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Maps · head to head

OpenStreetMap vs What3words

OpenStreetMap logo

OpenStreetMap

Maps

Collaborative project to create a free editable geographic database of the world

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 OpenStreetMap has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenStreetMap data accuracy varies dramatically by geographic region depending on volunteer coverage; 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 OpenStreetMap and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenStreetMap and What3words differ
AttributeOpenStreetMapWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
Founded2004Unknown

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 OpenStreetMap

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that OpenStreetMap 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.

OpenStreetMap

  • Supplying map data to websites, mobile apps and hardware devicesnot What3words
  • Community mapping of roads, trails, cafes and railway stationsnot What3words
  • Projects that need open map data and can meet the attribution requirementnot What3words
  • Building on map data where a share-alike licence is acceptablenot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

OpenStreetMap

  • Data accuracy varies dramatically by geographic region depending on volunteer coverage
  • No minimum quality standards enforced, making data prone to errors and inconsistencies
  • Data completeness gaps, especially for minor roads and remote areas
  • Bias toward well-mapped regions with high volunteer activity
  • Positional accuracy concerns with only 70-76% of roads within 5-10 meter tolerance
  • Tag criteria not well-defined leading to logical consistency issues

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

OpenStreetMap

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OpenStreetMap review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenStreetMap if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
OpenStreetMap review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is OpenStreetMap or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenStreetMap 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, OpenStreetMap or What3words?
OpenStreetMap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenStreetMap and On request for What3words.
Does OpenStreetMap or What3words run on more platforms?
OpenStreetMap runs on Web, API. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use OpenStreetMap for free?
Yes. OpenStreetMap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is OpenStreetMap best used for?
OpenStreetMap is most often used for supplying map data to websites, mobile apps and hardware devices, community mapping of roads, trails, cafes and railway stations, projects that need open map data and can meet the attribution requirement, building on map data where a share-alike licence is acceptable. Of those, supplying map data to websites, mobile apps and hardware devices and community mapping of roads, trails, cafes and railway stations are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenStreetMap: Is OpenStreetMap free to use?

Yes, OpenStreetMap is completely free and open-source under the Open Data Commons license. You can download and use map data for any purpose.

Source
OpenStreetMap: How accurate is OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap accuracy varies by region. In well-mapped areas like developed countries, accuracy is generally high. Only 76% of OSM roads aligned within 10 meters of reference roads, with 70% within 5 meters.

Source
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