How to automatically disable Azure Maps api key when reaching close to free tier limit

Question

How to automatically disable Azure Maps api key when reaching close to free tier limit

Eugen Mihaescu 20

Hello everyone!

I'm trying my best to properly implement Azure Maps in my Winui3 C# App, my main usage is simply to scroll around and view my surroundings on the map in satellite view and normal view, i see there are some limitations for the free tier, namely:

Base Map Tiles	5,000
Base Map Tiles	5,000
Imagery Tiles	1,000
Traffic Tiles	5,000
Weather Tiles	1,000

Map provisioning	1 resource unit per hour
Map provisioning	1 resource unit per hour
Map render	1K transactions
Feature state	1K transactions
Web feature	1K transactions

These limitations at first seem incredibly small and trigger happy on everyone credit card, so to prevent leaving the free tier i would like to know how could i activate a limit of usage, let say i would like to completely deactivate the maps api key as soon as i reach 4000 base map tiles usage for example, a competitor (i will not name it here) has all of these things implemented in the form of "quotas", as in, you define when should the service stop after x ammount of usage, therefor making it completely safe to keep yourself in the free tier if that is your wish.

How could i do something similar in Azure Maps, i really can not afford leaving the free tier.

Thank you all for your help!

VSawhney 880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-20T13:56:27.8066667+00:00
Hello Eugen Mihaescu,

It seems like you're looking for a way to manage and control your usage of Azure Maps to stay within the free tier limits. Unfortunately, Azure Maps doesn't have a built-in quota management feature like some competitors do, but you can implement a client-side solution to monitor your usage.

Here's a comprehensive approach you could try:

1. Track API Requests:

Keep counters in your app for each type of API call (e.g., base map tiles, imagery, etc.).

Store these counts in local storage and reset them daily.

2. Implement Usage Monitoring:

Create a function to check your usage against predefined limits (like 4,000 tiles).

This function would prevent further requests once your limit is approached.

3. Request Interception:

Wrap Azure Maps API calls in a layer that first checks if you can afford to make the call without exceeding your limits.

If the limit would be breached, block the request and show a warning to the user.

4. Visual Feedback:

Add some UI component that displays your current usage and warns you as you approach your limits.

5. Fallback Actions:

If you hit the usage limit, switch to showing static map images or disable certain features.

6. Emergency Measures:

Maintain an alternate API key that you can switch to once you hit your quota, effectively disabling the main key.

Considerations:

Remember that client-side tracking can be bypassed by users, so consider implementing server-side tracking if possible.

Regularly monitor your usage through the Azure Portal to ensure that your tracking aligns with actual usage.

Explore creating a lightweight mode that minimizes your API calls.

This approach should help you have better control over your usage and keep you within the free tier limits.
Thank you!

Accepted answer

3 additional answers

Your answer

VSawhney 880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-20T13:56:27.8066667+00:00

Hello Eugen Mihaescu,

It seems like you're looking for a way to manage and control your usage of Azure Maps to stay within the free tier limits. Unfortunately, Azure Maps doesn't have a built-in quota management feature like some competitors do, but you can implement a client-side solution to monitor your usage.

Here's a comprehensive approach you could try:

1. Track API Requests:

Keep counters in your app for each type of API call (e.g., base map tiles, imagery, etc.).

Store these counts in local storage and reset them daily.

2. Implement Usage Monitoring:

Create a function to check your usage against predefined limits (like 4,000 tiles).

This function would prevent further requests once your limit is approached.

3. Request Interception:

Wrap Azure Maps API calls in a layer that first checks if you can afford to make the call without exceeding your limits.

If the limit would be breached, block the request and show a warning to the user.

4. Visual Feedback:

Add some UI component that displays your current usage and warns you as you approach your limits.

5. Fallback Actions:

If you hit the usage limit, switch to showing static map images or disable certain features.

6. Emergency Measures:

Maintain an alternate API key that you can switch to once you hit your quota, effectively disabling the main key.

