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Maps · head to head

Stadia Maps vs What3words

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Stadia Maps

Maps

High-performance map tiles, routing, geocoding, and search APIs for developers with reliable

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 Stadia Maps has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Stadia Maps limited customization features compared to Mapbox; 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 Stadia Maps and What3words actually diverge.

Attributes where Stadia Maps and What3words differ
AttributeStadia MapsWhat3words
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, JavaScriptWeb
Founded2016Unknown

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 Stadia Maps

Nothing recorded that What3words does not also cover.

Only in What3words

Nothing recorded that Stadia Maps 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.

Stadia Maps

No use cases recorded yet. See the Stadia Maps review.

What3words

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

Where each one falls short

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

Stadia Maps

  • Limited customization features compared to Mapbox
  • Relies entirely on OpenStreetMap data, inheriting its accuracy and coverage limitations
  • Smaller service with fewer community resources and support options compared to Google Maps or Mapbox
  • Limited real-time traffic data compared to larger mapping providers like Google Maps

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

Stadia Maps

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Stadia Maps review.

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Stadia Maps if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, JavaScript.
Stadia Maps review

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Questions people ask

Is Stadia Maps or What3words better?
Neither clearly leads. Stadia Maps 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, Stadia Maps or What3words?
Stadia Maps has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Stadia Maps and On request for What3words.
Does Stadia Maps or What3words run on more platforms?
Stadia Maps runs on Web, JavaScript. What3words runs on Web.
Can I use Stadia Maps for free?
Yes. Stadia Maps has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stadia Maps: What is Stadia Maps' pricing model?

Stadia Maps uses a credits-based pricing model with fixed credit pools to prevent billing shock. Starter, Standard, and Professional plans are available, with a 14-day free trial for new accounts.

Source
Stadia Maps: Does Stadia Maps have a free tier?

Yes, Stadia Maps offers a free tier for development, evaluation, and non-commercial use including academic applications.

Source
Stadia Maps: What data does Stadia Maps use?

Stadia Maps builds on OpenStreetMap data, so the coverage and accuracy depend on OSM's crowdsourced contributors.

Source
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