How to Use Your Own Google API Key on GrabNear — Get Unlimited Free Leads
GrabNear is completely free. The only thing you need to bring is your own Google API key — and Google gives every account Free monthly usage for each Places API service, which covers thousands of searches. This guide walks you through setup in under 10 minutes.
Why You Need a Google API Key
GrabNear uses the Google Places API to find business leads — live data from the same database that powers Google Maps. To run searches, GrabNear needs access to this API, and Google requires an API key tied to your own account.
The good news: Google includes free monthly usage for each Places API service. At current Places API rates, that covers roughly 2,000–6,000 business searches per month — completely free. Most users never pay Google a single rupee.
Third-party lead databases
₹999 – ₹15,000/moStale data, limited coverage, monthly lock-in
Live Google Maps data
₹0/moFreshest data on the internet, completely free
What You Get — All Completely Free
- Unlimited business searches — often within Google's free monthly usage
- Full Lead Management CRM — save, tag, add notes and follow-up status to every lead
- Export to Excel — one-click export of your entire lead list with all fields
- AI Chat per lead — ask Gemini AI anything about a business
- Calendar & Messaging — schedule follow-ups in Google Calendar or Outlook, send WhatsApp messages
- CRM Webhook integration — push leads directly to HubSpot, Zoho, Salesforce, or any webhook
- Deep Area Search — scan an entire city or region and collect hundreds of leads in one go
💡 Google gives you free monthly usage for each Places API service. At ~$0.017 per NearbySearch call, that's over 11,000 searches per month before you pay Google anything. Most users never hit this limit.
How to Set Up Your Google API Keys
You need two keys: a Places API key (for business search, runs on the server) and a Maps Display key (for map view and photos, runs in the browser). Here's how to create both in under 10 minutes.
Create a Google Cloud project
Go to console.cloud.google.com → click Select a project → New Project → name it (e.g. "GrabNear BYO") → click Create.
Enable billing
Go to Billing in the left menu → link a credit card. Google includes free monthly usage for each Places API service before it charges anything.
Enable the required APIs
Go to APIs & Services → Enable APIs & Services and enable: Places API, Geocoding API, Maps JavaScript API, and Static Maps API.
Create your Places API key (server key)
Go to Credentials → + Create Credentials → API Key. Under API restrictions, restrict it to Places API + Geocoding API. Under Application restrictions, add your server's IP address for security.
Create your Maps Display key (browser key)
Create another API key. Restrict it to Maps JavaScript API + Places API + Static Maps API. Under Application restrictions, add your domain: https://grabnear.com/*.
Paste both keys into GrabNear
Go to GrabNear → Integrations → find the Google API Keys card under AI Assistant & Google APIs → paste both keys → click Validate & Save. GrabNear will test both keys before saving them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Google charge me anything?
Probably nothing. Since March 2025, Google gives each Places API service its own free monthly allowance instead of a $200 credit. The allowance depends on the data requested — searches that include phone numbers and websites use a higher-priced tier with a smaller free allowance. Light users often pay nothing; check Google Maps Platform pricing for current limits. You only start paying Google once your usage passes the free monthly allowance.
Is it safe to use my own API key?
Yes. Your Places API key is stored encrypted on our servers and only used for your searches. Your Maps Display key is a browser-restricted key — restrict it to your domain so no one else can use it. We never share or expose your keys.
Do I need to enter billing details with Google?
Yes — Google requires a credit card on file even for the free tier. But they won't charge you until your usage passes the free monthly allowance. You can also set a budget alert in Google Cloud Console to notify you if you're approaching any charges.
What happens if my Google quota runs out?
If your usage passes Google's free monthly allowance, searches will start incurring charges at Google's standard Places API rates. You can set spending limits in Google Cloud Console to prevent unexpected charges, or simply monitor usage in the Google Cloud dashboard.
Ready to connect your keys?
Set up in under 10 minutes. GrabNear is completely free — no subscription, no credit card required.
Go to Integrations →