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Maps · head to head

Geoapify vs What3words

Geoapify logo

Geoapify

Maps

Geocoding, routing, map tiles, and place search APIs for developers building location-aware applications

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 Geoapify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Geoapify does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps; What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Geoapify and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where Geoapify and What3words differ
AttributeGeoapifyWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb

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 Geoapify

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that Geoapify does not also cover.

Both cover

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Geoapify

  • Custom mapping with Leaflet, MapLibre or OpenLayersnot What3words
  • Address validation, geocoding and autocompletenot What3words
  • Multi-stop route planning and logistics optimisationnot What3words
  • Points of interest search filtered by category and areanot What3words
  • Isochrone generation for service coverage analysisnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

Geoapify

  • Does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps
  • Limited daily rate limits enforced per day rather than monthly limits
  • Requires internet connection to access the API, limiting offline functionality
  • OpenStreetMap-based data may have inconsistent coverage in certain regions

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

Geoapify

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Geoapify review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Geoapify if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
Geoapify review

Choose What3words if

Nothing in the data separates What3words from Geoapify on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is Geoapify or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. Geoapify 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, Geoapify or What3words?
Geoapify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Geoapify and On request for What3words.
Does Geoapify or What3words run on more platforms?
Geoapify runs on Web, API. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use Geoapify for free?
Yes. Geoapify has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is Geoapify best used for?
Geoapify is most often used for custom mapping with leaflet, maplibre or openlayers, address validation, geocoding and autocomplete, multi-stop route planning and logistics optimisation, points of interest search filtered by category and area. Of those, custom mapping with leaflet, maplibre or openlayers and address validation, geocoding and autocomplete are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Geoapify: What APIs does Geoapify provide?

Geoapify provides six API categories: Maps (vector and raster tiles), Address Search (geocoding and reverse geocoding), Routes (route calculation and optimization), Places (POI search), Reachability and Analysis (isochrone generation), and IP Geolocation.

Source
Geoapify: What is Geoapify's pricing model?

Geoapify offers a free plan with 3,000 credits per day for low-volume usage and paid plans that scale with needs. The platform uses a credits-based system to measure API request complexity.

Source
Geoapify: Can I cache and redistribute Geoapify results?

Yes, Geoapify emphasizes open-data-based APIs with permissive licensing that allows caching, storing, and redistributing results without vendor lock-in restrictions.

Source
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