If you want a live, interactive Google map on your website, Google requires you to create a billing account and generate an API key from the Google Cloud console. The interface isn't the friendliest, so here's a step-by-step walkthrough to make it painless.
A heads up on cost: A credit card is required even to use the free tier — but for a typical low-traffic church or nonprofit site, an interactive map almost always stays within Google's free monthly usage allowances, so you shouldn't see a charge. More on how billing works in Step 2.
Step 1: Go to the Google Cloud console
Navigate to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with your Google account. (You can also go straight to the Maps area at console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis.)
If this is your first time, you'll be asked to agree to the terms of service — choose your country, accept, and continue. If you've already used Google Cloud before, you can skip ahead to Step 3.
You should now land on the Cloud dashboard, which will be mostly empty.
Step 2: Set up billing
Before you can create a project and generate a key, you need a billing account. Adding one does not charge you anything up front — it's used to verify your identity and to cover any usage above the free tier.
A note on how billing works now (this changed in 2025): Google used to give every account a flat $200/month credit pooled across all map services. That's gone. Instead, each Maps API now has its own free monthly usage allowance, and you're only billed per 1,000 requests once you exceed an individual API's allowance. New Google Cloud accounts also get a free trial with promotional credit. For most small sites, normal map traffic stays under the free allowances. You can see current numbers on Google's pricing page (https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/overview).
To set up billing, click the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-left corner, then choose Billing.
Click Add billing account (or Manage billing accounts → Create account) and follow the prompts.
On the first screen you'll confirm your country and accept the terms.
On the next screen you'll enter your address and credit card details.
Finish setup, then dismiss any "Got it" popup. You're ready to create a key.
Optional but recommended: Set a budget alert (Billing → Budgets & alerts) for something like $1 so you're notified immediately if usage ever crosses into paid territory.
Step 3: Create your API key
Google may auto-create a sample project called "My First Project." You can rename it to your site name to make it easier to find later — the project dropdown sits at the top of the page, just right of the Google Cloud logo. (No project yet? Click the dropdown and create one.)
From the left-hand menu, go to APIs & Services → Credentials. Then click + Create Credentials near the top and choose API key.
A popup will appear with your new key — a long string of letters and numbers. Copy this key and send it to us securely.
Do not share this key publicly or post it anywhere visible. Anyone who has it could rack up charges against your billing account. We'll lock it down in the next step.
Step 4: Restrict your key
Because billing is tied to this key, you want to restrict it so only your website can use it. From the key popup, click Edit API key (or go back to Credentials and click the key's name).
Restrict by website. Under Application restrictions, choose Websites. Click Add, then enter your domain. Formatting it as yourdomain.com/* is best — that wildcard covers every page, folder, and subdomain.
Restrict by API. Scroll to API restrictions, select Restrict key, and choose only the APIs this key needs (the three you'll enable in Step 5: Maps JavaScript API, Places API, Geocoding API). This means a leaked key can't be abused against other Google services.
Click Save at the bottom. Your key is now locked to your site.
Step 5: Enable the Google Maps APIs
Almost done. A key on its own doesn't do anything — you have to switch on the specific map services you want it to use.
From the left-hand menu, go to APIs & Services → Enabled APIs & services, then click + Enable APIs and Services at the top. This opens the API Library.
Enable each of these three, one at a time (search the name, open it, click Enable):
- Maps JavaScript API — draws the interactive map itself.
- Places API — powers location search and place details.
- Geocoding API — converts street addresses into map coordinates.
Note: Google now also offers a newer "Places API (New)." For a standard WordPress map you generally don't need to worry about it — if a plugin specifically calls for it, enable that one too.
Once all three show up under your Enabled APIs list, you're done.
That's it!
Your API key is ready to use. Make sure you've sent the key to us, and we'll wire it into your site from there.
