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Ever tried to meet up with friends at a festival, only to spend hours wandering around trying to locate them? Or struggled to pinpoint exactly where you parked your car in an unfamiliar area? These are exactly the kinds of situations where what3words can help, and it’s where I find it especially useful when used alongside Google Maps.
What Exactly Is what3words?
what3wordsis a location app that aims to simplify navigation to precise spots. Instead of relying on traditional street addresses, which can be inconsistent or non-existent in remote areas, it divides the entire planet into a grid of tiny 3x3-meter squares. Each square is assigned a unique, easy-to-remember combination of three words—think “apple.orange.pine” or “cloudy.day.bench.” This approach allows anyone to share or locate an exact spot without complex GPS coordinates.
For example, you could give someone the address to your house, but that doesn’t always help them find the entrance. Or, if you’re trying to find someone in a crowded park, sharing three specific words like “lawn.tree.swing” might be much easier and clearer than saying, “Look for me near the third bench past the fountain.”
Google Plus Codesused to be my go-to for sharing exact locations, but their poor memorability made me switch to what3words. what3words' simplicity makes it handy for various situations, such as finding meeting points, locating obscure trailheads, or giving someone the coordinates for a spot that doesn’t have a typical address.
However, because what3words only provides location points and a (technical to use) Compass feature, it doesn’t replace Google Maps' routing and larger navigation features, so I often use them together for the best experience.
Download:what3words oniOS|Android
How I Use what3words With Google Maps
Using what3words with Google Maps is easy and adds a layer of precision that’s especially useful when exact locations matter. Here’s how I use them together:
Where the What3words + Google Maps Combo Really Shines
Using what3words and Google Maps together is especially useful in those tricky, hard-to-find places wheretraditional navigation appssometimes fall short. For example, city parks, rural trails, or large outdoor event spaces often lack specific addresses, making meeting up or locating precise points challenging. Here, what3words excels by giving me an exact 3x3 meter spot, so I can share my location down to the meter, whether I’m waiting by a tree at a sprawling park or a specific entrance to a building complex.
Another area where this combo shines is in places where addresses aren’t well-defined, like rural areas or international destinations where naming conventions vary. I can find the three words for a remote cabin in the woods or a little-known landmark abroad, and what3words let me send this exact location to Google Maps. That way, I get turn-by-turn directions to a precise point that standard addresses might not capture.
Even in urban environments, using both apps has saved me time. If I’m meeting someone at a large venue, I can send them my three-word address, and they’ll know the exact door or side of the building. This way, we skip the vague instructions and get straight to the spot. Using what3words with Google Maps ensures I arrive exactly where I need to be.
