Microsoft has announced the retirement of Bing Maps development keys, and it’s going to directly impact many of our CDXZipStream users. If you currently rely on a Bing Maps key in Excel for geocoding, routing, or distance calculations, this change means you’ll need to act before June 30, 2025, or risk losing access to these essential features.
To help you navigate this change smoothly, we’ve published a detailed new guide. It walks through what’s changing, what your options are, and how to switch to alternatives like Google Maps, HERE Technologies, or Caliper Maptitude within CDXZipStream. This post provides a quick summary of that guide, so you can understand the big picture and start planning your next steps.
What's Changing with Bing Maps?
Microsoft is phasing out Bing Maps as a standalone service. Free “Basic” keys—which many CDXZipStream users rely on—will stop working after June 30, 2025. This is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to merge Bing Maps into Azure Maps, their cloud-based mapping platform.
If you’re using Bing Maps features in CDXZipStream like CDXLocateBing or CDXRouteBing, they will no longer function unless you switch to a new provider or pay for a Bing Maps enterprise license before the cutoff.
Can You Keep Using Bing Maps?
Yes, but it’s not free anymore. Microsoft is offering the option to purchase an enterprise license that will allow continued use of Bing Maps until June 30, 2028. However, this comes at a steep price—entry-level enterprise packages start around $999/year for 40,000 requests, and pricing varies based on your usage.
For most CDXZipStream users, especially small businesses or casual users, the cost of continuing with Bing Maps simply won’t make sense. That’s why we’re recommending that users transition to another supported mapping service as soon as possible.
What Are Your Alternatives?
CDXZipStream already supports three other geocoding and routing services that you can switch to now: Google Maps, HERE Technologies, and Caliper Maptitude. Each has different features, pricing, and free usage options. Here’s a quick comparison:
🗺️ Google Maps
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New Free Tier (as of March 2025): Includes 10,000 requests/month for geocoding and routing APIs.
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Pay-as-you-go pricing starts at about $5 per 1,000 additional requests.
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Excellent data quality and global coverage.
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Easy setup with a Google API key via the Google Cloud Console.
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Ideal for users with light to moderate monthly usage and a preference for Google's ecosystem.
📍 HERE Technologies
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Offers a generous 30,000 requests/month free tier, making it one of the best values available today.
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Additional requests are very affordable—just $0.75 per 1,000 requests.
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High-quality international data and routing options.
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A great choice for users with higher monthly volumes or looking for low-cost scalability.
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CDXZipStream integrates smoothly via the HERE API key.
💻 Caliper Maptitude
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One-time software purchase (~$695) with unlimited local geocoding and routing.
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Runs entirely offline with no per-transaction fees.
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Ideal for high-volume users, those with data privacy concerns, or businesses that prefer not to rely on online services.
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Requires installation of desktop software and U.S. map data.
Each of these alternatives is already supported in CDXZipStream, and you can switch over at any time with just a few steps. We’ve created support articles, API key setup instructions, and guides to help make this as smooth as possible.
Why Not Azure Maps?
Microsoft has positioned Azure Maps as the future of their mapping services—but after careful consideration, we’ve chosen not to support it in CDXZipStream at this time. Here’s why:
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Very limited free usage: Azure only offers 1,000 requests/month, much less than Google or HERE.
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Higher pricing beyond the free tier (around $4.50 per 1,000 requests).
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Complex setup that requires creating Azure resources and working within their developer portal.
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Not user-friendly for the average Excel user who just wants to geocode addresses quickly and reliably.
For these reasons, we’ve focused our efforts on integrating services that offer better value, simplicity, and ease of migration. We may revisit this decision in the future.
What You Should Do Now
If you're a CDXZipStream user currently using a Bing Maps key, we strongly encourage you to start planning your migration now. Here’s a quick checklist:
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Evaluate your usage – How many address lookups or route calculations do you make each month?
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Choose your provider – Google for ease, HERE for value, or Maptitude for high-volume fixed cost.
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Get your API key – It’s a quick process through Google or HERE’s developer portals.
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Update CDXZipStream settings – Enter your new key and start using the new mapping source.
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Test and monitor usage – Make sure it’s working smoothly before the Bing Maps cutoff date.
We also suggest reading the full guide on our blog for step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and deeper insights on each provider.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Remember, June 30, 2025 is the deadline when Bing Maps development keys will stop working. If you do nothing, geocoding and routing features in CDXZipStream tied to your Bing key will stop functioning on that date.
By planning ahead and switching to one of the supported alternatives, you’ll avoid disruptions and may even find an option that’s more cost-effective and better suited to your needs.
Questions? We're Here to Help
We know transitions like this can feel complicated, especially if you’re not a tech expert. That’s why we’ve made switching as easy as possible in CDXZipStream, and our team is ready to help if you run into any questions. Feel free to contact us via our support page or drop us a note on the blog.
Whether you choose Google, HERE, or Maptitude, we’re confident you’ll find a smooth path forward with CDXZipStream. And as always, thanks for being a valued customer.