Geocoding · head-to-head
adresse.data.gouv.fr vs API Découpage Administratif (API Geo)
The Base Adresse Nationale's API Adresse geocodes and reverse-geocodes French addresses for free with no API key, backed by Etalab and IGN's data.geopf.fr infrastructure (the old api-adresse.data.gouv.fr host now 301-redirects there). Requests and responses use the GeoJSON FeatureCollection format, with each result scored for match confidence and enriched with INSEE city codes, postcodes, and population. A live Origin-header probe confirms open CORS (Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *), so it works directly from browser JavaScript with no proxy.
Etalab's Découpage Administratif API looks up and cross-references France's administrative hierarchy — communes, EPCIs, départements, and régions — by name, postcode, SIREN, or geographic coordinates, with no API key required. The stored api.gouv.fr/api/geoapi.html link had gone stale, 301-redirecting to a generic data.gouv.fr listing page instead of the live docs; the real service and interactive documentation are hosted at geo.api.gouv.fr. A live Origin-header probe against the real /communes endpoint confirms open CORS, reflecting back whatever Origin is sent.
| adresse.data.gouv.fr | API Découpage Administratif (API Geo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None | None |
| Pricing | free | free |
| Formats | GeoJSON | JSON, GeoJSON |
| CORS | yes | yes |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
API Découpage Administratif (API Geo) supports 2 response formats, while adresse.data.gouv.fr offers fewer — pick API Découpage Administratif (API Geo) for more integration flexibility.