Best Geofencing APIs & Platforms
Choosing a geofencing platform comes down to a few practical questions: Do you need polygon or just radius fences? Do you want a REST API or a native SDK? How much does it cost at scale? Below is a comparison of three notable options — one usage-based REST API, one fully managed SaaS, and one free on-device primitive.
| Feature | Fencemaker | Radar | Google Geofencing (Android) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment model | Self-hosted-style REST API | Managed SaaS only | On-device only (Google Play services) |
| Polygon geofences | Yes | Yes (paid tiers) | No (radius only, max 100/app) |
| Mobile integration | REST API (no native SDK) | iOS & Android SDKs | Android only |
| Webhook delivery | Slack, Telegram, custom HTTPS | Custom HTTPS, Zapier | None (in-app callback only) |
| Free tier | 100 checks/day, no card required | Limited free tier, card may be required | Free, but no server-side infrastructure |
| Server-side infra (ops portal, device tracking) | Included | Included | Not provided — build your own |
| Pricing model | Usage-based API pricing, from $29/mo | Per-event / monthly SaaS pricing | Free (no backend services) |
| Best for | Teams wanting control and polygon accuracy via a straightforward REST API | Teams wanting fully managed SaaS with native SDKs | Simple Android-only apps needing basic radius fences |
Summary
Fencemaker stands out for teams that want polygon-accurate territory and delivery-zone modeling through a straightforward, usage-based REST API — useful when you want direct control over integration without depending on a native SDK, and without per-tracked-user pricing.
Radar is a strong fully managed option if you don't want to think about infrastructure at all, with broad platform support and mature tooling, though costs scale with event volume and tracked users. See the detailed Fencemaker vs Radar comparison and Radar pricing breakdown.
Google's built-in Geofencing API is free and adequate for simple, single-platform apps that only need basic radius-based triggers, but it has no server-side event delivery, no polygon support, and a hard 100-geofence cap per app — it's not a real substitute for a geofencing platform, just an on-device primitive.
Where to go next
- What is geofencing? — definitions and the entry/exit trigger model
- Try Fencemaker's free tier — no credit card required
- Geofencing API pricing guide — what to budget for at each stage
- Radar.com alternative — a head-to-head migration guide