Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Maps VS what3words

Compare Google Maps VS what3words and see what are their differences

Google Maps logo Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

what3words logo what3words

Geocoding system for the simple communication of locations with a resolution of 3 m
  • Google Maps
    Image date //
    2024-01-08
  • what3words Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-11

Google Maps features and specs

  • Detailed Information
    Google Maps provides extensive details about locations, including photos, reviews, operating hours, and contact information.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform boasts an intuitive design that is easy to navigate for both casual users and professionals.
  • Real-Time Updates
    Offers real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and road closures to help users avoid delays.
  • Multi-modal Directions
    Supports directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation, offering flexibility for different commuting needs.
  • Street View
    Provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, enabling users to virtually explore neighborhoods before visiting.
  • Offline Maps
    Allows users to download maps for offline use, which is useful in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Easily integrates with other Google services like Google Calendar, making it convenient to plan trips and appointments.

Possible disadvantages of Google Maps

  • Privacy Concerns
    The service collects extensive user data, raising privacy issues regarding how this information is used and shared.
  • Battery Consumption
    Real-time features and GPS usage can significantly drain the battery life of mobile devices.
  • Inaccuracies
    Despite frequent updates, some information may be outdated or inaccurate, such as business hours or road conditions.
  • Data Usage
    Uses a considerable amount of data, which can be problematic for users with limited data plans.
  • Overreliance
    Users may become overly dependent on the service for navigation, potentially reducing their ability to navigate without digital assistance.
  • Ad Integration
    Contains sponsored content and ads, which can sometimes disrupt the user experience.
  • Complexity
    Additional features and layers of information can make it overwhelming for users who just need basic navigation.

what3words features and specs

  • Precision
    what3words divides the world into 3m x 3m squares, providing very precise location information. This can be more specific than traditional street addresses and helpful in areas with limited addressing.
  • Ease of Use
    Three-word combinations are generally easier to remember and communicate than long strings of GPS coordinates, making it user-friendly for the general public.
  • Global Coverage
    what3words provides an addressing solution for the entire world, including areas that do not have formal street addresses or those that are difficult to map with conventional systems.
  • Integration
    The system can be easily integrated into various applications and services, such as delivery services, emergency response, and navigation apps, increasing its utility.
  • Language Support
    what3words is available in multiple languages, which helps in overcoming language barriers and can be a valuable tool for international use.

Possible disadvantages of what3words

  • Dependency on Technology
    To decode and use what3words addresses, an internet connection or the company’s app is generally required, which can be limiting in areas without robust technology infrastructure.
  • Privacy Concerns
    The precise nature of what3words could raise privacy issues, as it can pinpoint exact locations of residences or individuals if misused.
  • Proprietary System
    what3words is a proprietary system, which means users are dependent on a private company. This can lead to potential concerns about data ownership and longevity of the service.
  • Ambiguity in Pronunciation
    Certain word combinations may be difficult to pronounce or may sound similar to other combinations, leading to potential errors in communication.
  • Complexity in Error Correction
    A mistake in one of the three words could lead to an entirely different and possibly distant location. Unlike traditional addresses, there's less redundancy to aid in error correction.

Google Maps videos

New Apple Maps Features That Beat Google Maps!

More videos:

  • Review - Unhelpful Google Maps Reviews - Sub Safari
  • Review - Epic Google Maps Reviews by Local Guides | The Review Review Episode 3

what3words videos

What3words navigation app reviewed

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to use What3Words
  • Review - what3words in 2020 - Year in Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Maps and what3words)
Maps
92 92%
8% 8
Web Mapping
92 92%
8% 8
Mapping And GIS
88 88%
12% 12
Travel & Location
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Maps and what3words

Google Maps Reviews

Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland in 2025
Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.
8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries
If you appreciated the ability to sync Google Trip Summaries with Google Maps, the closing of Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can no longer sync itineraries to Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export any itinerary you create within the app to Google Maps, allowing you to see the location of every attraction you want to visit and gain information on how to travel between...
Source: wanderlog.com
The 8 Best Bike Navigation Apps Ridden & Rated
UX-wise, we’ve given Google Maps a near-perfect nine. The clutter-free layout and recognisable graphics. How would they score a ten? We’d love Google Maps to expand its immersive view (a flyby 3D model of a given route) beyond major cities like London.
Source: loop.cc
The Best Travel Apps for 2025
My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. On the ground, it shows you where you are and how to get to where you need to go, whether by foot, public transit, car, or bicycle. Google Maps is equally helpful when you want to explore what's around, including hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. Often, the listing for sites and businesses include hours of operation,...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Google Maps is often the go-to navigation app for many of us. But what if you’re looking for something a little different? There are many alternatives to Google Maps that provide similar features and functions.

what3words Reviews

Best cycling apps 2023 | 21 of the best iPhone and Android apps to download
The What3words app takes a simple and unique approach to locating and navigating to specific places. What3words
Best cycling apps | 18 of the best iPhone and Android apps to download
The What3words app takes a simple and unique approach to locating and navigating to specific places. What3words

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, what3words seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 124 times 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.

Google Maps mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Maps yet. Tracking of Google Maps recommendations started around Mar 2021.

what3words mentions (124)

  • Reverse Geocoding Is Hard
    What 3 words (https://what3words.com/) solves this problem, but it doesn't seem to be popular. If anyone has experience, I would be curious to know why. - Source: Hacker News / 8 days ago
  • Government report proves that we need to liberate the Postcode Address File
    Or we can just start using https://what3words.com/ and geolocation. I disagree with the report, I think it's feasible with a bit of creativity. The government also has this: https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/091feb1c-aea6-45c9-82bf-768a15c65307/open-postcode-geo We could also start with an imperfect solution, offer it as a free API (maybe even self-hosted and communicating with other services p2p) and wait for users... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • I Know What Your Password Was Last Summer
    Something to add to their list of common passwords is the What3Words database of locations https://what3words.com It's something like 50trillion sets of looks-random strings. That's quite a lot, but if the list could be narrowed very significantly to get some likely results by selecting locations in: 1) cities where a company is physically located 2) large capital & global cities 3) significant landmarks I see... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • No rapid numbers on driveways
    I’m waiting for these guys to make a breakthrough here. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Unique Challenges of Geocoding in India
    I assume this is the problem that https://what3words.com/ is trying to solve. But I guess it being in English makes it a less good solution. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Maps and what3words, you can also consider the following products

Mapbox - An open source mapping platform for custom designed maps. Our APIs and SDKs are the building blocks to integrate location into any mobile or web app.

OSGeo - QGIS is a desktop geographic information system, or GIS.

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

ArcGIS - ArcGIS software is a data analysis, cloud-based mapping platform that allows users to customize maps and see real-time data ranging from logistics support to overall mapping analysis.

Plus Codes by Google - Street addresses for places that don't have one 🗺️

Google Earth Pro - Google Earth Pro allows you fly anywhere around the earth to view satellite imagery, maps, 3D building, and terrain, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean.