what3words
Pinpoint any spot on Earth to a roughly 3 m square and share it with three simple words
by What3Words Limited · listed Oct 21, 2026
Quick verdict
Worth installing as a free safety and meet-up tool, especially if you spend time off the beaten track. Just remember it only helps when the other side knows how to use it.
Best for People who need to share or find an exact spot where street addresses fall short, such as outdoors, rural homes or large venues
Reviewed by AppsPicks on Oct 21, 2026. How we review
what3words review
what3words splits the world into a grid of squares about 3 metres (10 feet) wide and gives each one a fixed three-word label. Instead of a street address or a string of coordinates, you share something like three short words, and the other person can find that exact square. It suits anyone whose location is hard to describe: hikers, festival-goers, people with rural homes or unclear entrances, delivery drivers, and anyone who might need to tell emergency services where they are.
Day to day, you open the app, see your current three-word address, and can share it, save it to a list, or tap through to Apple Maps, Google Maps or another navigation app for directions. It can show your address without a data connection, and a compass mode points you toward a saved square offline. AutoSuggest helps catch typos when you enter an address, and the app works in more than 60 languages.
Why we picked it: It solves a real problem simply, and many US 9-1-1 centres accept what3words addresses.
Watch out for: The system is proprietary, the other person needs to know what it is, and similar-sounding words can be misheard, so double-check before relying on one.
What we like
- Locates a spot to a roughly 3 m square, far more precise than many street addresses
- Shows your current three-word address and offers compass guidance without data
- Hands off directions to Apple Maps, Google Maps and other navigation apps
- Saved places can be organised into lists and shared
- Accepted by thousands of US emergency communications centres
What could be better
- Only useful when the person you share with understands what3words
- Plurals and similar-sounding words can lead to the wrong square if misheard
- Proprietary system rather than an open standard
- Android ratings are noticeably lower than on iOS
Questions about what3words
Is what3words free?
The app is free to download and its core features cost nothing. The Google Play listing mentions in-app purchases, but you can find, share and navigate to addresses without paying.
Which platforms does it run on?
It is available on iPhone through the App Store and on Android through Google Play. A website version also exists at what3words.com.
Does it work offline?
Yes, it can show your current three-word address and point you toward a location with compass mode without a data connection. Full turn-by-turn directions go through your regular maps app, which may need data.
Can emergency services use it?
Many can. The developer says over 4,800 US 9-1-1 centres accept what3words addresses, though you should still give other details if you can.
What are the alternatives?
Plus Codes from Google are a free, open way to share precise locations and work inside Google Maps. Sharing raw GPS coordinates or a dropped map pin also works without a separate app.
From the developer: how what3words describes itself
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 [email protected]
EULA: https://what3words.com/terms
Text from the app store listing, quoted for reference. Our own take is above.
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