what3words
what3words is a London-based geocoding technology company that assigns unique three-word addresses to every 3m x 3m square worldwide. Its platform serves logistics firms, automotive manufacturers, emergency services, navigation providers, and 50M+ consumer users across 61 languages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What what3words does
what3words is a London-based geocoding technology company that has built a proprietary system dividing the entire world into 3m x 3m squares and assigning each one a unique, permanent three-word address. The platform addresses the fundamental problem of imprecise location communication by providing memorable, precise identifiers for every 3m x 3m location on Earth, available in 61 languages and usable both online and offline via GPS. The company also acquired Swiftcomplete in February 2025 to extend into structured address capture and lookup.
The company operates a hybrid B2C and B2B business model. Its free consumer mobile app has been downloaded over 50 million times, with a premium Pro tier priced at £29.99 per year offering AI Chat, AI Voice Chat, computer-vision-based Enhanced Scan, and integration with multiple navigation platforms (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Citymapper, Uber, Bing Maps, KakaoMap). Revenue is generated through Pro subscriptions, tiered API licensing for developers via a self-serve portal, and direct B2B enterprise contracts with logistics firms (DPD, Yodel, ShipEngine, Shipster), automotive manufacturers (Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, AA), navigation providers (Sygic), food delivery platforms (Zomato), ride-hailing services (Ryde), sports and entertainment venues (Ilitch Sports + Entertainment), and emergency services (Miami Beach dispatchers). Distribution combines self-serve app store and developer portal channels with direct enterprise sales and embedded third-party integrations.
The company is privately held and has raised approximately $81.8 million across 18+ funding rounds from a mix of strategic corporate investors (Intel Capital, Sony Innovation Fund, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Bahn, Ingka Group/IKEA, ITV, Channel 4, Brand Capital International, SAIC, Aramex, Plug and Play, Alumni Ventures) and equity crowdfunding via Crowdcube with over 7,300 individual investors. It is headquartered in London, employs 101–250 people, and operates globally. Co-founders Chris Sheldrick (CEO), Jack Waley-Cohen, and Mohan Ganesalingam remain in leadership alongside a chairman (Chris Marks) and CXO team covering finance, commercial, creative, and marketing functions.
what3words firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- what3words
- Legal name
- what3words Limited
- Website
- https://what3words.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- what3words is a London-based geocoding technology company that assigns unique three-word addresses to every 3m x 3m square worldwide. Its platform serves logistics firms, automotive manufacturers, emergency services, navigation providers, and 50M+ consumer users across 61 languages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
what3words industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geocoding & Location Addressing Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geocoding, Search & Place Data Platforms (BPAMANAC)
Keywords
Where what3words is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
what3words business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- what3words Pro Subscription: Premium subscription tier offering AI tools (AI Chat, Voice Chat), enhanced features (import, scan, multi-point routes), and Pro-level functionality at £29.99/year with 7-day free trial
- API Licensing: Tiered API pricing plans for developers and enterprises integrating what3words addressing into their applications and platforms
- B2B Enterprise Licensing: Direct enterprise contracts with logistics companies (DPD, Yodel), automotive manufacturers (JLR), emergency services, and other B2B customers requiring custom implementations
- Freemium Consumer App: Free core app with basic functionality; revenue generated through Pro upgrade conversions and premium features
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | what3words Pro subscription at £29.99/year with 7-day free trial |
| Subscription | Monthly | Tiered API plans for developers and enterprises |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
what3words product offering
Product offeringCore offering
what3words provides a proprietary geocoding system that assigns every 3m x 3m square on Earth a unique three-word address, available in 61 languages and working offline via GPS. The company sells a free consumer mobile app, a premium Pro subscription with AI-powered features, a self-serve public API for developers, and direct enterprise licensing to logistics, automotive, and emergency services organizations.
Product overview
what3words is a geocoding platform that divides the entire world into 3m x 3m squares, each assigned a unique three-word address. The product portfolio consists of a free consumer what3words App (mobile), the what3words Online Map (web), the premium what3words Pro subscription tier with AI-powered features, the what3words API for developer integration, and Locate Link for location sharing. The core platform provides precise location addressing while Pro adds AI Chat, Voice Chat, enhanced scanning, and multi-navigation integrations. The company operates in a geocoding market estimated at $1.45 billion (2024) and supports addresses in 61+ languages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- what3words Pro: Premium subscription tier offering AI tools and enhanced features including AI Chat, Voice Chat, Import, Scan, and route planning with various navigation apps.
Products and services
- what3words App (Free) The free consumer mobile application that divides the world into 3m x 3m squares, each assigned a unique 3-word address. Users can find, share, and navigate to precise locations. Works offline using GPS without data or cellular connection.
- what3words Pro Premium subscription tier (£29.99/year with 7-day free trial) providing AI tools including AI Chat, Voice Chat, Import, Enhanced Scan, multi-navigation app integration (Apple Maps, Waze, Citymapper, Uber, Google Maps, Bing Maps, KakaoMap), photo mode, and WhatsApp integration.
- what3words API Public API enabling developers to integrate what3words address conversion (coordinates to 3-word addresses and vice versa) into applications. Available in 61+ languages with offline operation capability.
- Locate Link Product for sharing precise what3words locations via shareable links.
- what3words Online Map Web-based map interface at what3words.com allowing users to search, view, share, and navigate to 3-word addresses. Supports Google Maps as the underlying map layer.
Quantifiable outcome
- Available in 61 languages serving billions of people globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use what3words
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
what3words technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
what3words partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SygiccoreNavigation app Sygic adopted what3words for precise location search functionality, enabling users to find exact destinations using three-word addresses
- ShipEnginecoreIntegration partnership to enhance online delivery experiences by incorporating what3words precise addressing into ShipEngine's shipping platform
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
what3words competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Google Plus Codes: Google's free global short-code location identifier that maps the world into short alphanumeric codes. It is the closest direct competitor to what3words' 3-word addressing, distributed natively through Google Maps and Google Search.
Broad incumbents
- Mapbox: Developer-focused mapping platform offering APIs and SDKs for custom maps, geocoding, and navigation. Comparable because it provides addressable geocoding APIs that enterprises integrate alongside or instead of what3words.
- HERE Technologies: Global location platform serving automotive, logistics, and enterprise customers with maps, geocoding, and routing APIs. Competes with what3words for automotive and fleet telematics integrations.
- TomTom: Mapping and location technology provider with automotive and enterprise geocoding offerings. Comparable as an incumbent address and routing data supplier that what3words overlays.
- OpenStreetMap (geocoding via Nominatim / Pelias): Open geodata project powering many free geocoding and reverse-geocoding services used by developers. Relevant as an open-source alternative for precise address lookup.
- Trimble Maps (formerly ALK Technologies): Commercial map and routing provider for fleets, logistics, and transportation. Comparable because it serves similar enterprise logistics customers that what3words targets with precise addressing.
Emerging players
- Geohash (Nieva / hierarchical geocoding systems): Open geocoding scheme that encodes latitude/longitude into short alphanumeric strings. Directly comparable to what3words as an alternative compact addressing standard, though with weaker brand recognition.
- Uber H3: Uber's open-source hexagonal hierarchical geospatial indexing system used for ride-hailing and logistics. Comparable as a competing open standard for partitioning the world into addressable cells.
- Radar: Geolocation and geofencing API platform serving product and engineering teams with location context. Comparable as a developer-first location platform that could integrate or compete with what3words' API business.
Regional players
- Mappls (MapMyIndia): India-focused digital mapping and location services company offering geocoding, navigation, and APIs. Comparable as a regional addressing and mapping platform, particularly relevant given what3words' South Asian expansion.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
what3words social profiles
Digital presencewhat3words financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
what3words leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
what3words funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds19 records
Investors36 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
what3words M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about what3words
What does what3words do?
what3words provides a proprietary geocoding system that assigns every 3m x 3m square on Earth a unique three-word address, available in 61 languages and working offline via GPS. The company sells a free consumer mobile app, a premium Pro subscription with AI-powered features, a self-serve public API for developers, and direct enterprise licensing to logistics, automotive, and emergency services organizations.
Is what3words a public or private company?
what3words is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was what3words founded?
what3words was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is what3words based?
what3words is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does what3words make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. what3words Pro Subscription is the primary driver. The others are API Licensing, B2B Enterprise Licensing and freemium Consumer App.
Who are what3words's main competitors?
Google Plus Codes is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Mapbox, HERE Technologies, TomTom, OpenStreetMap (geocoding via Nominatim / Pelias) and Trimble Maps (formerly ALK Technologies). Emerging players are Geohash (Nieva / hierarchical geocoding systems), Uber H3 and Radar. Mappls (MapMyIndia) is listed as a regional player.
Does what3words have an API?
Yes. The what3words API enables developers to integrate precise 3-word address lookup into applications, allowing users to convert coordinates to 3-word addresses and vice versa. Available via public API with documentation at developer.what3words.com. The API supports all 61+ languages and operates offline via locally stored algorithms. Developer documentation is at developer.what3words.com/public-api.
What industry is what3words in?
what3words's product category is Geocoding & Location Addressing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAC, Geocoding, Search & Place Data Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5132.