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What3words vs Mapbox

What3words logo

What3words

Software

What3words has divided the world into 3m squares and given each one

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mapbox logo

Mapbox

Software

Location data platform for mobile and web applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mapbox has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Mapbox data accuracy varies by region compared to Google Maps' global consistency

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which What3words and Mapbox actually diverge.

Attributes where What3words and Mapbox differ
AttributeWhat3wordsMapbox
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: 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 Mapbox does not also cover.

Only in Mapbox

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 Mapbox
  • Adding location entry to a delivery or dispatch appnot Mapbox
  • Converting between coordinates and what3words addresses via APInot Mapbox

Mapbox

  • In-vehicle navigation and automotive infotainmentnot What3words
  • Delivery and on-demand logistics routingnot What3words
  • Custom map design and hosting through Studio and the Tiling Servicenot What3words
  • Geocoding, address validation and autofill in an applicationnot What3words
  • Telecom coverage and business intelligence visualisationnot 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

Mapbox

  • Data accuracy varies by region compared to Google Maps' global consistency
  • Real-time traffic data quality inconsistent across different geographic locations
  • Less familiar interface to users accustomed to Google Maps

Pricing, plan by plan

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Mapbox

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Mapbox review.

Which should you pick?

Choose What3words if

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

What3words review

Choose Mapbox if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
Mapbox review

Questions people ask

Is What3words or Mapbox better?
Neither clearly leads. What3words starts at On request and Mapbox at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, What3words or Mapbox?
Mapbox has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for What3words and Free for Mapbox.
Does What3words or Mapbox run on more platforms?
What3words runs on Web. Mapbox runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Mapbox for free?
Yes. Mapbox has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. What3words starts at On request.
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 Mapbox is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mapbox: What is Mapbox's pricing model?

Mapbox uses usage-based pricing with a free tier supporting 50,000 monthly map loads for web. Beyond that, pricing ranges from $0.50-$5 per 1,000 navigation requests and $0.75-$4 per 1,000 geocoding queries.

Source
Mapbox: How does Mapbox compare to Google Maps in pricing?

For moderate to high-volume customers, Mapbox total cost is often 25-50% lower than Google Maps Platform, making it more cost-effective at scale.

Source
Mapbox: What are Mapbox's key features?

Mapbox provides global map data, real-time traffic, geocoding and address search, routing and directions, extensive customization options, and strong data visualization tools for developers.

Source
Mapbox: Does Mapbox support offline maps?

Yes. Mapbox allows developers to download offline map tiles, providing offline map viewing and navigation capabilities unlike Google Maps API's restricted offline functionality.

Source
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