Pricing overview
Tankerkoenig provides access to real-time fuel price data for petrol stations across Germany through a tiered pricing structure. The API is designed to support a range of users, from individual developers and hobby projects to commercial applications requiring higher request volumes. The core pricing model is based on the number of daily API requests, with a foundational free tier and several paid subscription options. This structure aims to align costs with usage, ensuring that users pay for the data access they consume. The data itself is sourced from the Markttransparenzstelle für Kraftstoffe (MTS-K), a German government initiative designed to increase transparency in fuel pricing for consumers Tankerkoenig API data licensing. This government oversight provides a consistent, reliable data source, which is then made accessible via the Tankerkoenig API.
The pricing strategy emphasizes accessibility, offering a no-cost entry point for evaluation and low-volume use cases. As demand for fuel price data increases, users can transition to paid plans that offer significantly higher daily request limits. Each plan increment scales the available requests, accommodating growth in application usage or the need for more frequent data updates. The published pricing details provide clear thresholds for each tier, allowing developers to estimate costs based on their anticipated API call patterns. This transparency is a key aspect of Tankerkoenig's approach to API monetization, enabling developers to budget effectively for their projects.
Plans and tiers
Tankerkoenig's pricing structure is organized into distinct plans, each offering a specific daily request limit suitable for different application scales. These plans are primarily differentiated by the maximum number of API calls permitted within a 24-hour period. Users select a plan that aligns with their application's expected traffic and data refresh requirements. The following table outlines the key features of the available plans, including their monthly cost, daily request limits, and typical use cases.
| Plan | Monthly Price (EUR) | Daily Request Limit | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | 0 | 50 | Basic access to fuel prices, no payment required | Personal projects, development, API evaluation |
| Small | 2.50 | 5,000 | Increased request volume, suitable for small applications | Small-scale apps, local community tools |
| Medium | 5.00 | 15,000 | Substantial request capacity for growing services | Medium-sized applications, regional services |
| Large | 10.00 | 30,000 | High volume access for more demanding applications | Larger applications, commercial projects with moderate traffic |
| Extra Large | Custom | >30,000 | Tailored solutions for very high request volumes | Enterprise-level applications, high-traffic commercial services |
Each paid plan provides a significant increase in the daily request allowance compared to the free tier. This tiered approach allows developers to scale their usage as their application grows, without incurring disproportionately high costs. The transition between tiers is managed through a subscription model, where users can upgrade or downgrade their plan as needed Tankerkoenig API data license terms.
Free tier and limits
Tankerkoenig offers a free tier that permits up to 50 API requests per day. This tier is designed to enable developers to evaluate the API, build proof-of-concept applications, and support personal or non-commercial projects with low data retrieval needs. The free tier provides full access to the API's core functionalities, allowing users to query fuel prices for various stations and fuel types within Germany, identical to the paid tiers in terms of data quality and endpoint access. The primary limitation is the daily request volume.
To access the free tier, developers typically register for an API key. This key authenticates requests and tracks usage against the daily limit. Exceeding the 50-request limit within a 24-hour period will result in subsequent requests being denied until the next day. There are no automatic charges or penalties for exceeding the free tier limit; rather, access is temporarily suspended. This makes the free tier a safe environment for experimentation without unexpected costs.
The free tier is suitable for:
- Personal projects: Building a small application to track local fuel prices.
- Development and testing: Integrating and testing the Tankerkoenig API functionalities before deploying a production application.
- Proof-of-concept: Demonstrating the feasibility of an idea that relies on real-time fuel data.
Users who anticipate needing more than 50 requests per day for sustained periods are encouraged to review the paid plans to ensure uninterrupted service and sufficient data access for their applications Tankerkoenig API usage policies.
Real-world cost examples
Understanding the practical implications of Tankerkoenig's pricing requires examining various usage scenarios. These examples illustrate how different application requirements translate into monthly costs, based on the API's tiered structure.
Scenario 1: Personal Fuel Tracker App
- Usage: A user develops a personal mobile app that checks the price of petrol at 5 nearby stations once an hour for 12 hours a day. Each check queries 5 stations, resulting in 5 API calls.
- Daily Requests: 5 calls/hour * 12 hours/day = 60 requests/day.
