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Maps · head to head

PositionStack vs What3words

PositionStack logo

PositionStack

Maps

Free, developer-friendly geocoding API for forward and reverse geocoding with global coverage

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: PositionStack the free plan allows only 100 requests per month; 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 PositionStack and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where PositionStack and What3words differ
AttributePositionStackWhat3words
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium

Identical on both: starting price (On request), 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 PositionStack

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that PositionStack 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.

PositionStack

  • Forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via REST APInot What3words
  • Reverse geocoding coordinates to addressesnot What3words
  • Batch geocoding location data in a backend servicenot What3words

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

PositionStack

  • The free plan allows only 100 requests per month
  • The free plan is a personal licence, so commercial use requires a paid plan
  • The free plan is rate limited, with an extended rate limit only from the Basic plan up
  • Requests beyond the monthly quota are billed as overage, at $0.0003996 per request on Basic
  • The lowest advertised rates require annual prepayment
  • Enterprise volumes are priced by quote with no published rate

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

PositionStack

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the PositionStack review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose PositionStack if

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

PositionStack review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is PositionStack or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. PositionStack 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, PositionStack or What3words?
PositionStack starts at On request and What3words at On request.
Does PositionStack or What3words run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is PositionStack best used for?
PositionStack is most often used for forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api, reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses, batch geocoding location data in a backend service. Of those, forward geocoding addresses to coordinates via rest api and reverse geocoding coordinates to addresses are not what What3words is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PositionStack: What annual billing discount does Positionstack offer?

Annual billing provides up to 15% discount compared to monthly billing total. For example, Basic annual is $8.99/month vs $9.99/month monthly, and Professional annual is $43.99/month vs $49.99/month monthly. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
PositionStack: How do Positionstack overage notifications work?

Positionstack sends alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your monthly request allowance. Overages are calculated at month-end and charged according to each tier's per-request rate (e.g., Business tier: $0.00013332/request). Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
PositionStack: What payment methods does Positionstack accept?

Positionstack accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Diner's Club for monthly billing. Enterprise customers may arrange bank transfers for their custom agreements. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
PositionStack: Can I downgrade or cancel my Positionstack plan?

Downgrades take effect at your billing cycle end. Cancellations require contacting customer service. Uptime guarantee is 99.9% average over 12 months. Source: https://positionstack.com/pricing

Source
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