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LocationIQ vs What3words

LocationIQ logo

LocationIQ

Maps

Enterprise-grade location APIs at affordable prices

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 LocationIQ has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LocationIQ smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to 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 LocationIQ and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where LocationIQ and What3words differ
AttributeLocationIQWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAPIWeb

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 LocationIQ

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that LocationIQ 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.

LocationIQ

  • Geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scalenot What3words
  • Store locators and address autofill in web and mobile appsnot What3words
  • Asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisationnot What3words
  • Serving static and dynamic map tilesnot What3words
  • Distance matrix and route planningnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

LocationIQ

  • Smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to Google Maps
  • Less documentation than industry-leading platforms
  • Less brand recognition than Google or Mapbox

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

LocationIQ

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5,000 requests/day
    • Limited commercial use with attribution
  • Maps Lite$45/month
    • 10,000 map views/day
    • Geocoding APIs
    • No routing
  • Developer$100/month
    • 25,000 requests/day
    • All APIs (geocoding, routing, maps)
  • Startup$200/month
    • 60,000 requests/day
    • Priority email support

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose LocationIQ if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API.
LocationIQ review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is LocationIQ or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. LocationIQ 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, LocationIQ or What3words?
LocationIQ has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for LocationIQ and On request for What3words.
Does LocationIQ or What3words run on more platforms?
LocationIQ runs on API. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use LocationIQ for free?
Yes. LocationIQ has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is LocationIQ best used for?
LocationIQ is most often used for geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale, store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps, asset and vehicle tracking with route optimisation, serving static and dynamic map tiles. Of those, geocoding and reverse geocoding addresses at scale and store locators and address autofill in web and mobile apps are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LocationIQ: How much does LocationIQ cost?

LocationIQ offers a Free plan with 5,000 requests/day, Maps Lite at $45/month for 10,000 map views/day, Developer at $100/month for 25,000 requests/day, and higher tiers up to Business Plus at $950/month for 30M requests/month. All plans are billed monthly with 2 months free for annual prepayment.

Source
LocationIQ: Is LocationIQ free?

Yes, LocationIQ offers a free tier with 5,000 requests/day, providing access to geocoding and mapping APIs. Free tier users must include attribution and cannot use for commercial purposes.

Source
LocationIQ: What support levels does LocationIQ offer?

Free and early paid tiers receive best-effort email support. The Startup plan ($200/month) includes priority email support. Business Plus ($950/month) includes priority live chat support with dedicated AWS endpoints for improved performance.

Source
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