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Maps · head to head

OSRM vs What3words

O

OSRM

Maps

High-performance open-source routing engine designed for OpenStreetMap data, providing fast route calculations

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 OSRM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OSRM free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, no commercial tier; 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 OSRM and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where OSRM and What3words differ
AttributeOSRMWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: 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 OSRM

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that OSRM 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.

OSRM

  • Calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in millisecondsnot What3words
  • Building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructurenot What3words
  • Customizing route optimization for car, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modesnot What3words
  • Integrating OpenStreetMap data for real-time routing in web applicationsnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

OSRM

  • Free and open source routing engine under the 2-clause BSD license, no commercial tier

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

OSRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the OSRM review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OSRM if

  • You want to start without paying.
OSRM review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is OSRM or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. OSRM 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, OSRM or What3words?
OSRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OSRM and On request for What3words.
Does OSRM or What3words run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use OSRM for free?
Yes. OSRM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is OSRM best used for?
OSRM is most often used for calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in milliseconds, building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructure, customizing route optimization for car, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modes, integrating openstreetmap data for real-time routing in web applications. Of those, calculating efficient delivery routes across continental-sized road networks in milliseconds and building navigation features for mobile apps without constructing routing infrastructure are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OSRM: How much does Project OSRM cost?

Project OSRM is completely free and open source, distributed under the permissive 2-clause BSD license with no licensing costs or fees.

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