# what3words: Navigation & Maps — Navigate to any exact location

> Global location system using three-word addresses for precise navigation and sharing. (iPhone/iPad app by what3words Ltd..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what3words-navigation-and-maps/id657878530 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [what3words Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657878533)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 43,899 App Store ratings · 827 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.1 · 319 MB
- Languages: Canadian English, Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Khmer, Catalan, Croatian and 51 more
- Released: 2013-07-01
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what3words-navigation-and-maps/id657878530/reviews.md

## What is what3words?

what3words is an easy way to identify precise locations. Every 10 foot square has been given a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. Now you can find, share and navigate to precise locations using three simple words.

Use what3words to:
- Find your way anywhere in the world using just three words
- Plan exact meet-up locations
- Help people find your apartment, business or Airbnb 
- Always find your way back to your parking space
- Save key locations, from incident reporting to delivery entrances
- Save your favorite memorable spots – a sunset, a waterfall, proposal location
- Guide people to accessible entrances
- Help emergency services find you

You can find what3words addresses in travel guides, website contact pages, invitations, travel booking confirmations and more – anywhere you would normally find location information. If you’re invited to a friend’s home, ask them to share their what3words address.

Popular features:
- Find your current what3words address offline
- Compatible with navigation apps, including Apple Maps and Google Maps
- Save your favourite locations, categorise and share them as lists
- AutoSuggest prompts you with intelligent suggestions
- Available in over 60 languages
- Navigate offline with compass mode
- Add a what3words address to a photo

If you experience any problems or have any questions, email us at support@what3words.com

EULA: https://what3words.com/terms

## Key features

- Navigate using three-word addresses
- Share precise locations
- Find current address offline
- Compatible with navigation apps
- Save and categorize favorite locations
- Offline navigation with compass mode
- Supports over 60 languages

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| what3words Pro | $4.69 | per month |
| what3words Pro | $39.99 | per year |


## Chart rankings

- #113 in Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)
- #121 in Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

## What do users think of what3words?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Accurate location tracking
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚑 Potentially life-saving in emergencies
- 🗺️ Precise location sharing
- 🤝 Helpful for meeting up with friends/family
- 💻 Works offline with GPS
- 🌍 Global coverage

**Cons**

- 🐛 Inconsistent location accuracy
- 🤔 Confusing/not well-explained
- 📱 Requires data/cellular connectivity
- 🗺️ Outdated map data
- 🔍 Difficult to find/search saved locations
- 🚫 Not supported by all emergency services

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Location changes unexpectedly
- App crashes on launch
- Unable to select country/language

**Most requested features**

- Add ability to sort/organize saved locations
- Integrate with contacts/address book
- Provide voice output for location names
- Offer offline map downloads
- Develop a version for seniors/accessibility
- Integrate with popular navigation apps

## Recent user reviews (10 of 827)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what3words-navigation-and-maps/id657878530/reviews.md

### 5/5 — The Nuts

*2026-08-25, version 5.9.0*

W3W is just amazing! Fabulous product and service.

### 1/5 — Useless in a city

*2026-08-23, version 5.9.0*

Why is this app even a thing?

### 1/5 — Not paying

*2026-08-23, version 5.9.0*

Used to be free this app cheeky sods I’m not paying

### 1/5 — Was good but now?

*2026-08-22, version 5.9.0*

It’s has turned into a data grab and ad fest. Well done there company, you are ruining your product and so alienating your users. App deleted.

### 1/5 — Used to be great

*2026-08-18, version 5.9.0*

This used to be a great app when you could choose your navigation, but the most popular ones are now hidden behind a paywall, and Apple Maps is frequently off line in remote areas. Maybe allow a single choice for navigation, to be helpful to people

### 5/5 — Life saver

*2026-08-17, version 5.8.2*

My buddy had a medical emergency while we were out trail riding on motorcycles.  He was not able to continue and we had no idea where we had to stop.  I used the what3words app and provided my location to emergency services and they knew exactly where we were.  Highly recommend!

