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Maps · head to head

OsmAnd vs What3words

OsmAnd logo

OsmAnd

Maps

Open-source map and navigation application based on OpenStreetMap data

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 OsmAnd has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OsmAnd free version limited to only 7 map downloads at once, restricting users who need multiple regional 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 OsmAnd and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where OsmAnd and What3words differ
AttributeOsmAndWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGalleryWeb
Founded2010Unknown

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 OsmAnd

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that OsmAnd 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.

OsmAnd

  • Offline navigation in areas with no data connectionnot What3words
  • Turn-by-turn voice guided drivingnot What3words
  • Bicycle and pedestrian routingnot What3words
  • Hiking and trail running navigationnot What3words
  • Motorcycling and travel using per-country or per-region offline mapsnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

OsmAnd

  • Free version limited to only 7 map downloads at once, restricting users who need multiple regional maps
  • Poor performance with slow map rendering and navigation lag reported on older devices
  • Route calculation limited to approximately 200 kilometers or less for offline calculation
  • Map accuracy issues due to reliance on community OpenStreetMap data which may contain outdated information

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

OsmAnd

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OsmAnd review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OsmAnd if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGallery.
OsmAnd review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is OsmAnd or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. OsmAnd 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, OsmAnd or What3words?
OsmAnd has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OsmAnd and On request for What3words.
Does OsmAnd or What3words run on more platforms?
OsmAnd runs on iOS, Android, Desktop Editor, Huawei AppGallery. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use OsmAnd for free?
Yes. OsmAnd has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is OsmAnd best used for?
OsmAnd is most often used for offline navigation in areas with no data connection, turn-by-turn voice guided driving, bicycle and pedestrian routing, hiking and trail running navigation. Of those, offline navigation in areas with no data connection and turn-by-turn voice guided driving are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OsmAnd: Does OsmAnd work offline?

Yes. OsmAnd works fully offline after downloading maps for specific regions. Route calculation, turn-by-turn navigation, and POI search all work without an internet connection.

Source
OsmAnd: What is OsmAnd's pricing?

OsmAnd Free version is available with limitations including only 7 map downloads allowed at once and no 3D map views. OsmAnd Pro subscription costs 2.99 euros per month or 29.99 euros per year, offering 3D maps, hourly map refreshes, and cloud storage.

Source
OsmAnd: What maps does OsmAnd use?

OsmAnd uses free OpenStreetMap data, which is updated monthly or hourly through OsmAnd Live. Wikipedia POI data is available for sightseeing, and users can add optional online tile map overlays.

Source
OsmAnd: Can I use OsmAnd on iOS and Android?

Yes. OsmAnd is available on both iOS via Apple App Store and Android via Google Play Store, with identical offline functionality on both platforms.

Source
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