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Open-Elevation API vs What3Words

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIOpen-Elevation APIHEALTHY86What3WordsHEALTHY96
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d92.2%100%
Uptime · 30d88.3%100%
P50 · ms739391
P95 · ms42871181
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree tier — key may be required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Open-Elevation API vs What3Words: common questions

Which is more reliable, Open-Elevation API or What3Words?

On our scheduled checks, What3Words leads on measured uptime — Open-Elevation API at 92.2% 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, Open-Elevation API or What3Words?

What3Words has the lower median latency in our checks — Open-Elevation API responds in 739 ms versus What3Words at 391 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 Open-Elevation API and What3Words need an API key?

Open-Elevation API needs no key, while What3Words requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Open-Elevation API first.

Can I call Open-Elevation API and What3Words from the browser?

Only Open-Elevation API 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 Open-Elevation API and What3Words free for commercial use?

Open-Elevation API 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.