Softwr

Maps · head to head

What3words vs Whip Around

What3words logo

What3words

Maps

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

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Whip Around logo

Whip Around

Fleet Management

Digital vehicle inspection and maintenance software priced per asset per month, with a firm minimum monthly charge that changes the real cost for small fleets

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Whip Around 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; Whip Around the $120 (Standard) or $220 (Pro) monthly minimum covers the first 20 assets regardless of actual fleet size, so a fleet with fewer than 20 vehicles pays a per-asset rate well above the advertised $5 or $10 headline figure.
  • They diverge on capability: What3words covers Core Functionality, Whip Around covers Digital DVIR inspections.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which What3words and Whip Around actually diverge.

Attributes where What3words and Whip Around differ
AttributeWhat3wordsWhip Around
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelfreemiumPer asset per month, with a monthly minimum on paid tiers
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMapsFleet Management

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Whip Around

  • Digital DVIR inspections
  • Automated work orders
  • Preventative maintenance scheduling
  • Parts and inventory tracking
  • Driver and asset document storage
  • AI-enabled photo inspection

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

Whip Around

  • A small trucking or field service fleet needing DOT-compliant digital DVIR inspections instead of paper formsnot What3words
  • A fleet manager wanting inspection defects to automatically generate maintenance work orders rather than a separate manual stepnot What3words
  • An owner-operator with a single vehicle wanting free inspection record-keepingnot What3words
  • A mid-size fleet wanting parts and inventory tracking tied directly to inspection-triggered work ordersnot 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

Whip Around

  • The $120 (Standard) or $220 (Pro) monthly minimum covers the first 20 assets regardless of actual fleet size, so a fleet with fewer than 20 vehicles pays a per-asset rate well above the advertised $5 or $10 headline figure.
  • It does not include GPS tracking or route optimisation, so fleets wanting live location visibility need a separate telematics platform alongside it.
  • Signing an annual contract is needed to access the better per-asset rate, reducing flexibility for a fleet uncertain about its growth trajectory.
  • As an inspection-first rather than telematics-first product, it competes against broader platforms like Samsara or Geotab that bundle inspection features into a wider telematics suite, which can make Whip Around a second subscription rather than a full replacement.
  • AI-enabled photo inspection is a newer feature, and its defect-detection accuracy has less of an independent track record than the platform core manual inspection workflow.

Pricing, plan by plan

What3words

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the What3words review.

Whip Around

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Free for 1 asset
  • Standard$undefined/month
    • $5 per asset per month
    • $120/month minimum on month-to-month billing, covers first 20 assets
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • $10 per asset per month
    • $220/month minimum on month-to-month billing, covers first 20 assets
  • Fixed Unlimited$undefined/month
    • Custom fixed price for large fleets, quote required

Which should you pick?

Choose What3words if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You also want user interface.
What3words review

Choose Whip Around if

  • You need digital dvir inspections.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated work orders.
Whip Around review

Questions people ask

Is What3words or Whip Around better?
Neither clearly leads. What3words starts at On request and Whip Around at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, What3words or Whip Around?
Whip Around has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for What3words and Free for Whip Around.
Does What3words or Whip Around run on more platforms?
What3words runs on Web. Whip Around runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Whip Around for free?
Yes. Whip Around 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 Whip Around is typically brought in for.
What can What3words do that Whip Around cannot?
What3words covers Core Functionality, User Interface. Whip Around covers Digital DVIR inspections, Automated work orders, Preventative maintenance scheduling, Parts and inventory tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Whip Around: Is Whip Around really free?

Only for a single asset. Any fleet with more than one vehicle moves to a paid tier with a $120 or $220 monthly minimum.

Whip Around: Does it include GPS tracking?

No. It focuses on inspections, maintenance and work orders; GPS tracking requires a separate telematics product.

Whip Around: What is the real cost for a small fleet?

Because the minimum covers up to 20 assets, a fleet with fewer vehicles effectively pays more per asset than the $5 or $10 headline rate suggests.

Share

Related pages

More on What3words

More on Whip Around

Keep looking

Other head to heads