Maps & Navigation · head to head
Esri ArcGIS vs What3words
Esri ArcGIS
Maps & Navigation
Geographic Information System Platform
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
What3words
Maps & Navigation
What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Esri ArcGIS arcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence; What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second
- They diverge on capability: Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, What3words covers Core Functionality.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Esri ArcGIS and What3words actually diverge.
| Attribute | Esri ArcGIS | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | quote | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop | Web |
| Founded | 1969 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps & Navigation).
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 Esri ArcGIS
- Mapping & Visualization
- Spatial Analysis
- Data Management
- Field Operations
- Real-time Analytics
- AutoCAD
- SAP
- Microsoft Office
Only in What3words
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Esri ArcGIS
- Geospatial mapping and spatial analysisnot What3words
- Enterprise data governance and managementnot What3words
- Real-time field data collectionnot What3words
- AI-assisted geospatial analysisnot What3words
What3words
- Referring to a 3 metre square location with three wordsnot Esri ArcGIS
- Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot Esri ArcGIS
- Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot Esri ArcGIS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Esri ArcGIS
- ArcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence
- Field and offline workflows require advanced capabilities; basic plans may lack offline synchronisation
- Pricing details not published; customers must contact sales for quotes
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
Esri ArcGIS
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Esri ArcGIS review.
What3words
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Esri ArcGIS if
- You need mapping & visualization.
- You work on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop.
- You also want spatial analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Esri ArcGIS or What3words better?
- Neither clearly leads. Esri ArcGIS starts at On request and What3words at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Esri ArcGIS or What3words?
- Esri ArcGIS starts at On request and What3words at On request.
- Does Esri ArcGIS or What3words run on more platforms?
- Esri ArcGIS runs on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop. What3words runs on Web.
- What is Esri ArcGIS best used for?
- Esri ArcGIS is most often used for geospatial mapping and spatial analysis, enterprise data governance and management, real-time field data collection, ai-assisted geospatial analysis. Of those, geospatial mapping and spatial analysis and enterprise data governance and management are not what What3words is typically brought in for.
- What can Esri ArcGIS do that What3words cannot?
- Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, Spatial Analysis, Data Management, Field Operations. What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface.