Mapnik vs what3words

Struggling to choose between Mapnik and what3words? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Mapnik is a Development solution with tags like open-source, mapping, visualization, analysis, spatial-data.

It boasts features such as Rendering engine for creating map images, Supports various data sources like PostGIS, Shapefiles, GeoJSON, etc, Styling through CartoCSS syntax, Tile rendering for web maps, Python and Node.js bindings available and pros including Open source and free, High performance and scalability, Cross platform, Active development community, Integrates with other tools like MapServer, GeoServer etc.

On the other hand, what3words is a Travel & Location product tagged with geocoding, mapping, location, coordinates, navigation.

Its standout features include Divides the world into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each a unique 3 word address, Allows people to identify and share precise locations using just 3 words, Available as a mobile app and online map interface, Supports voice input for addresses, Provides APIs for integration into other apps and services, and it shines with pros like Easy to remember and share location addresses, More precise than street addresses, Works offline, Wide language support, Free for consumers.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Mapnik

Mapnik

Mapnik is an open source toolkit for developing mapping applications. It provides components for spatial data access, visualization, and analysis. Mapnik supports many common data formats and allows customization of map styles.

Categories:
open-source mapping visualization analysis spatial-data

Mapnik Features

  1. Rendering engine for creating map images
  2. Supports various data sources like PostGIS, Shapefiles, GeoJSON, etc
  3. Styling through CartoCSS syntax
  4. Tile rendering for web maps
  5. Python and Node.js bindings available

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

High performance and scalability

Cross platform

Active development community

Integrates with other tools like MapServer, GeoServer etc

Cons

Steep learning curve

Limited documentation and examples

No GUI, requires coding skills

Not beginner friendly


what3words

what3words

what3words is a geocoding system that divides the world into 3 meter squares and assigns each square a unique 3 word address. It allows people to easily share their precise location.

Categories:
geocoding mapping location coordinates navigation

What3words Features

  1. Divides the world into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each a unique 3 word address
  2. Allows people to identify and share precise locations using just 3 words
  3. Available as a mobile app and online map interface
  4. Supports voice input for addresses
  5. Provides APIs for integration into other apps and services

Pricing

  • Free
  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Easy to remember and share location addresses

More precise than street addresses

Works offline

Wide language support

Free for consumers

Cons

Requires app download or web access

Limited adoption so far

Addresses can change over time

Paid APIs for commercial use

Limited to predefined 3 word dictionary