### 1/5 — Terrible subscription based slop

*2026-08-16, version 5.8.2*

Took away the freedom of using either google maps or Apple Maps. Greed took over and now needs subscriptions. Awful app

### 1/5 — Hard to tell

*2026-08-15, version 5.8.2*

It's hard to rate an app when it's so covered by ads you can't do anything with it. Yes I understand that it's to force you to pay to go ad free, but all it's doing is annoying me to the point of deleting it

### 1/5 — Obstructive and unsupportive

*2026-08-14, version 5.8.2*

Tried to upgrade to pro. Nope. Apparently I already have an account. Uh-huh, nope. No possibility of clearing it out. No forgot password button. No contact us button. Disappointing, I’ll be staying with the limited service in the free use version thanks very much.

### 1/5 — Fraud

*2026-08-12, version 5.8.2*

Downloaded the app, advised creating free account, next step tried taking £22+ from account. Thank you Barclays for declining.

## Frequently asked questions about what3words

### What is what3words?

what3words is a system that assigns a unique three-word address to every 10-foot square on Earth. This allows for incredibly precise location identification, making it easy to find, share, and navigate to any spot globally.

### How does what3words help with navigation?

You can use a three-word address to find your way to any location. The app integrates with popular navigation apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps, allowing you to input the what3words address directly for turn-by-turn directions.

### Is what3words free to use?

The core functionality of the what3words app is free to download and use. While the app itself is free, there are in-app purchases available for additional features or services.

### Can I use what3words offline?

Yes, you can find your current what3words address even when you are offline. The app also offers an offline navigation mode with a compass, allowing you to find your way without an internet connection.

### Who would benefit from using what3words?

This app is beneficial for a wide range of users, including travelers, delivery drivers, emergency services, businesses, and individuals who need to communicate exact locations for meetups, deliveries, or to guide others to specific entrances.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 5.10.0 — 2026-08-26

NEW: AI Voice is now available on Apple Watch. Find and navigate to what3words locations just by talking.
Pro membership required.

### 5.9.0 — 2026-08-18

NEW: AI Voice is now available on Apple Watch. Find and navigate to what3words locations just by talking.
Pro membership required.

### 5.8.2 — 2026-06-25

what3words is now available for CarPlay. Connect your phone to your vehicle to get started.

### 5.8.1 — 2026-06-12

what3words is now available for CarPlay. Connect your phone to your vehicle to get started.

### 5.8.0 — 2026-06-04

what3words is now available for CarPlay. Connect your phone to your vehicle to get started.

## Apps similar to what3words

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Google Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-maps/id585027354) | 4.7 (7,310,696) | Free | Navigation |
| [Waze Navigation & Live Traffic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waze-navigation-and-live-traffic/id323229106) | 4.8 (3,185,480) | Free | Navigation |
| [Guru Maps - Offline Navigation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guru-maps-offline-navigation/id321745474) | 4.7 (2,774) | Free | Navigation |
| [Apple Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apple-maps/id915056765) | 2.4 (51,889) | Free | Navigation |
| [Sygic GPS Navigation & Maps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sygic-gps-navigation-and-maps/id585193266) | 4.6 (56,724) | Free | Navigation |
| [GPS Tracks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gps-tracks/id425589565) | 4.7 (17,491) | Free | Navigation |

## More apps by what3words Ltd.

- [三词地址](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1438090042)

All apps by what3words Ltd.: https://appshunter.io/developer/657878533

## Related topics

[what three words](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/what-three-words) · [3words](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/3words) · [what 3words](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/what-3words) · [these three words](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/these-three-words) · [my 3 words](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/my-3-words) · [vzone sitepin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/vzone-sitepin) · [location scouter pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/location-scouter-pro) · [geliosfamily](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/geliosfamily) · [nmea send location](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nmea-send-location) · [holmes place worldwide bv](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/holmes-place-worldwide-bv) · [location scouting](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/location-scouting) · [geoboard coordinates cartesian](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/geoboard-coordinates-cartesian) · [bindimaps](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bindimaps) · [navigate tjc](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/navigate-tjc) · [clemson navigate](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/clemson-navigate) · [location guesser](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/location-guesser) · [delm8 uk address finder](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/delm8-uk-address-finder) · [tjoose](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tjoose) · [stakeout icmt](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/stakeout-icmt) · [keysight geolocation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/keysight-geolocation)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*