The Best ArcGIS AlternativesTop GIS Software & Map Services like ArcGIS

ArcGIS is described as 'Offers unique capabilities and flexible licensing for applying location-based analytics to your business practices' and is a GIS software in the travel & location category. There are more than 50 alternatives to ArcGIS for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Web-based, Linux, Mac and SaaS apps. The best ArcGIS alternative is QGIS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like ArcGIS are R (programming language), GeoSpy, GRASS GIS and Global Mapper.

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Alternatives list

  1. QGIS icon

    QGIS

     115 likes
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    A fully featured, user friendly, open source Geographic Information System (GIS) with similar power to ArcGIS and MapInfo.

    56 QGIS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    QGIS main window while editing a project
     
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    70
    Comments about QGIS as an Alternative to ArcGIS
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

    QGIS can read geodatabases. The software is frequently updated and print composer is very good alternative to ArcGIS for map layouts.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    powerfull, stable, userfriendly, beautiful rendering and free.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    The GUI is pretty simple and intuitive and it runs decent on windows (at least as fast as ArcMap), but on GNU/Linux it flies. And since the license is GPL you can use it for different purposes (from educational to research or commercial) without worrying for a sue.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 10 comments
    ArcGIS Icon
    QGIS icon

    • Almost everyone thinks QGIS is a great ArcGIS alternative.

    • QGIS is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & Linux alternative to ArcGIS.

    • QGIS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to ArcGIS.

    • QGIS is Free and Open SourceArcGIS is Paid and Proprietary
  2. R (programming language) icon

    R (programming language)

     224 likes
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    R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is a GNU project which is similar to the S language and environment which was developed at Bell Laboratories (formerly AT&T, now Lucent Technologies) by John Chambers and colleagues. R can be consider.

    96 R (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    R (programming language) screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about R (programming language) as an Alternative to ArcGIS
    chtfn
    Positive
    0

    Even though this programming language is not specific to spatial data, the vast collection of R packages available for importing, processing, analysing, converting and visualising spatial makes it an excellent alternative that can create fully reproducible processes. Searching "R Spatial" online will bring up a wealth of books, tutorials and resources.

    ArcGIS Icon
    R (programming language) icon
    • R (programming language) is Free and Open SourceArcGIS is Paid and Proprietary
    • R (programming language) is Customizable and LightweightArcGIS is not according to our users
  4. GeoSpy icon

    GeoSpy

     12 likes
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    Easily find a photo's location with GeoSpy, the AI-powered tool for precise photo geolocation. Perfect for investigations, OSINT, and discovering where photos were taken.

    12 GeoSpy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    GeoSpy screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about GeoSpy as an Alternative to ArcGIS
    kylefmohr
    Negative
    0

    They are comparable only in the sense that they both use maps, but serve entirely different purposes

    ArcGIS Icon
    GeoSpy icon

    • GeoSpy is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to ArcGIS.

    • GeoSpy is the most popular commercial alternative to ArcGIS.

    • GeoSpy is Paid and ProprietaryArcGIS is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. GRASS GIS icon

    GRASS GIS

     26 likes
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    GRASS GIS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) is an open source, free software (FOSS) Geographical Information System (GIS) with raster, topological, vector, image processing, and visualization functionality.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Attribute table manager under the Tcl/Tk GUI
     
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    13
  6. Global Mapper icon

    Global Mapper

     3 likes
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    Global Mapper is a cutting-edge GIS software that provides both novice and experienced geospatial professionals with a comprehensive array of spatial data processing tools, with access to an unparalleled variety of data formats.

    19 Global Mapper alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    DEM Data
     
  7. Maptitude icon

    Maptitude

     23 likes
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    Business mapping software (geographic information system) that delivers affordable, easy-to-use, professional mapping tools for mapping in these sectors: franchising, health care, business, territories, site selection, sales, marketing, banking, more.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Maptitude screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Maptitude as an Alternative to ArcGIS
    RHoskins
    Positive
    0

    Same vector GIS functionality, easier to use, additional capabilities not in ArcGIS, excellent documentation and tech support ... less than 1/2 the price.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ArcGIS Icon
    Maptitude icon
    • Maptitude is Freemium and ProprietaryArcGIS is Paid and Proprietary
  9. GeoMedia icon

    GeoMedia

     1 like
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    GeoMedia, a comprehensive and dynamic GIS software, extracts compelling intelligence from geospatial data to present actionable information.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. Placemark icon

    Placemark

     4 likes
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    The Placemark application. This is a web application that lets you import, create, export, visualize, and publish geospatial data. It supports many geospatial data formats, and many editing operations, both algorithmic, like buffering, and drawing-based.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Online
    Placemark screenshot 1
     

    • Placemark is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to ArcGIS.

    • Placemark is Free and Open SourceArcGIS is Paid and Proprietary
  11. M.App Enterprise icon

    M.App Enterprise

     Like
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    M.App Enterprise Mobile App enables you to connect your mobile device to your M.App Enterprise on-premise installation. It provides you rich workflows to browse and modify your GIS data online and offline.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    M.App Enterprise screenshot 1
    M.App Enterprise screenshot 2
    M.App Enterprise screenshot 3
     

    • M.App Enterprise is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to ArcGIS.

    • M.App Enterprise is Free and ProprietaryArcGIS is Paid and Proprietary
  12. MapLarge icon

    MapLarge

     1 like
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    Beautiful, User Friendly online mapping software that scales to big data.

    The MapLarge API enables user-driven, low latency, interactive visual exploration and analysis of very large geospatial and non-geospatial data collections to recognize patterns and identify anomalies. Use.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    MapLarge API
     
  13. GIS Cloud icon

    GIS Cloud

     3 likes
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    GIS Cloud is a complete Online Mapping Solution for:

    • Field Data Collection
    • Data and Team Management
    • Map Editing and Sharing.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    GIS Cloud screenshot 1
     
  14. MapInfo Professional icon

    MapInfo Professional

     4 likes
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    MapInfo Professional is a powerful, functionally rich desktop mapping application from Pitney Bowes MapInfo, designed to enable organisations to solve business problems that have a geographical element.

    25 MapInfo Professional alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    MapInfo v10 interface showing map and browser windows with sample data
     
12 of 52 ArcGIS alternatives