=0,20,40 + per-place detail lookups
const res = await fetch(
  "https://api.placesdataapi.com/v1/places/search?q=specialty+coffee+in+Manhattan+NY&limit=50",
  { headers }
);
const { data: places, meta } = await res.json();
console.log(`Returned ${places.length} places (${meta.credits_charged} credits) in ${meta.took_ms}ms`);

# Single call returns phone, website, domain, 7-day hours, rating & coordinates (5 Credits / place)
curl -sS "https://api.placesdataapi.com/v1/places/search?q=specialty+coffee+in+Manhattan+NY&limit=50" \
  -H "x-api-key: pd_live_your_api_key"

# Built-in website B2B email & social profile enrichment (20 Credits/hit; 0 if empty)
curl -sS "https://api.placesdataapi.com/v1/leads/enrich?domain=felixroastingco.com" \
  -H "x-api-key: pd_live_your_api_key"

{
  "code": 0,
  "provider": "https://placesdataapi.com",
  "status": "ok",
  "msg": "success",
  "data": [
    {
      "place_id": "ChIJN5X_gWdZwokRck9rk2guJ1M",
      "cid": "5991807586670235506",
      "name": "Felix Roasting Co.",
      "category": "Coffee shop",
      "phone": "+12123591139",
      "website": "https://felixroastingco.com/",
      "domain": "felixroastingco.com",
      "rating": 4.5,
      "reviews_count": 782,
      "address": "450 Broome St, New York, NY 10013",
      "latitude": 40.722341,
      "longitude": -74.001298
    }
  ],
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "99281a7b-c102-4ef1-9b14-51a9e7012c4b",
    "endpoint": "/v1/places/search",
    "count": 1,
    "credits_charged": 5,
    "took_ms": 34
  }
}