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Software · head to head

HERE Technologies vs What3words

HERE Technologies logo

HERE Technologies

Software

Location data and technology company that provides mapping and location services to businesses globally

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
What3words logo

What3words

Software

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HERE Technologies has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HERE Technologies pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale; What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HERE Technologies and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where HERE Technologies and What3words differ
AttributeHERE TechnologiesWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Cross-platformWeb
Founded1985Unknown

Identical on both: 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 HERE Technologies

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that HERE Technologies 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.

HERE Technologies

  • Map data for automated and assisted drivingnot What3words
  • Connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysisnot What3words
  • Supply chain planning and logistics digital twinsnot What3words
  • Geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location servicesnot What3words
  • Fleet tour planning and routing across 200 countriesnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

HERE Technologies

  • Pricing is complex and unpredictable, with additional fees for common functionalities creating surprise costs at scale
  • Lack of transparency in cost projections makes budgeting and forecasting difficult
  • Requires separate API keys and subscriptions for different feature categories, complicating integration
  • Customer support quality and responsiveness is inconsistent compared to competitors like Google Maps

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

HERE Technologies

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HERE Technologies review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose HERE Technologies if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform.
HERE Technologies review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is HERE Technologies or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. HERE Technologies 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, HERE Technologies or What3words?
HERE Technologies has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HERE Technologies and On request for What3words.
Does HERE Technologies or What3words run on more platforms?
HERE Technologies runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cross-platform. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use HERE Technologies for free?
Yes. HERE Technologies has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is HERE Technologies best used for?
HERE Technologies is most often used for map data for automated and assisted driving, connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysis, supply chain planning and logistics digital twins, geocoding, search and map rendering through hosted location services. Of those, map data for automated and assisted driving and connected driving, including hazard alerts and road surface analysis are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HERE Technologies: What does HERE Technologies provide?

HERE Technologies provides a comprehensive location platform including digital maps, routing and navigation APIs, geocoding, search, traffic, positioning, and telematics services for automotive, logistics, and enterprise applications.

Source
HERE Technologies: Does HERE offer a free tier?

Yes. HERE provides a free tier with 30,000 map requests per month, 5,000 routing transactions, and 30,000 geocoding transactions. Usage beyond these limits is charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Source
HERE Technologies: What SDKs and APIs does HERE offer?

HERE provides REST APIs for maps, routing, geocoding, and search, plus SDKs for Android, iOS, Flutter, and JavaScript. The HERE SDK enables turn-by-turn navigation and location services for mobile and web applications.

Source
HERE Technologies: Is HERE's pricing transparent?

No. HERE uses a complex transaction-based pricing model with separate costs for different API categories. The pricing structure lacks transparency, making it difficult for customers to forecast costs at scale.

Source
HERE Technologies: How has HERE's pricing changed?

HERE moved to a simplified transaction-based pricing model with free monthly allowances for common APIs. Users pay per transaction beyond the free tier, though the structure has been criticized for complexity and lack of cost transparency.

Source
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