what3words Reviews 

Not really usable now

What3Words was revolutionary. Such an incredible concept that people could use to help them with directions, pinpoint exact location in emergencies.

Now, everything is stuck behind the "pro" paywall. Even simple features, such as opening up a location in a navigation app such as Waze is a pro feature.

This is one of the biggest cases of en****ification I've ever come across. I'm no longer recommending this app to anyone, and using alternatives.

Worse than insurance companies ,I helped to build this system only to find they want me to pay, had the subscription been reasonable for example lifetime one off payment £5 that would be acceptable, also features removed means this is no longer a life saver

This is a brilliant idea. The issue which led to losing a star is that, since it’s release I have promoted this to anyone who will listen…how am I rewarded? By yet another paywall, my navigation options removed and only 10 saves etc etc! Someday an alternative option will be available and once loyal people will have no reason to be loyal! Very disappointed in this change but I can’t justify lower mark as it’s still a brilliant idea.

I used to be a huge supporter of What3Words. It was a brilliant idea, and I enthusiastically recommended it to friends, family and businesses because I genuinely believed in it.

Sadly, the company has chosen to monetise its loyal users rather than reward them. Features that made the app genuinely useful are now locked behind a Pro subscription.

The app is full of upgrade prompts and intrusive advertising, and I've now discovered I can't even save new locations because I've hit the arbitrary limit of just 10 saved places unless I pay.

This isn't innovation—it's a classic example of making a great product progressively less useful in an attempt to drive subscriptions.
I've gone back to using Waze. It may not offer the same concept, but at least it doesn't cripple basic functionality or constantly pressure me to upgrade.

What3Words had a great business model: license the technology to commercial users while keeping the service simple and free for the everyday users who helped make it successful. Instead, they've chosen to alienate the very people who championed the product.

A real shame. I can no longer recommend it & have now deleted the app & encourage everybody else to do the same, perhaps they’ll sit up and listen… though I doubt it.

What used to be a genuinely useful app has been stripped down and degraded though aggressive attempts at monetisation.

Core features that were previously free are now locked behind a "Pro" subscription which feels less like adding premium value and more like locking standard functionality behind a paywall. At the same time the app experience has been deliberately weakened to the point where the web version is (marginally) more capable than the logged-in app.

On top of that the intrusive advertising takes up a large portion of the screen and further reduces usability making even basic interaction frustration.

This isn't an improvement or evolution of the product, it's a case study in enshittification where usability is deprecated unless you pay.

Needless to say, I no longer have any interest in this app or service.

W3W was excellent. But as an individual user I don't use the app enough to warrant another subscription. The ads taking up part of the screen and web page make it worse.
A one off fee or lower subscription would have kept me. Unfortunately other mapping solutions are nicer to use right now.

Great app! Seems odd at first until you know how it works. Three words mark your spot within a 10x10 box anywhere in the world, and you share those three words with others to find you. Super easy and useful!

This app is no longer useful as you now suddenly have to pay. Greedy, contemptuous action by this company, attempting to force money from their customers. They have just mugged their loyal customers and this kind of thing should be illegal. I have deleted the app and will never use them again. I encourage everyone to do the same.

Always used Waze and promoted use of W3W but now there is a paywall they have deserted their individual followers.
Typical attitude of software start ups to past supporter's.
I've gone back old school in using Waze as both Google and Apple maps are 2nd rate nav tools.

Update days later whilst on volunteering for charity supporting NHS.
Needed to input and save a hospital location. W3W now has paywall limit to max 10 locations and doesn’t allow me to use the Save process. W3W is now irrelevant for future new locations without going Pro. That is not going to happen. Need Google/Waze to up their game.
If I could give Zero stars, I would.

I used to be evangelical about W3W, it is a brilliant idea and it used to work in a simple and accessible way. Now the app is constantly pushing me to upgrade to a paid tier just so that it can paste a lat/long into Google Maps. The original idea was a good one - get enough people using the service that you can charge delivery companies money to license it. I pressured every company I buy things from to use a W3W address. But if you're going to put pressure on me personally, the end user, I'll just stick with free services. Maybe this makes sense up in the C-Suite, but here on planet Earth businesses who actively degrade their products tend to fail.

Stopped using this app due to only one thing, its now full of adverts by Google. Sick of seeing adverts for Loxley law so deleted the app.

I have used W3w since it became available and recommended to many others, The features I liked most are now only available for a monthly charge. To the individual it is now almost worthless maybe perfect for deliveries - but if I no longer use the App I won't be able to share the 3-word location. A product spoilt by greed!!

We were sent a location but what three words sent us an hour away from our location to a remote area but if someone else tried the link it would send them to the correct location. Some type of glitch but left us with barely any battery in the electric car, 3 hot children and late to appointments. Really wouldn’t recommend to do again.

Was excellent, but now the navigate by Waze has become a paid feature, it has reduced usefulness significantly. Held to ransom to use what was an excelent free feature. Shame.

Ariel view and information of my location completely and utterly incorrect, resulting in delivery companies using the app to deliver all my parcels to the wrong places and them going missing , it’s so out of date hasn’t been as it’s showing since the early 1990’s my address DA14 6AE being Marlin court is showing as Conroy Court , if they put in 5 ELM ROAD , SIDCUP, UK into google earth they would see just how inaccurate and wrong their app ariel view really is, I would advice courier companies not to use this app when delivering to my address , as it misleading and completely and utterly WRONG

Another company that once they have users decide to put charges on every thing ! Google maps and Waze not allowed any more unless you pay!

I use an iphone. Like many people. Ever since the ‘upgrade’ I can no longer navigate to a destination ising google maps. W3w forces me to use apple maps, which is an inferior nav system. It’s ok, if you use an android device. I need to upgrade to the pro version to use google maps.

Penalised because I use an iPhone.

Come on people. Don’t get greedy, get BETTER!!

Another classic example of a once fantastic app used by emergency services and brilliant for navigation. Rendered obsolete because they’ve chosen to lock navigation for the likes of Google maps behind a paywall.

This company now hides some critical features behind a paywall. I'll be deleting it now