Google Maps shows "For development purposes only"

Google Maps show the message "For development purposes only" when I try to show it in my webpage:

How could I make this message go away?

My code is like that:

<script src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?v=3.exp&sensor=false"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
  function initialize() {  
    var myLatlng = new google.maps.LatLng(50.5792659,8.6744471);
    var centerMap = new google.maps.LatLng(50.5792659,8.6744471);
    var div = document.getElementById('map');
  }
</script>

Then later I have

<p>
  <a
    href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir//50.5792659,8.6744471/@50.579266,8.674447,16z"
    target="_blank"
  >Route berechnen</a>
</p>

I don't see where this message originates from.

Solution 1:

Google Maps is no longer free. You have to associate a credit card so that you can get billed if your site has requests that exceed the $200 credit they give you monthly for free. That is why you get the watermarked maps.

For more information, see: https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/pricing/

Update: A common problem with the new billing system is that you now have to activate each API separately. They all have different pricing (some are even free), so Google makes a point of having you enable them individually for your domain. I was never a heavy user of Google Maps, but I get the feeling that there are many more APIs now than there used to be.

So if you're still getting a restricted usage message after you've enabled billing, find out what API you need exactly for the features you want to offer, and check if it's enabled. The API settings are annoyingly hard to find.

1. Go to this link: https://console.developers.google.com/apis/dashboard.
2. Then you select your project in the dropdown.
3. Go to library on the left pane.
4. Browse the available APIs and enable the one you need.

Solution 2:

Watermarked with “for development purposes only” is returned when any of the following is true:

1. The request is missing an API key.
2. Billing has not been enabled on your account.
3. The provided billing method is invalid (for example an expired credit card).
4. A self-imposed daily limit has been exceeded.

Solution 3:

As Victoria wrote, Google Maps is no longer free, but you can switch your map provider. You may be interested in OpenStreetMap, there is an easy way to use it on your site described here: https://handyman.dulare.com/switching-from-google-maps-to-openstreetmap/

Unfortunately, on the OpenStreetMap, there is no easy way to provide directions from one point to another, there is also no street view.

Solution 4:

For my purposes I ended up using an alternative https://www.openstreetmap.org/ .