Google Maps vs What3words
Google Maps vs What3words, compared side by side on 13 data points: what each one does, how big it is, what it has raised, the tech running each site, and what users report. We score both out of 100 on traction, team and visibility: Google Maps is on 28/100 and What3words on 57/100.
Where each one leads
Google Maps
Leads on none of the measures we hold for both companies.
What3words
- our overall score: 57/100 against 28/100
- agent readiness: 56/100 against 34/100
At a glance
| Measure | Google Maps | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Comprehensive web mapping service with satellite imagery, street maps, and real-time traffic. | A precise three-word addressing system for global location sharing and navigation. |
| Category | Web Search, Consumer App, Mapping, Location Intelligence | LogisticsTech, Fleet Management, Mapping, Navigation |
| Sells toBusiness model | B2C | B2B |
| Offering | Platform | Platform |
| Founded | 2005 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Status | Active | Active |
Size, funding and growth
| Measure | Google Maps | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| Total funding | Not published | $115M |
| Latest round | Not published | Convertible Note |
StartupHub scores
Our own 0-100 ratings. They measure company strength and site quality, not which product suits you.
| Measure | Google Maps | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| StartupHub scoreOur 0-100 rating | 28/100 | 57/100 |
| Traction | Not published | 40/100 |
| Team | 70/100 | 70/100 |
| Community | 8/100 | Not published |
| Search visibility | 17/100 | 3/100 |
| Quality | Not published | 68/100 |
| Agent readinessHow well an AI agent can read and act on the site | F (34/100) | D (56/100) |
| Domain ratingLink authority, 0-100 | 99/100 | 91/100 |
Technology
Detected on each public site, so it reflects the marketing stack as well as the product.
| Measure | Google Maps | What3words |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Google Cloud | AWS |
| CDN | Not detected | CloudFront |
| CMS | Ghost | Not detected |
| Frameworks | Not detected | Next.js, Tailwind CSS |
Google Maps vs What3words: common questions
Which is better, Google Maps or What3words?
On our 0-100 score What3words rates higher (57/100 against 28/100). The score weights traction, team, visibility and profile completeness, so it reflects company strength rather than which product suits you. We compare the two on 13 data points above: read the rows that match what you are buying for.
How do Google Maps and What3words compare on the numbers?
What3words leads on our overall score (57/100 against 28/100), agent readiness (56/100 against 34/100).
Read the full Google Maps review and pricing or the What3words review and pricing. You can also browse other Google Maps alternatives we track.