Software · head to head
What3words vs Geotab
What3words
Software
What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: What3words the free API plan includes no coordinate conversion, only AutoSuggest, and is rate limited to 5 requests per second; Geotab pricing is quote only, gated behind Get Pricing buttons for both the GO Core Plan and the full GO Plan, with no published figures
- They diverge on capability: What3words covers Core Functionality, Geotab covers Real-time GPS tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which What3words and Geotab actually diverge.
| Attribute | What3words | Geotab |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $25/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android, Api |
| Founded | Unknown | 2000 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 What3words
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
Only in Geotab
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Driver behavior scoring
- ELD compliance
- IFTA reporting
- Fuel management
- Maintenance scheduling
- Route optimization
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
What3words
- Referring to a 3 metre square location with three wordsnot Geotab
- Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot Geotab
- Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot Geotab
Geotab
- Fleet trackingnot What3words
- Driver safetynot What3words
- Fuel optimizationnot What3words
- Compliance managementnot What3words
- Predictive maintenancenot What3words
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Geotab
- Pricing is quote only, gated behind Get Pricing buttons for both the GO Core Plan and the full GO Plan, with no published figures
Pricing, plan by plan
What3words
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.
Geotab
$25/month- Base$25/month
- GPS tracking
- Trip history
- Engine diagnostics
- Pro$40/month
- Everything in Base
- Driver behavior
- Fuel usage
- ProPlus$55/month
- Everything in Pro
- Active tracking
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Geotab if
- You need real-time gps tracking.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want vehicle diagnostics.
Questions people ask
- Is What3words or Geotab better?
- Neither clearly leads. What3words starts at On request and Geotab at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, What3words or Geotab?
- What3words starts at On request and Geotab at $25/month.
- Does What3words or Geotab run on more platforms?
- What3words runs on Web. Geotab runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- What is What3words best used for?
- What3words is most often used for referring to a 3 metre square location with three words, adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch app, converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via api. Of those, referring to a 3 metre square location with three words and adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch app are not what Geotab is typically brought in for.
- What can What3words do that Geotab cannot?
- What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Geotab covers Real-time GPS tracking, Vehicle diagnostics, Driver behavior scoring, ELD compliance.