IBGE vs What3Words
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
IBGE vs What3Words: common questions
Which is more reliable, IBGE or What3Words?
On our scheduled checks, What3Words leads on measured uptime — IBGE at 99.44% versus What3Words at 100% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, IBGE or What3Words?
What3Words has the lower median latency in our checks — IBGE responds in 892 ms versus What3Words at 130 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do IBGE and What3Words need an API key?
IBGE needs no key, while What3Words requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for IBGE first.
Can I call IBGE and What3Words from the browser?
Only IBGE is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. What3Words needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are IBGE and What3Words free for commercial use?
IBGE has unclear commercial terms, and What3Words has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.