Plus codes vs what3words is a choice between two systems that locate you without a street address. Plus codes are Google's open grid codes, such as 849VCWC8+R9. what3words gives every 3-meter square a unique three-word label, such as ///filled.count.soap.

Plain GPS coordinates remain the universal standard that every device understands. Below, each system is explained simply, then compared side by side so you can pick the right one.

What are plus codes?

Plus codes, also called Open Location Codes, are a free addressing system developed by Google. They divide the world into a grid and give every cell a short code.

A full plus code looks like 849VCWC8+R9. The first part names a large area. The part after the plus sign narrows it to about a 14 by 14 meter cell. Near a known town, you can drop the first characters and use a shorter code instead.

Plus codes work offline with a downloaded map, cost nothing, and are open source. Anyone can build them into an app. They are popular for deliveries and services in places where street addresses are missing or unreliable.

What is what3words?

what3words splits the entire world into 3 by 3 meter squares. Each square gets a unique combination of three dictionary words, such as ///filled.count.soap.

The idea is human friendly. Three words are easier to say over the phone and harder to mistype than a long string of numbers. The system works in many languages, with a separate word list for each.

There is one catch: what3words is a private, proprietary system. You need its app or website to decode a three-word address, although the app works offline once installed. Emergency services in some countries accept what3words locations.

What are GPS coordinates?

GPS coordinates are the original global addressing system. They give any point on Earth as latitude and longitude, such as 37.4220° N, 122.0841° W.

Every phone, car navigator, and mapping tool understands them. They are free, open, and need no special app. You can read yours right now on LocationMe, free and without an account.

Coordinates also come in several written formats. Our guide to decimal degrees vs DMS explains each one with worked examples.

Plus codes vs what3words vs GPS coordinates: full comparison

Each system below points to the same spot: the Googleplex in California. The table shows how they differ in format, precision, and everyday use.

Notice the trade-off. GPS coordinates and plus codes are open, so any developer can use them freely. what3words is easier to speak aloud, but it depends on one company's app and word lists.

Which should you use?

For hiking, sailing, or any technical work, use GPS coordinates. They work on every device, offline, with no app required. They are also the format that rescue and mapping teams expect.

For deliveries or meeting points in areas without clear street addresses, use plus codes. Google Maps shows the plus code of any dropped pin, and drivers can paste it straight into navigation.

For telling a friend where you are by voice or text, what3words shines. Saying three common words beats spelling out a long coordinate over a noisy phone line.

You do not have to pick just one. Many people navigate with GPS coordinates and share a what3words address for the final few meters. Start from LocationMe to grab your coordinates, then convert them to whichever system fits.

If you work with maps professionally, learn all three. Clients and colleagues will send you each style. Knowing how to read them all saves back-and-forth messages.

When addresses fail: a real example

Imagine a food stall at the edge of a large park. It has no street number, and the park entrance is 200 meters away. A pin dropped on a map is vague at this scale.

A plus code nails the stall's exact grid cell and works in Google Maps for the delivery rider. A what3words address lets the customer say the spot in one breath on a call. The GPS coordinates feed straight into any navigation app.

This is why these systems exist. Street addresses were built for buildings on named roads. Plus codes and what3words fill the gaps: parks, beaches, rural roads, and new developments.

How accurate is each system in practice?

All three systems can guide you to a front door. GPS coordinates with five decimal places reach about one meter. Plus codes name a 14-meter cell, which still finds the right building. what3words names a 3-meter square, which finds the right entrance.

The difference is rarely the deciding factor. Your phone's GPS chip is accurate to about 5 meters outdoors anyway. Pick the system that fits your task and your audience, not the one with the smallest square.

Limits worth knowing

Plus codes have one quirk: short codes only work near a known place. If you share a short code with someone in another city, they need the full code. Always share the full version, like 849VCWC8+R9, unless you are sure the other person is nearby.

what3words has a subtler risk. Similar word triples can sit on different continents. One mistyped or misheard word can point hundreds of kilometers away. Read the words back carefully before you share them.

There is also the ownership question. Plus codes and GPS coordinates are open standards that no company controls. what3words belongs to one company, so its future depends on that company. For anything critical, keep a GPS coordinate as your backup.

How to find your code or coordinates

Open LocationMe in your browser and tap Use Precise GPS. You will see your GPS coordinates instantly, ready to copy in decimal or DMS form.

For a plus code, drop a pin on the spot in Google Maps. Read the code from the place card. For a what3words address, open the what3words app and tap your current location. If you need the coordinates first, see our guide on how to find your GPS coordinates.

Frequently asked questions

What are plus codes?
Plus codes are Google's free, open-source addressing system. Each code, like 849VCWC8+R9, names a small grid cell on Earth. They work offline and are useful where street addresses do not exist.

What is what3words, explained simply?
what3words divides the world into 3-meter squares and labels each with three words, like ///filled.count.soap. The words are easy to say and remember, but you need the company's app to decode them.

Which is better in plus codes vs what3words?
Plus codes are better for open, offline, developer-friendly use and work directly in Google Maps. what3words is better for speaking a location aloud to another person. For universal compatibility, plain GPS coordinates still win.

Do I need the internet to use these?
GPS coordinates work on any GPS device without internet. Plus codes work offline with a downloaded map. what3words works offline once its app and language pack are installed.

Can I convert between them?
Yes. Paste GPS coordinates into Google Maps to read the plus code. Or paste them into the what3words app for the three words. LocationMe shows your coordinates in decimal and DMS form for easy copying.