what3words vs Blue Light Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
what3words
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.
- 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
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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
Blue Light Maps
Navigate faster and more accurately with this specialized navigation app designed for emergency responders. It offers detailed maps, optimized routing using legal exemptions, and features tailored for larger emergency vehicles. Offline maps ensure connectivity even in areas with poor reception.
- Detailed maps with visible addresses
- Optimized routing with legal exemptions
- Up to 60% shorter routes
- Early turn notifications
- Tailored for large emergency vehicles
- Offline maps
- Integrated destination search
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Navigate smarter and arrive faster with BlueLight Maps—the navigation app built for the frontline, by the frontline. Specifically designed for police, EMTs, firefighters and private ambulance services, our app revolutionizes emergency response navigation. Unparalleled Map Detail • Most Detailed Maps Available: Building and addresses clearly visible, from apartment blocks to farmhouses. • Always Know Where You Are: Enhanced mapping ensures precise location awareness at all times. Optimised Routing Using Your Exemptions • Faster Routes: Factor in legal exemptions for restricted turns, bus gates, low traffic neighborhoods, and more. • Up to 60% Shorter: Find routes significantly shorter than those from Google Maps or TomTom. • Early Turn Notifications: Get timely alerts for turns, even at high speeds. Stay Oriented— • Know Your Location: Clearly see your current road and direction, crucial for assistance calls and accurate reporting during pursuits. • Enhance Communication: Aligns with agency principles by facilitating precise location sharing among services. Tailored for Larger Emergency Vehicles like Ambulances and Fire Trucks • Avoid Restrictions: Specialised modes ensure you don't get stuck at width restrictions and tight turns. • Smooth Journeys: Transporting a patient? Use our mode that avoids speed humps. Effortless Destination Search • Integrated Search: Use Google Search or What3Words to find destinations quickly. • Visual Guidance: Built-in Google Street View shows you the destination as you approach Offline Maps—Always Available • Stay Connected: Navigate seamlessly even in areas with poor reception. Trusted by First Responders “Allowed us to get to an incident much quicker compared to Google Maps.” “Enhanced on-screen ETA accuracy.” “A more efficient route, utilizing exemptions for a no-right-turn saved 3 minutes.” “Unlike TomTom’s suggestion to detour around traffic, we could clearly bypass it and saved a few minutes.” Start Your Free Trial Today Experience the difference with a free trial of BlueLight Maps. Continue with an individual subscription available within the app, or via an enterprise subscription through your employer. Terms of Use: https://bluelightmaps.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://bluelightmaps.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Blue Light Maps at none against what3words's shown. Blue Light Maps also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). what3words's advantage is ratings volume (44K vs 1) and review sentiment (55% vs 35%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. what3words sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.69 per month and Blue Light Maps sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Blue Light Maps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: what3words has 44K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of what3words's written reviews are positive against 35% of Blue Light Maps's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
what3words ships an update weekly, Blue Light Maps every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | what3words | Blue Light Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (44K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.5% of reviews — better | 35.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 44K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #80 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 315 MB | 154 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | what3words Ltd. | Blue Light Maps |
Customer experience
what3words
Blue Light Maps
Bugs and requests
what3words
Reported bugs
3 issues- Location changes unexpectedly
- App crashes on launch
- Unable to select country/language
Requested features
6 requests- 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
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- Integrate with popular navigation apps
Blue Light Maps
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
what3words
- what3words Pro$4.691 Month
- what3words Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Blue Light Maps
- Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Quarterly7 Days trial$12.993 Months
- Annual14 Days trial$39.991 Year