- Cost: This usage exceeds the free tier's 50 requests/day. The user would need the 'Small' plan, costing 2.50 EUR per month for 5,000 requests/day.
Scenario 2: Small Business Fleet Management
- Usage: A small delivery business uses an internal tool to optimize fuel stops for 10 vehicles. The tool checks prices at 20 stations in a specific region every 30 minutes during an 8-hour workday. Each check queries 20 stations, resulting in 20 API calls.
- Daily Requests: (20 calls/check) * (2 checks/hour) * (8 hours/day) = 320 requests/day.
- Cost: This falls comfortably within the 'Small' plan's 5,000 requests/day limit. The monthly cost would be 2.50 EUR.
Scenario 3: Regional Fuel Comparison Website
- Usage: A website serving a specific German state needs to display real-time prices for 500 petrol stations, updated every 5 minutes during peak hours (6 AM - 10 PM, 16 hours) and every 15 minutes off-peak (10 PM - 6 AM, 8 hours). Each update for 500 stations counts as 500 requests.
- Peak Hours Requests: (500 calls/update) * (12 updates/hour) * (16 hours/day) = 96,000 requests.
- Off-Peak Hours Requests: (500 calls/update) * (4 updates/hour) * (8 hours/day) = 16,000 requests.
- Total Daily Requests: 96,000 + 16,000 = 112,000 requests/day.
- Cost: This usage significantly exceeds the 'Large' plan. The website would require a custom 'Extra Large' plan, with pricing negotiated directly with Tankerkoenig.
Scenario 4: Infrequent Data Pulls for Research
- Usage: A researcher needs to collect fuel price data for 100 specific stations once a day for an extended study.
- Daily Requests: 100 requests/day.
- Cost: This scenario exceeds the free tier but is well within the 'Small' plan. The monthly cost would be 2.50 EUR.
These examples demonstrate that the most significant factor in Tankerkoenig's pricing is the total volume of API requests. Applications that require frequent updates or cover a large number of petrol stations will quickly move beyond the free tier and into the paid plans, potentially requiring custom solutions for very high-volume usage.
How the pricing compares
When evaluating Tankerkoenig's pricing, it's useful to compare it with alternative services that provide fuel price data, particularly those operating within Germany. While direct API access for real-time fuel prices is a specialized niche, several platforms offer similar data, often through different integration models or with varying geographical scopes. It is important to note that many alternatives, such as Clever-Tanken, ADAC Spritpreise, and Mehr-Tanken, primarily focus on consumer-facing applications and may not offer direct API access for developers, or their API access might be structured differently, often with higher barriers to entry or specific commercial agreements Clever-Tanken homepage.
Tankerkoenig's strength lies in its clear, tiered API pricing model and its direct access to the official MTS-K data for Germany. This transparency and directness are not always present in competitor offerings. Some alternatives might bundle fuel price data with broader automotive or travel information services, leading to more complex or higher-cost subscriptions that include features not relevant to a pure fuel price API need. For instance, comprehensive mapping APIs like Google Maps Platform offer extensive location data but typically charge for geocoding and mapping requests, which could be an additional cost if integrated with a fuel price service Google Maps Geocoding API pricing. A developer building a fuel price app might query Tankerkoenig for fuel prices and then use a separate mapping API for location context.
The availability of a generous free tier (50 requests/day) also positions Tankerkoenig favorably for developers exploring ideas or building small-scale applications. Many commercial APIs either offer much smaller free tiers or require a credit card upfront, even for trial access. Tankerkoenig's starting paid tier at 2.50 EUR/month for 5,000 requests/day is competitive for small to medium-sized applications, especially when considering the reliability and official source of the data provided. Larger alternatives might offer more extensive geographical coverage (e.g., pan-European or global fuel prices) but often at a significantly higher price point, potentially making them less suitable for applications focused solely on the German market.
In summary, Tankerkoenig provides a cost-effective and transparent solution for accessing German fuel price data, particularly for developers who prioritize direct API access and predictable, usage-based pricing. Its free tier and low-cost entry-level paid plans make it accessible for a wide range of projects, distinguishing it from consumer-focused platforms or more broadly scoped, higher-priced data providers.