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Maps · head to head

Emlid Studio vs What3words

Emlid Studio logo

Emlid Studio

Maps

Free desktop GNSS post-processing that works with other manufacturers' receivers as well as Emlid's

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
What3words logo

What3words

Maps

What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Emlid Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Emlid Studio it is free but it is not open source, so if Emlid changes direction or ends the product there is no community fork and no way to keep it maintained; What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second
  • They diverge on capability: Emlid Studio covers RINEX conversion, What3words covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emlid Studio and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where Emlid Studio and What3words differ
AttributeEmlid StudioWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree of charge, no licence feefreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Emlid Studio

  • RINEX conversion
  • Static post-processing
  • Kinematic post-processing
  • Drone PPK geotagging
  • Third party receiver support
  • Emlid Flow point extraction
  • Solution quality reporting

Only in What3words

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Emlid Studio

  • A drone operator whose RTK link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwardsnot What3words
  • A surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national CORS stationnot What3words
  • A research team with mixed brand receivers that cannot justify a manufacturer office suite licencenot What3words
  • An archaeologist geotagging survey photography to a local grid without buying a commercial photogrammetry pipelinenot What3words

What3words

  • Referring to a 3 metre square location with three wordsnot Emlid Studio
  • Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot Emlid Studio
  • Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot Emlid Studio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Emlid Studio

  • It is free but it is not open source, so if Emlid changes direction or ends the product there is no community fork and no way to keep it maintained
  • Support is a community forum with no service level, which is a problem for a commercial survey firm that needs an answer before a deliverable deadline rather than when someone volunteers one
  • It only post-processes; there is no network adjustment, no project management, no least squares reporting suitable as a survey record, so it does not replace an office suite
  • The software exists to sell Emlid receivers, so features that matter to owners of competing hardware are unlikely to be prioritised even though third party RINEX is accepted
  • Results depend on the quality of the base data and on the user understanding fix, float and single solutions, and the interface will happily produce a poor solution without stopping an inexperienced operator

What3words

  • The free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second
  • Converting to and from what3words addresses starts on the Basic plan at $9.99 per month for 1,000 conversions
  • Priority and developer support require the Standard plan at $45 per month
  • 24/7 phone support requires the Plus plan at $125 per month
  • Custom invoicing and annual payment require the Premium plan at $300 per month
  • Overage pricing is not published; the page states only that a fair usage policy applies
  • The three word address scheme is proprietary and licensed rather than open data

Pricing, plan by plan

Emlid Studio

Free
  • Emlid StudioFree
    • No licence fee and no seat limit
    • Windows and macOS
    • Works with RINEX from non-Emlid receivers

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Emlid Studio if

  • You need rinex conversion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want static post-processing.
Emlid Studio review

Choose What3words if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
What3words review

Questions people ask

Is Emlid Studio or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. Emlid Studio starts at Free and What3words at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emlid Studio or What3words?
Emlid Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Emlid Studio and On request for What3words.
Does Emlid Studio or What3words run on more platforms?
Emlid Studio runs on Windows, macOS. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use Emlid Studio for free?
Yes. Emlid Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is Emlid Studio best used for?
Emlid Studio is most often used for a drone operator whose rtk link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwards, a surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national cors station, a research team with mixed brand receivers that cannot justify a manufacturer office suite licence, an archaeologist geotagging survey photography to a local grid without buying a commercial photogrammetry pipeline. Of those, a drone operator whose rtk link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwards and a surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national cors station are not what What3words is typically brought in for.
What can Emlid Studio do that What3words cannot?
Emlid Studio covers RINEX conversion, Static post-processing, Kinematic post-processing, Drone PPK geotagging. What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Emlid Studio: Is Emlid Studio really free?

Yes, with no seat limit and no paid tier. Emlid makes its money on GNSS receivers.

Emlid Studio: Does it work with receivers from other manufacturers?

Yes. It accepts standard RINEX logs, so a base or rover from another brand can be processed.

Emlid Studio: Is it open source?

No. It is free of charge but proprietary, so there is no community fork if the product is discontinued.

Emlid Studio: Can I use it as my survey office software?

No. It handles post-processing only. Network adjustment, drafting and deliverable production need other tools.

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