Software · head to head
What3words vs GraphHopper
What3words
Software
What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
GraphHopper
Software
Open-source routing engine for road networks, providing fast route calculations, turn-by-turn navigation
- 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; GraphHopper the free plan is non commercial use only
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which What3words and GraphHopper actually diverge.
| Attribute | What3words | GraphHopper |
|---|
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (freemium), free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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
Nothing recorded that GraphHopper does not also cover.
Only in GraphHopper
Nothing recorded that What3words 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.
What3words
- Referring to a 3 metre square location with three wordsnot GraphHopper
- Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot GraphHopper
- Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot GraphHopper
GraphHopper
- Routing, distance matrix and route optimisation over an APInot What3words
- Map matching GPS traces and generating isochronesnot 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
GraphHopper
- The free plan is non commercial use only
- Free allows 500 credits a day, 5 locations per request and a single vehicle
- Request complexity is capped per plan, at 30 locations and 2 vehicles on Basic at 69 EUR a month, rising to 200 locations and 20 vehicles on Premium at 479 EUR
- Isochrone range is limited by plan, at 15 minutes on Basic and 30 on Premium
- Credits are a daily allowance, so a busy day cannot draw on a quiet one
Pricing, plan by plan
What3words
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.
GraphHopper
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the GraphHopper review.
Which should you pick?
Choose What3words if
Nothing in the data separates What3words from GraphHopper on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose GraphHopper if
Nothing in the data separates GraphHopper from What3words on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is What3words or GraphHopper better?
- Neither clearly leads. What3words starts at On request and GraphHopper at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, What3words or GraphHopper?
- What3words starts at On request and GraphHopper at On request.
- Does What3words or GraphHopper run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 GraphHopper is typically brought in for.