# Footpath Route Planner vs what3words

The clearest difference is ads: Footpath Route Planner at none against what3words's shown. Footpath Route Planner also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 55%). what3words's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Footpath Route Planner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and what3words sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.69 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Footpath Route Planner against 4.8 for what3words. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 44K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Footpath Route Planner's written reviews are positive against 55% of what3words's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Footpath Route Planner | what3words |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/footpath-route-planner/id634845718/reviews)** | [4.8 (44K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what3words-navigation-and-maps/id657878530/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 22K | **44K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.5% of reviews** | 55.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#81** | #126 |
| Size | 155 MB | 315 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Half Mile Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/634845721) | [what3words Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657878533) |

## What reviewers say

### Footpath Route Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/footpath-route-planner/id634845718)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Grossing · Navigation, #112 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Easily plan and navigate custom routes for any outdoor activity. Draw your path with a finger and the app snaps to roads and trails. Measure distances, elevations, and get turn-by-turn directions, even offline.

**Highlights:** Snap to roads and trails, Measure distance and elevation, Turn-by-turn navigation, Offline map downloads, Route sharing, GPX/TCX/FIT export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Footpath Elite (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Footpath Elite (Yearly) | $23.49 | per year |
| Single Route Pass | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Full-featured outdoors app
- 👍 Nice app
- 👍 Excellent for discovering routes
- 👍 Useful for run planning
- 👍 Great mapping and graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No more free turn by turn
- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Seems to no longer recognize footpaths
- 🐛 Offline maps fail
- 🐛 Only selects roads

**Reported bugs**

- No more free turn by turn
- Buggy and unreliable
- Seems to no longer recognize footpaths
- Offline maps fail
- Only selects roads

**Requested features**

- Add ability to make notes on routes
- Add ability to create folders within folders
- Add ability to change alerts to be earlier
- Add ability to display more run data
- Add ability to store notes against a route


### what3words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/what3words-navigation-and-maps/id657878530)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Free · Navigation, #128 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

This app assigns a unique three-word address to every 10-foot square on Earth. Easily find, share, and navigate to precise locations worldwide using simple word combinations. It's ideal for pinpointing exact meeting spots, deliveries, or even emergency services.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| what3words Pro | $4.69 | per month |
| what3words Pro | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate location tracking
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚑 Potentially life-saving in emergencies
- 🗺️ Precise location sharing
- 🤝 Helpful for meeting up with friends/family

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent location accuracy
- 🤔 Confusing/not well-explained
- 📱 Requires data/cellular connectivity
- 🗺️ Outdated map data
- 🔍 Difficult to find/search saved locations

**Reported bugs**

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

**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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Footpath Route Planner free?

Footpath Route Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is what3words free?

what3words is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Footpath Route Planner or what3words?

Footpath Route Planner is rated higher. Footpath Route Planner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while what3words averages 4.8 from 44K ratings.

### Do Footpath Route Planner or what3words have ads?

what3words shows ads; Footpath Route Planner does not.

### Which is updated more often, Footpath Route Planner or what3words?

Footpath Route Planner ships an update weekly, and what3words weekly. Most recently, Footpath Route Planner was updated on November 4, 2026 and what3words on November 4, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Footpath Route Planner or what3words?

Footpath Route Planner currently peaks at #81 in the App Store charts, and what3words at #126. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*