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what3words VS Bing Maps API

Compare what3words VS Bing Maps API and see what are their differences

what3words logo what3words

Geocoding system for the simple communication of locations with a resolution of 3 m

Bing Maps API logo Bing Maps API

Choose the maps API that meets your development needs: data visualization, Aerial 3D and Streetside imagery, geocoding, reverse-geocoding, routing, and more
  • what3words Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-11
  • Bing Maps API Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-12-30

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 companyโ€™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.

Bing Maps API features and specs

  • Comprehensive Coverage
    Bing Maps offers extensive global coverage with high-quality mapping data, making it suitable for diverse applications.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    Seamless integration with other Microsoft products and services, providing ease of use for developers already using Microsoft's technology stack.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Provides a wide range of features, including route optimization, geocoding, spatial data storage, and custom map styles.
  • Customizable Maps
    Allows developers to customize maps with various layers and styles to suit specific business needs.
  • Flexible Licensing Options
    Offers various licensing models, allowing businesses to choose plans that best fit their requirements and budgets.

Possible disadvantages of Bing Maps API

  • Cost Considerations
    While flexible, Bing Maps API can become expensive for larger-scale applications or high-volume usage.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers new to Bing Maps API may find a learning curve due to the comprehensive set of features and functionalities.
  • Less Popular than Competitors
    Bing Maps API is less commonly used compared to some competitors like Google Maps, which may affect community support and resources.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    While integration is a pro, relying heavily on Microsoft may be a con for businesses using diverse technology stacks.
  • Limited Offline Support
    Offers limited offline capabilities, which might be a disadvantage for applications requiring high offline map usage.

Analysis of what3words

Overall verdict

  • Overall, What3words is considered useful and innovative, particularly in scenarios where traditional addressing falls short. It offers significant advantages for navigation, delivery services, and emergency response. However, its adoption depends on industry uptake and user awareness, and it is sometimes critiqued for being a proprietary system.

Why this product is good

  • What3words divides the world's surface into 3m x 3m squares and assigns a unique three-word address to each square. This system provides an easy-to-remember way to specify locations precisely, especially in areas with no formal addressing or for delivering exact coordinates in emergencies or logistics.

Recommended for

    What3words is recommended for use cases such as logistics and delivery services needing precise locations, outdoor activities and adventure travel where traditional addresses are impractical, emergency services requiring quick and exact location data, and individuals or organizations operating in developing regions with poor address infrastructure.

what3words videos

What3words navigation app reviewed

More videos:

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

Bing Maps API videos

Using Bing Maps API to Geocode addresses with Power Query

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to what3words and Bing Maps API)
Maps
93 93%
7% 7
Web Mapping
89 89%
11% 11
Mapping And GIS
92 92%
8% 8
Geolocation
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 what3words and Bing Maps API

what3words Reviews

Best cycling apps 2023 |ย 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 |ย 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

Bing Maps API Reviews

We have no reviews of Bing Maps API yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, what3words seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 125 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.

what3words mentions (125)

  • Japan Post launches 'digital address' system
    IBAN for home addresses. Yawn. Nothing beats the What Three Words system and would be much more fun if not routeable at scale. https://what3words.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • 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 / 5 months 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 / about 1 year 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 / over 1 year ago
  • No rapid numbers on driveways
    Iโ€™m waiting for these guys to make a breakthrough here. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Bing Maps API mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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

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.

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 ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