Considerations:

Remember that client-side tracking can be bypassed by users, so consider implementing server-side tracking if possible.

Regularly monitor your usage through the Azure Portal to ensure that your tracking aligns with actual usage.

Explore creating a lightweight mode that minimizes your API calls.

This approach should help you have better control over your usage and keep you within the free tier limits.
Thank you!

Answer 1

Manas Mohanty 8,150 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Eugen Mihaescu

We can trigger a runbook automation or python function as action once log analytic workspace receives 429 rate limits.

How to configure custom metric alert and run actions

Runbook automation script or python functions can do below to serve the purpose

can remove the roles of assigned user from Azure Map resource
We can also expire or remove the SAS token which might act as authentication for users
We can also remove the key vault secret user role on a keyvault secret which contains the Azure Map key for authentication.

Runbook automation in python 3

Please let us know if this approach would work for you

Thank you.

Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-08-02T00:00:43.95+00:00

Hello there, thank you very much for your reply i followed your links but they only seem to generically explain what runbooks are and do. Can you please adapt a step by step example (something similar to what i did on a comment) on how to achieve what i need specifically to keep my maps api in free tier? Thank you in advance!
Manas Mohanty 8,150 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-08T09:24:35.54+00:00
Hi Eugen Mihaescu

We need to test the runbook automation which removes roles on user prior connecting as action on Custom metrics alerts

Overview of the Goal

You want to:

Monitor usage of Azure Maps API for free tier users.

Detect when the daily quota limit is reached.

Automatically trigger a runbook to remove roles or access for the user.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Monitor Quota Usage

Use Azure Monitor and Log Analytics Workspace to track API usage and detect when the quota is exceeded (typically via HTTP 429 rate-limit responses).

Configure custom metric alerts for Azure Maps usage.

Set the alert condition to trigger when usage approaches or exceeds the free tier quota.

Trigger Runbook Automation

Once the alert fires, configure it to trigger an Azure Automation Runbook or a Python function.

The runbook can:

Remove the user's role assignment from the Azure Maps resource.

Expire or delete the SAS token used for authentication.

Remove access to Key Vault secrets containing Azure Maps keys

Create the Runbook

Use PowerShell or Python in Azure Automation to define the runbook logic.

Example PowerShell snippet:

$userObjectId = "<user-object-id>" $resourceId = "<azure-maps-resource-id>" Remove-AzRoleAssignment -ObjectId $userObjectId -Scope $resourceId

You can also use the DeleteAsync method from the Azure SDK to remove runbooks if needed [2].

Reference tutorial: Create a PowerShell Workflow runbook [3].

Assign RBAC Permissions

Ensure the Automation Account has the necessary permissions to manage role assignments.

Use Azure RBAC to grant Automation Runbook Operator .Subscription owner

Reference: Azure RBAC [4],

Test and Publish

Test the runbook in a sandbox or with non-production users.

Publish it in Azure Automation and link it to the alert action group.

References

[2] RunbookOperationsExtensions.DeleteAsync Method (Microsoft.Azure.Management.Automation) - Azure for .NET Developers | Microsoft Learn

[3] Tutorial - Create a PowerShell Workflow runbook in Azure Automation

[4] Azure RunBook RBAC

Please take a minute to accept this answer if you appreciate the inputs.

Thank you.
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-08-10T14:18:37.7966667+00:00

Thank you for your reply. Let's hope this will be of help to anyone looking forward to control their costs, i haven't got the chance to test this yet but it seems that this step by step guide is pretty straightforward, if for some reason this doesnt work, you could read my comment to a previous answer to for a different approach to achieve my desired result.

Answer 2

rbrundritt 21,191 Microsoft Employee Moderator

I'm not aware of any way to set limits on individual API's easily however you could start by setting up an Azure budget on the Azure Maps resource and set it to zero (or some very low number). I believe you can use roles to limit which API groups an Azure Maps account can access. In theory (I haven't tried) you could have multiple Azure Maps accounts, one for each API group you need access to, and then use multiple accounts with your app. It would be a bit messy to maintain. I would start just with a budget and see how that works for you.

Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-21T16:06:00.3566667+00:00

Hello thank you for your reply. What would happen if i set a budget for azure maps and said budget is reached or surpassed? Would i just get a notification or would that stop the bill from surpassing the budget?
IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-21T16:17:50.9+00:00

Please ask Azure Billing this question as it applies to all Azure resources and is not specific to maps.
rbrundritt 21,191 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-22T18:25:33.7833333+00:00

You configure it with what you want it to do. For demos and proof of concepts I build I usually setup a budget on the resource group and set it up to send notifications and to shut down when the budget is reached.
IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-22T19:26:54.4433333+00:00

This!!!

Answer 3

Hello Eugen Mihaescu,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Since Azure Maps doesn't natively provide quota management like some competitors, you'll need to build a client-side solution to monitor and control usage. Here's a comprehensive approach you may try:

1. Client-Side Request Tracking

Implement counters for each API call type in your WinUI3 app
Store daily counts in local storage (ApplicationData.LocalSettings)
Reset counters at midnight using a background task

2. Usage Throttling Logic - This component tracks API consumption in real-time and enforces soft limits before hitting Azure's free-tier ceilings. The dictionary _usageCounters maintains daily tallies for each service (map tiles, imagery, etc.). The CanMakeRequest() method checks if a call would exceed your predefined safety buffer (e.g., 4,000 tiles instead of Azure’s 5,000 limit). It auto-resets counts at midnight to align with Azure’s daily quota cycle.

3. Request Interception Layer - This wrapper acts as a gatekeeper for all Azure Maps API calls. Before executing a request (e.g., fetching a tile), it:

Checks quota availability via CanMakeRequest().
Blocks requests that would breach limits, showing a user warning.
Increments counters only after successful calls. By centralizing all API access through this layer, you ensure consistent enforcement across your app.

4. Visual Feedback System

Add a usage meter in your UI showing remaining quota
Implement progressive warnings (80%, 90%, 100%)
At 100%, gray out the map and show explanation

5. Caching Optimization

Implement tile caching (MemoryCache + local file storage)
Set Cache-Control headers for maximum reuse
Prioritize cached tiles when near quota limits

6. Fallback Behavior when quotas are reached:

Switch to static map snapshots
Disable non-essential layers
Provide "Try again tomorrow" messaging

7. Emergency Kill Switch

Maintain a secondary "disabled" API key
Automatically rotate to disabled key when thresholds met
Implement manual override for testing

Some Key Considerations:

Client-side tracking isn't foolproof (users can clear storage)
Combine with Azure Functions for more reliable server-side tracking
Monitor actual usage in Azure Portal weekly to validate your client counts
Consider implementing a "Lite Mode" that reduces tile requests

This approach gives you quota-like control while staying within Azure Maps' existing architecture. For more robust enforcement, you'd need to add a proxy service that tracks usage server-side before forwarding requests to Azure Maps.

If the above answer helped, please do not forget to "Accept Answer" as this may help other community members to refer the info if facing a similar issue. Your contribution to the Microsoft Q&A community is highly appreciated.

IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-20T19:36:01.8833333+00:00

Hi @Suwarna S Kale

Can you please provide details on why Azure usage and billing management can't be used on Azure Maps? As the free limits are published, why can't someone use those limits to configure a cost limit in Azure on Azure Maps like they would of any other Azure offering?

Sincerely,

IoTGirl
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-20T23:14:07.74+00:00

Thank you for your reply, can you please elaborare on point 2? Especially on CanMakeRequest() ?Thank you.
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-20T23:18:13.09+00:00

Hello, thank you for your reply. Can you please elaborate on point no. 2? Especially on this function? CanMakeRequest().Thank you.

Answer 4

IoTGirl 3,716 Microsoft Employee Moderator

Hi @Eugen Mihaescu

Does my answer to a previous post on this subject help you? https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2129749/best-practice-to-monitor-azure-maps-transactions

You have the limits you want to set as published so you can do so using the built-in Azure alerting and monitoring tools as you would with any other Azure offering.

Sincerely,

IoTGirl

Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-20T23:09:47.47+00:00

Hello unfortunatelly no, alerts do not prevent anything, it will only give you a heads up that you are over budget and that's it, for example... if you go over your budget of let's say 10 bucks, be it by 1USD or by 10000USD, you'll still get charged the full ammount of 10000USD and then some... as that alert will not stop the usage of such api.
IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-21T16:14:27.6033333+00:00

Please review the billing system options if offers alerts and block on $values but again, this is a question for how the billing system handles limits and we are Microsoft Maps team resources. I recommend asking a targeted question to Azure Billing around this. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/spending-limit
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-22T05:22:02.28+00:00

This is information is not accurate. Azure Maps is pay as you go, therefor spending limits will never apply, nor will the limit prevent anything in this scenario, as specifically stated in your linked page.
IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-22T17:22:42.2266667+00:00

Check out https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/finopsblog/how-to-budget-your-azure-cloud-spend-with-microsoft-cost-management/4153963 The Azure maps Account exists within a resource group and you can put a budget on the resource group and create a trigger to take an action like stop the service that is consuming the maps APIs when that is reached. https://www.bing.com/search?q=setting%20a%20spending%20budget%20on%20a%20pay%20as%20you%20go%20resource%20in%20Azure

Note, you are continuing to ask a billing question in a thread with Maps folks. Why not ask Azure Billing?
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-23T01:17:42.7+00:00
Hello there, so, is this correct?

I created a resource group.

Inside the resource group i created the azure maps account, a logic app and an action group.

Still inside resource group, created a budget of type consumption, i set the budget to 2 dollars, and an alert of type actual at 50% and 100% using same email (Alert Recipients).

4)Right below i clicked the link manage action group and action type logic app (selecting my logic app already created that will regenerate the key hopefully making the last key completely useless now)

5A) At logic app designer i create 2 steps, 1 is the When a HTTP request is received, left the http url blank

5B) the 2nd step is of type HTTP with the following uri:
https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/SUBSCRIPTIONID/resourceGroups/RESOURCEGROUPNAME/providers/Microsoft.Maps/accounts/AZUREMAPSAPPNAME/regenerateKey?api-version=2023-06-01, still here, the body has the following code: { "keyType": "primary" }, advanced parametes, authentication type is managed identity, managed identity is system assigned managed identity, audience is: https://management.azure.com/

6)Went to Azure Maps Account.

Clicked on Access Control (IAM).

Added a role assignment:

Role: Azure Maps Contributor

Assign to: Logic App’s Managed Identity

I hope this is enough to keep my monthly spending always below or up to a max of 2$

PS: The reason why i asked this question here is because this is specifically an azure maps issue i have/had, not exactly a general billing question, just wanted to deactivate azure maps specifically while still on free tier and keep myself on the free tier of azure maps

.
PPS: I decided to use the help of an ai assistant for all these steps as there's little to no documentation for this that i know of.
IoTGirl 3,716 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2025-07-23T23:19:22.3533333+00:00

Microsoft is happy when you use AI assistants, and I think the two first answers you received were generated that way. I think the documentation that applies best to your situation is https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/tutorial-acm-create-budgets?tabs=psbudget and you will note that it is under the "Billing" tree so answers to what triggers do and the guts of what you are attempting are supported by that team so I will again, direct you there to get confirmation of your choices but this does align with what both Ricky & I recommend, we are just not Billing experts so you have reached the limits of our answers.
Eugen Mihaescu 20 Reputation points

2025-07-24T07:14:03.79+00:00

Please post thiis as a reply so i can accept it as an answer

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How to automatically disable Azure Maps api key when reaching close to free tier limit

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