Comparison

what3words vs Blue Light Maps

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

what3words4 screens
Blue Light Maps4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
what3words versus Blue Light Maps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterwhat3wordsBlue Light Maps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (44K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.5% of reviews — better35.0% of reviews
Number of ratings44K — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#80 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size315 MB154 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerwhat3words Ltd.Blue Light Maps

Customer experience

what3words

All ratings44,032 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral3.1%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews885 reviews
Positive55.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative38.2%

Blue Light Maps

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive35.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative45.0%

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
Show 1 more
  • Integrate with popular navigation apps

Blue Light Maps

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

what3words

Subscriptions2
  • what3words Pro$4.691 Month
  • what3words Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
3 purchases

Blue Light Maps

Subscriptions3
  • Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Quarterly7 Days trial$12.993 Months
  • Annual14 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is what3words free?
what3words is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Blue Light Maps free?
Blue Light Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, what3words or Blue Light Maps?
Blue Light Maps is rated higher. what3words averages 4.8 out of 5 from 44K ratings, while Blue Light Maps averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do what3words or Blue Light Maps have ads?
what3words shows ads; Blue Light Maps does not.
Which is updated more often, what3words or Blue Light Maps?
what3words ships an update weekly, and Blue Light Maps every 3 weeks. Most recently, what3words was updated on November 5, 2026 and Blue Light Maps on November 3, 2026.

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