Is the ArcGIS Server JavaScript API free to use?

Question

The 2008 blog post announcing the ArcGIS Server JS API says:

Everyone can use the ArcGIS JavaScript API. There is no fee for using the ArcGIS JavaScript API or deploying an application built with it.

But Esri's Web Mapping Pricing page says "Contact us for pricing".

Which is correct?

The API is free - its the geoprocessing and geodatabase access you need behind the scenes that means you will require ArcGIS Server. — Mapperz, Feb 13, 2012 at 22:02
But if you're able to use someone else's ArcGIS Server, or omit it completely (by using Fusion Tables, GeoServer, etc), it's definitely free to use the APIs for a commercial application? Is there a reference to confirm this? — Stephen Lead, Feb 13, 2012 at 22:13

Derek Swingley · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-04 18:36:53Z

15

It is free for the uses outlined in the top section in your "Web Mapping Pricing" link:

Development and Evaluations
Non-commercial external use
Education(teaching purposes only)
NGO or not-for-profit business
When used in conjunction with ArcGIS for Server license
When used in conjunction with ArcGIS Online Task Services totaling $4,000 per year or more

For commercial use, on a publicly accessible website, it is not free. That's when you need to contact sales for a quote.

Edit: best source for this info as of December 2013 is https://developers.arcgis.com/en/terms/

answered Feb 13, 2012 at 22:38

Derek Swingley

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Thanks. It might be an idea to amend the blog post?
– Stephen Lead
Feb 13, 2012 at 23:05
gis.stackexchange.com/questions/6662/… similar question?
– Steve
Feb 13, 2012 at 23:43
Has this changed by any chance? Where do government agencies that are not affiliated with ESRI fit into this? They are non-commercial internal use clients of ours.
– ca0v
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:49
1

@ca0v I no longer work for esri but I don't think any of this has changed. The link from my edit is what you should use to determine if you need to pay or not: developers.arcgis.com/en/terms
– Derek Swingley
Nov 20, 2014 at 18:31
Does this include the basemap use?
– Aamir Suleman
Feb 13, 2015 at 4:24

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