Do I really need the Google Maps API key?

I am planning to release a commercial website (I have ads there and a shop) which is freely available for everybody. I want to add a google map to show some points of interest. The question is: Do I need the google api key for that or can I just use the iframe code that google gives me? Theoretically that would work, too.

I searched google, b开发者_开发问答ut could not find a clear answer...

Thanks :-)

v2 of the Google Maps API is deprecated, so you should ideally use v3.

v3 does not need an API key as mentioned in the documentation.

Since v3 is the official version now, I assume the links given in google maps are for the version. You can always just try and see if embedding the iframe works for you. Though as noted, you can't really customize the map, so you should use the API. It's very simple to set up a basic map (read the tutorial).

You don't need the Google Maps API key as long as you don't plan to include any special or customized maps in your website.

Using the iframe version is fine for basic Maps integration.

The API Key is free anyway, so there is no problem in obtaining one. You should also be free to use the iframe as well, as long as your site is publicly available to everyone without a payed login or anything like that.

As long as you meet Google Maps TOS, you can use both. If you don't meet those TOS, don't use any of it.

A Google Maps API key is required for v2 of the API, not for v3 as far as I know, and neither for requests to Static Maps API v2.