Softwr

Maps · head to head

Polaris Navigation GPS vs What3words

Polaris Navigation GPS logo

Polaris Navigation GPS

Maps

Professional GPS navigation for outdoor professionals

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 Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Polaris Navigation GPS covers Precision GPS, What3words covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Polaris Navigation GPS and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where Polaris Navigation GPS and What3words differ
AttributePolaris Navigation GPSWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroidWeb
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (freemium), 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 Polaris Navigation GPS

  • Precision GPS
  • Multiple coordinate systems
  • Waypoint averaging
  • Area measurement
  • NMEA output
  • External GPS receivers
  • Bluetooth GPS
  • Local data storage

Only in What3words

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Polaris Navigation GPS

  • Land surveyingnot What3words
  • Search and rescuenot What3words
  • Geocachingnot What3words
  • Field data collectionnot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

Polaris Navigation GPS

Nothing recorded yet. See the Polaris Navigation GPS review.

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

Polaris Navigation GPS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic GPS tracking
    • Waypoint management
    • Multiple coordinate formats
  • Pro$5.99/one-time
    • NMEA output
    • External GPS support
    • Waypoint averaging

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Polaris Navigation GPS if

  • You need precision gps.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want multiple coordinate systems.
Polaris Navigation GPS review

Choose What3words if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
What3words review

Questions people ask

Is Polaris Navigation GPS or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. Polaris Navigation GPS 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, Polaris Navigation GPS or What3words?
Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Polaris Navigation GPS and On request for What3words.
Does Polaris Navigation GPS or What3words run on more platforms?
Polaris Navigation GPS runs on Android. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use Polaris Navigation GPS for free?
Yes. Polaris Navigation GPS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
What is Polaris Navigation GPS best used for?
Polaris Navigation GPS is most often used for land surveying, search and rescue, geocaching, field data collection. Of those, land surveying and search and rescue are not what What3words is typically brought in for.
What can Polaris Navigation GPS do that What3words cannot?
Polaris Navigation GPS covers Precision GPS, Multiple coordinate systems, Waypoint averaging, Area measurement. What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
Share

Related pages

More on Polaris Navigation GPS

More on What3words

Keep looking

Other head to heads