googlemaps
Python client library for Google Maps Platform
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, with conditions. The library is stable, permissively licensed, and actively maintained despite infrequent releases. High install friction (source-only distribution) and a 1296-day gap since the last PyPI release are notable drawbacks, but the repository shows recent activity. Install it if you need to call Google Maps APIs from Python and can tolerate building from source; verify that your Python version and the requests library version meet the documented requirements before deploying.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a valid Google Maps API key from Google Cloud Console; requests 2.4.0 or higher needed for connect/read timeout support.
- High install friction due to source distribution only (no wheels).
- Last release was 1296 days ago; repository is active with recent commits (2026-07-14) and 4969 stars, indicating ongoing maintenance despite infrequent PyPI updates.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—suitable for production applications.
last release 2023-01-26 (1296 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-14 · 4,969 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 3,169,106 downloads/mo, #2,716 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install googlemaps
import googlemaps
from datetime import datetime
gmaps = googlemaps.Client(key='your-api-key')
result = gmaps.geocode('1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA')
directions = gmaps.directions('Sydney Town Hall', 'Parramatta, NSW', mode='transit', departure_time=datetime.now())- Whether requests library is automatically installed as a dependency or must be installed separately.
- Current status of Python 3.5 and 3.6 support given the package's age and modern Python ecosystem.
- Retry-on-failure behavior scope: which 5xx errors trigger automatic retry and what are the retry limits.
What it is and what it does
This is a Python wrapper around Google's Maps Platform web service APIs. It lets you call Google's geocoding, directions, distance matrix, elevation, geolocation, time zone, roads, places, address validation, and static maps endpoints from Python code without building HTTP requests manually. You instantiate a Client with your API key and call methods like geocode(), directions(), or reverse_geocode() to get structured responses.
The library handles authentication, request formatting, and response parsing. It includes automatic retry logic for transient 5xx failures. The package is community-supported and marked Beta; while it aims for backwards compatibility, the documentation reserves the right to make breaking changes while in version 0.x. It requires Python 3.5 or later and depends on the requests library for HTTP transport.
Use it for
- Geocode addresses to latitude/longitude coordinates or reverse-geocode coordinates to addresses in batch or real-time workflows.
- Fetch driving, transit, walking, or cycling directions and distance matrices between multiple locations for routing or logistics applications.
- Look up time zones, elevation data, or validate postal addresses programmatically in data processing pipelines.
- Query nearby places, place details, or autocomplete place names for location-aware features in web or mobile backends.
- Build location-based services that combine multiple Maps APIs (e.g., find nearby places, then get directions to them).
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, with conditions.
The library is stable, permissively licensed, and actively maintained despite infrequent releases. High install friction (source-only distribution) and a 1296-day gap since the last PyPI release are notable drawbacks, but the repository shows recent activity. Install it if you need to call Google Maps APIs from Python and can tolerate building from source; verify that your Python version and the requests library version meet the documented requirements before deploying.
Install
googlemaps on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to source distribution only (no wheels). Last release was 1296 days ago; repository is active with recent commits (2026-07-14) and 4969 stars, indicating ongoing maintenance despite infrequent PyPI updates.
Requires a valid Google Maps API key from Google Cloud Console; requests 2.4.0 or higher needed for connect/read timeout support.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache 2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—suitable for production applications.
Quickstart
pip install googlemaps
import googlemaps
from datetime import datetime
gmaps = googlemaps.Client(key='your-api-key')
result = gmaps.geocode('1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA')
directions = gmaps.directions('Sydney Town Hall', 'Parramatta, NSW', mode='transit', departure_time=datetime.now())Verify before relying
- Whether requests library is automatically installed as a dependency or must be installed separately.
- Current status of Python 3.5 and 3.6 support given the package's age and modern Python ecosystem.
- Retry-on-failure behavior scope: which 5xx errors trigger automatic retry and what are the retry limits.
Package facts
| License | Apache 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.5 |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1,296 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 3,169,106 / month, #2,716 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Topic :: Internet |
Evidence: googlemaps-4.10.0.tar.gz
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See also mapbox · azure-maps-search · geocoder · geopy · google-maps-places · smartystreets-python-sdk · censusgeocode · pygeocodio · aiogoogle · google-maps-addressvalidation