Google Maps API key: make MyFavsMap more accurate (2026 guide)

MyFavsMap works great out of the box. But if you want your small restaurants, hotels and shops to land exactly in the right spot on the map, adding your own Google Maps key makes all the difference — and it's free for normal use. Here's why and how, step by step.

Why add a Google Maps key?

By default, MyFavsMap geolocates your places with OpenStreetMap: free and zero-config, but sometimes imprecise for small local addresses (a warung in Bali, a neighborhood café, a boutique).

By adding your own Google Maps key, MyFavsMap uses Google's database to find exact coordinates. The result: your favorites sit in the right place, your itineraries are more reliable and travel times more accurate.

It's free for normal use

Good news: Google offers a free monthly quota of about 10,000 requests per API (Geocoding and Places, counted separately). To geolocate your favorites, that's far more than enough — you pay nothing.

Note: the old universal $200/month credit was replaced in March 2025 by these per-API free tiers. Billing only kicks in if you exceed the free threshold, which almost never happens for personal use.

Create and add your key in 6 steps

1. Go to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with your Google account.

2. At the top, click the project selector → New project → Create.

3. Menu ≡ → APIs & Services → Library. Enable Places API (New) and Geocoding API.

4. APIs & Services → Credentials → + Create credentials → API key.

5. (Recommended) Restrict the key: under “API restrictions” select only Places API (New) and Geocoding API.

6. Copy the key, then in MyFavsMap → Import tab → Advanced settings → Google Maps API key, paste it, Save and click ▶ Reload.

Keep your key safe

An API key is a secret: don't share it publicly. Always restrict it (by API, and if you use it on a website, by HTTP referrer myfavsmap.com/*).

You can also set a budget alert in Google Cloud (Billing → Budgets & alerts) to be warned of any overage. In MyFavsMap, your key is stored locally and synced across your devices via your account; you can remove it anytime.