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ZIP Code API VS GrabIt

Compare ZIP Code API VS GrabIt and see what are their differences

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ZIP Code API logo ZIP Code API

REST API for US ZIP, ZIP+4, and Canadian postal codes. Single unified endpoint covers address validation and standardization, radius search (centroid haversine and true spatial polygon intersection), point-to-point distance, autocomplete/typeah

GrabIt logo GrabIt

GrabIt is a free application that enables you to easily find and download content from Usenet news...
  • ZIP Code API Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-05-21

API for US ZIP, ZIP+4, and Canadian postal code data. One unified endpoint set covers North America โ€” no separate APIs by country or data type.

What it does

  • Address validation and standardization โ€” production-grade parser with ZIP+4 append, refreshed monthly
  • Radius search โ€” centroid haversine and true spatial polygon intersection. Returns ZIPs/FSAs within range, with per-result pct_inside overlap percentage for spatial queries
  • Unified lookup endpoint โ€” accepts US ZIP, ZIP+4, Canadian FSA, full Canadian postal codes, or latitude/longitude inputs
  • Autocomplete/typeahead โ€” cities, counties, metros, states, FSAs, ZIPs
  • Point-to-point distance โ€” between any two postal points
  • Census ACS demographics โ€” 2011โ€“2024, 542 fields per ZIP across income, education, housing, social, and economic profiles
  • Boundary lookups โ€” Census tracts, congressional districts, state legislative areas, school districts โ€” with computed intersection percentages per ZIP

What makes it different

  • Licensed commercial data โ€” not commodity or scraped sources
  • Canadian postal coverage โ€” most peers in this space are US-only
  • True spatial radius โ€” not just centroid haversine
  • 14 years of historical ACS depth via API โ€” unusual outside of raw Census downloads
  • One endpoint for all of North America โ€” no country-detection or input-routing logic to maintain on the client side

Pricing

  • Free โ€” 2,500 lookups/day, no credit card required, no expiry
  • Developer โ€” $49/mo, 100K credits, 300/min
  • Professional โ€” $149/mo, 350K credits, 300/min
  • Business โ€” $499/mo, 1.5M credits, 600/min
  • Credit packs โ€” one-time, from 25K ($19) up to 2M ($799)

Resources

  • GrabIt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-23

ZIP Code API features and specs

  • Comprehensive ZIP Code Data
    The ZIP Code API from zip-codes.com provides extensive data including ZIP code details, city information, state data, and geographic coordinates, making it a thorough resource for location-based lookups.
  • Multiple Lookup Options
    The API supports various types of lookups including ZIP code to city/state, city/state to ZIP code, distance calculations between ZIP codes, and radius searches, offering flexible querying capabilities.
  • Easy Integration
    The API uses standard REST-based HTTP requests and returns data in commonly used formats like JSON and XML, making it straightforward to integrate into most applications and programming languages.
  • Distance and Radius Calculations
    The API includes built-in functionality for calculating distances between ZIP codes and finding ZIP codes within a specified radius, which is valuable for store locators, shipping estimates, and proximity-based features.
  • Well-Documented Endpoints
    The API provides clear documentation for its various endpoints and parameters, helping developers understand available features and implement them correctly without extensive trial and error.

GrabIt features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GrabIt features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.
  • Free to Use
    The software is available for free, providing users with a cost-effective solution for downloading files from Usenet.
  • Built-in Search Functionality
    GrabIt includes a built-in search feature that allows users to easily find and download files from Usenet without needing to use external search engines.
  • Automated Repair and Extract
    The software can automatically repair and extract downloaded files, saving users time and manual effort.
  • Resume Capabilities
    GrabIt supports resuming downloads, enabling users to continue interrupted downloads without starting over.

Possible disadvantages of GrabIt

  • Limited Support for NZB Files
    While GrabIt supports NZB files, its handling of these files is less advanced compared to some competing Usenet clients.
  • No SSL Encryption
    The software does not natively support SSL encryption, which could be a drawback for users prioritizing security and privacy.
  • Ads in Free Version
    The free version of GrabIt displays advertisements, which can be intrusive and detract from the user experience.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    GrabIt is only available for Windows, leaving users of other operating systems like macOS and Linux without support.
  • No Built-in Scheduler
    The software lacks a built-in scheduling feature, meaning users cannot automate downloading tasks at specific times.

Analysis of ZIP Code API

Overall verdict

  • ZIP Code API from zip-codes.com is a solid, reliable choice for developers and businesses needing accurate US and Canadian postal code data, offering a straightforward RESTful interface with regularly updated databases.

Why this product is good

  • Provides accurate and frequently updated ZIP code, city, state, and geographic data
  • Offers a simple RESTful API that is easy to integrate into web and mobile applications
  • Supports features like ZIP code lookup, radius search, and distance calculations
  • Includes both US ZIP codes and Canadian postal codes for broader coverage
  • Backed by an established data provider with a long track record in postal data

Recommended for

  • Developers building address validation or autofill features
  • E-commerce platforms needing shipping and location-based calculations
  • Businesses performing geographic or radius-based store locators
  • Applications requiring reliable US and Canadian postal data
  • Marketing and logistics teams that need regional or demographic targeting

Analysis of GrabIt

Overall verdict

  • GrabIt is generally considered good for its ease of use, reliability, and effective management of downloads. However, it is important to evaluate if it meets your specific needs for Usenet access and consider any potential limitations, such as a reliance on external servers for searching.

Why this product is good

  • GrabIt, a service provided by Shemes.com, is a popular newsreader for Usenet that is praised for its user-friendly interface and efficient handling of binary downloads. It allows users to easily search, download, and organize Usenet content without needing extensive technical knowledge, making it a good choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Recommended for

    GrabIt is recommended for users who are looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use tool to access and download from Usenet. It is particularly suited for those who want a quick setup without the complexities of more advanced Usenet software.

ZIP Code API videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ZIP Code API and GrabIt)
Zip Lookup
100 100%
0% 0
Communication
0 0%
100% 100
APIs
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GrabIt seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ZIP Code API mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ZIP Code API yet. Tracking of ZIP Code API recommendations started around May 2026.

GrabIt mentions (1)

  • Looking for old Australian Rugby Games (ARL, NSWRL, NRL)
    Yeah, well I signed upto usenetserver.com and threw a few bucks at shemes.com to search, seems there is a heap of .exe's to downolad and the one game I managed to download had no audio.. Seems like a minefield! :D - will keep searching, however can only find random games, not a pack. Looks like an interesting place tho! Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ZIP Code API and GrabIt, you can also consider the following products

Smarty - Smarty provides address validation, autocomplete, geocoding and reverse geocoding services covering addresses in over 240+ countries.

SABnzbd - SABnzbd is a free/open-source cross-platform binary newsreader written in Python.

Zipcodestack - Free Zip Code API - Free Postal Code Validation | Zipcodestack

GetNZB - GetNZB is a free Newsreader software with integrated NNTP access for downloading files from Usenet.

PostalDataPI - The most affordable postal code API. 240+ countries, sub-5 ms responses. Simple, elegant, transparent.

alt.binz - alt.binz is a powerful binary newsreader, for downloading and managing articles from Usenet.