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Maps · head to head

IndoorAtlas vs What3words

IndoorAtlas logo

IndoorAtlas

Maps

Indoor positioning and navigation solutions using the Earth's magnetic field, WiFi, and Bluetooth beacons

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 IndoorAtlas has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IndoorAtlas requires labor-intensive fingerprinting process, walking every corridor to build magnetic map for each venue; 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 IndoorAtlas and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where IndoorAtlas and What3words differ
AttributeIndoorAtlasWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb
Founded2012Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 IndoorAtlas

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that IndoorAtlas 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.

IndoorAtlas

  • Routing customers to deals in large retail spacesnot What3words
  • Guiding visitors through shopping centers and airportsnot What3words
  • Optimizing workplace space with movement analyticsnot What3words
  • Tracking dwell times and visitor movement patternsnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

IndoorAtlas

  • Requires labor-intensive fingerprinting process, walking every corridor to build magnetic map for each venue
  • Magnetic signatures degrade over time, requiring periodic re-fingerprinting as the environment changes
  • Magnetic interference from external sources and devices disrupts positioning accuracy
  • Positioning inconsistent across different smartphone models due to magnetometer heterogeneity
  • High cost to deploy and maintain, with expensive implementation for wide-scale adaptation

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

IndoorAtlas

Free
  • TrialFree
    • 1 venue
    • 10 end-users
    • 14 days data retention
  • Develop Lite$59/month
    • 1 venue
    • 20 end-users
    • 30 days data retention
  • Develop$400/month
    • unlimited venues
    • 50 end-users
    • 1 hour monthly support
  • Pro$349/month per venue
    • unlimited venues and end-users
    • supports up to 10,000 m² per venue
    • basic technical support

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose IndoorAtlas if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
IndoorAtlas review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is IndoorAtlas or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. IndoorAtlas 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, IndoorAtlas or What3words?
IndoorAtlas has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for IndoorAtlas and On request for What3words.
Does IndoorAtlas or What3words run on more platforms?
IndoorAtlas runs on iOS, Android, Web. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use IndoorAtlas for free?
Yes. IndoorAtlas has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is IndoorAtlas best used for?
IndoorAtlas is most often used for routing customers to deals in large retail spaces, guiding visitors through shopping centers and airports, optimizing workplace space with movement analytics, tracking dwell times and visitor movement patterns. Of those, routing customers to deals in large retail spaces and guiding visitors through shopping centers and airports are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IndoorAtlas: How does IndoorAtlas determine positioning without beacons or hardware?

IndoorAtlas uses patented geomagnetic fusion technology that maps the Earth's magnetic field patterns inside buildings through a process called magnetic fingerprinting. The technology combines magnetometer data with other sensors like WiFi and Bluetooth for robust positioning.

Source
IndoorAtlas: What is the initial setup process for IndoorAtlas?

Setup requires fingerprinting the venue by systematically walking through all corridors and spaces to build a magnetic map. The platform then identifies problematic areas through red (conflicting data), blue (insufficient coverage), and path orientation errors that require correction before the map is production-ready.

Source
IndoorAtlas: What are IndoorAtlas's pricing plans?

IndoorAtlas offers production subscriptions starting at 349 euros per month per venue, with a development plan at 400 euros per month. A free tier is available for developers to start building.

Source
IndoorAtlas: How accurate is IndoorAtlas positioning?

IndoorAtlas claims industry-leading accuracy down to 50 centimeters using its 6-layer sensor fusion core across diverse environments, though accuracy varies based on building magnetic patterns and requires careful calibration.

Source
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