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Maps · head to head

Mapillary vs What3words

Mapillary logo

Mapillary

Maps

Platform for street-level imagery that crowdsources images to map the world and

From
On request
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

  • Each has a real cost: Mapillary no pricing information published on main website pages, suggesting either free service or hidden pricing model; 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 Mapillary and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where Mapillary and What3words differ
AttributeMapillaryWhat3words

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 Mapillary

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that Mapillary 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.

Mapillary

  • Street-level imagery for map editing and verificationnot What3words
  • Crowdsourcing photos to keep a map currentnot What3words
  • Extracting map features automatically with computer visionnot What3words
  • Embedding street imagery with MapillaryJSnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mapillary

  • No pricing information published on main website pages, suggesting either free service or hidden pricing model
  • Unclear monetization strategy makes it difficult for businesses to understand licensing costs for commercial use
  • No published tier structure or feature limits visible to potential customers

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

Mapillary

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Mapillary review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Mapillary if

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

Mapillary review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is Mapillary or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. Mapillary starts at On request and What3words at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mapillary or What3words?
Mapillary starts at On request and What3words at On request.
Does Mapillary or What3words run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Mapillary best used for?
Mapillary is most often used for street-level imagery for map editing and verification, crowdsourcing photos to keep a map current, extracting map features automatically with computer vision, embedding street imagery with mapillaryjs. Of those, street-level imagery for map editing and verification and crowdsourcing photos to keep a map current are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mapillary: What is the pricing model for Mapillary?

Mapillary does not publish pricing information on its main website pages. The platform focuses on features like street-level imagery access, map updating through computer vision, and open data sharing, but specific costs and licensing tiers are not disclosed publicly.

Source
Mapillary: Can I use Mapillary for commercial purposes?

Specific details about commercial licensing for Mapillary are not published on the main website. Interested businesses should contact Mapillary directly through their support channels to discuss commercial use cases and licensing options.

Source
Mapillary: Is Mapillary free to use for individual contributors?

Mapillary emphasizes open data sharing and community contributions but specific details about free vs. paid access for individuals are not clearly stated on the main website. Contact Mapillary support for clarification on access terms.

Source
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