Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal Unveils New Ola Maps Pricing
Krutrim, Bhavish Aggarwal's AI startup, announced Ola Maps' new pricing. The policy gives Indian startups five million free API calls per month and costs 50% less than Google's.
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Krutrim, the AI startup of Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder of Ola, introduced a revised pricing model for Ola Maps on Thursday, July 18. This move aims to offer an alternative to dominant global tech companies like Google and foster innovation within India. Aggarwal announced the new pricing policy for his AI startup Krutrim on X (formerly Twitter), which will take effect on July 18, 2024.
Krutrim's pricing policy includes a provision allowing all startups in India to receive five million API calls per month free of charge. For larger quantities, ONDC rates are 50% lower than those of Google. Additionally, users who commit to a three-year or longer term and sign into the platform will receive two years of free usage. Furthermore, all startups and small to midsize businesses on ONDC will enjoy three years of free usage.
In his post on X, Aggarwal stated that Ola Maps currently supports all major APIs. However, he mentioned that they are working towards achieving full functionalities for all types of APIs, SDKs, and specific use cases by December. He also attached a roadmap detailing their plans. Starting on August 1, Google plans to expand its reach among Indian developers by lowering the price of its Google Maps platform as well. Aggarwal previously stated that Krutrim's main distinguishing factor will be its cost, which has been specifically designed with domestic factors in mind. Krutrim introduced mapping and location-based services for developers using the Ola Maps API in May.
Bhavish Aggarwal stated that in early July, Ola Cabs discontinued using Google Maps and transitioned to its own internally developed Ola Maps, with the aim of saving around ₹100 crore annually. The founder of Ola is utilising social media platforms to incentivise developers to adopt Ola Maps by offering them a complimentary one-year access plan. As of July 18, he stated that over 10,000 developers have registered for the platform, and the company is actively maximising this chance to acquire new customers.
