Software · head to head
Geotab vs What3words
What3words
Software
What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Geotab pricing is quote only, gated behind Get Pricing buttons for both the GO Core Plan and the full GO Plan, with no published figures; What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second
- They diverge on capability: Geotab covers Real-time GPS tracking, What3words covers Core Functionality.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Geotab and What3words actually diverge.
| Attribute | Geotab | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Api | Web |
| Founded | 2000 | Unknown |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Geotab
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Driver behavior scoring
- ELD compliance
- IFTA reporting
- Fuel management
- Maintenance scheduling
- Route optimization
Only in What3words
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Geotab
- Fleet trackingnot What3words
- Driver safetynot What3words
- Fuel optimizationnot What3words
- Compliance managementnot What3words
- Predictive maintenancenot What3words
What3words
- Referring to a 3 metre square location with three wordsnot Geotab
- Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot Geotab
- Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot Geotab
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Geotab
- Pricing is quote only, gated behind Get Pricing buttons for both the GO Core Plan and the full GO Plan, with no published figures
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
Geotab
$25/month- Base$25/month
- GPS tracking
- Trip history
- Engine diagnostics
- Pro$40/month
- Everything in Base
- Driver behavior
- Fuel usage
- ProPlus$55/month
- Everything in Pro
- Active tracking
- Advanced analytics
What3words
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Geotab if
- You need real-time gps tracking.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want vehicle diagnostics.
Questions people ask
- Is Geotab or What3words better?
- Neither clearly leads. Geotab starts at $25/month and What3words at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Geotab or What3words?
- Geotab starts at $25/month and What3words at On request.
- Does Geotab or What3words run on more platforms?
- Geotab runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. What3words runs on Web.
- What is Geotab best used for?
- Geotab is most often used for fleet tracking, driver safety, fuel optimization, compliance management. Of those, fleet tracking and driver safety are not what What3words is typically brought in for.
- What can Geotab do that What3words cannot?
- Geotab covers Real-time GPS tracking, Vehicle diagnostics, Driver behavior scoring, ELD compliance. What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface.