Business Operations·Standings

Geographic Information Systems Software

Geographic information systems (GIS) help you work with location-based data; the right choice depends on the analysis you need and how you plan to run and share it.

Compare free plans and starting prices, deployment options, supported data formats, mobile and offline use, and map publishing. The signal score is out of 10; API, open-source, and free-tier marks show those listed attributes.

19 platforms
1 with a public API on this page
12 with a free tier
Checked 28 Sept 2026

#PlatformSignalPlugs inPrice
1
OG
OpenJUMP GISopenjump.org
A free open-source desktop GIS for editing, styling, analysis, databases, and web services.

6.6 APIOpenFree Free tier
2
Q
QGISqgis.org
A free GIS for creating, editing, analyzing, mapping, and publishing geospatial information.

6.5 APIOpenFree Free tier
3
GG
GRASS GISgrass.osgeo.org
A free GIS engine with more than 500 tools for geographic data processing and analysis.

6.4 APIOpenFree Free tier
4
M
Maptitudecaliper.com
A paid GIS for mapping and analyzing territories, routes, sites, and business locations.

6.3 APIOpenFree From $795/yr
5
U
uDigudig.github.io
A free GIS application for accessing, editing, and viewing geospatial data on desktops.

6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier
6
GC
GIS Cloudgiscloud.com
A web and mobile GIS for collecting, managing, mapping, and privately or publicly sharing data.

6.3 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $5/mo
7
T
TerrSetclarku.edu
A free Windows geospatial system with 300+ raster-focused analysis tools for Earth monitoring.

6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
8
NW
NextGIS Webnextgis.com
An open-source Web GIS that centralizes vector and raster data through web or API access.

6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier · from €20/mo
9
G
GeoServergeoserver.org
A free open-source server for viewing and editing geospatial data via OGC map services.

6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
10
SG
SAGA GISsaga-gis.sourceforge.io
A free GIS for geodata processing, scripting, terrain, hydrology, climate, and geostatistics.

6.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
11
SG
SuperMap GISsupermap.com
A GIS suite for acquiring, managing, analyzing, and visualizing data across industry uses.

6.0 APIOpenFree —
12
G
GeoNodegeonode.org
An open-source GIS content system for managing, sharing, styling, and publishing spatial data.

6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier
13
GE
Google Earth Engineearthengine.google.com
A geospatial analysis service combining satellite imagery and datasets for planetary-scale studies.

6.0 APIOpenFree Free tier · from $500/mo
14
MG
Manifold GIS (Release 9)manifold.net
A Windows GIS for spatial analysis, databases, ETL, data science, and many web protocols.

5.5 APIOpenFree $145 one-time
15
C
CARTOcarto.com
A paid GIS platform for cloud data warehouses, maps, workflows, and natural-language AI agents.

5.3 APIOpenFree —
16
M
MapServermapserver.github.io
A free self-hosted server for publishing maps from vector and raster spatial data.

5.1 APIOpenFree Free tier
17
CS
Cadcorp SIS Desktopnecsws.com
A Windows and web GIS for mapping, spatial analysis, 3D work, and 300+ data formats.

5.0 APIOpenFree —
18
AH
ArcGIS Hubesri.com
A GIS service with web, self-hosted, and API options; paid access uses quote-based pricing.

4.9 APIOpenFree —
19
GM
Global Mapperglobalmapper.com
A paid desktop GIS with spatial analysis, offline use, mobile apps, and broad format support.

4.3 APIOpenFree —

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How to choose

Where does the GIS need to run?

Start with where you need to work: on Windows, on the web, on Linux, or on a self-hosted system. Platform availability differs by tool.

For example, Cadcorp SIS Desktop lists web and Windows platforms. Check the product's deployment details against your own setup.

Can I use GIS software for free?

Free plans, free software, paid plans, and trials are represented in this category. Check whether the plan covers the work you need before comparing paid starting prices.

GeoNode and GRASS GIS are listed as free and open source; GIS Cloud has a free plan and paid service starting at $5 per month.

Which spatial analysis and data formats do I need?

Choose a tool based on the spatial analysis you need and the data formats it supports. Those are comparison points for this category, but the details vary by product.

Review the product information for the specific operations and file types your work requires.

Check mobile apps, offline use, and map publishing if you need to collect or share maps away from a desk. These capabilities vary by tool.

Confirm the product supports your intended workflow before choosing it.

Questions

What is GIS software used for?

GIS software helps people work with location-based data. Compare spatial analysis, supported formats, and options for using and publishing maps.

Is there free GIS software?

Yes. GeoNode, GeoServer, GRASS GIS, and MapServer are listed as free; GeoNode is also listed as open source.

Which GIS software has a free plan?

GIS Cloud and Google Earth Engine are listed with free plans. Check each product's plan details for fit and any paid pricing.

What should I compare when choosing GIS software?

Compare deployment, spatial analysis, supported data formats, mobile apps, offline use, map publishing, and pricing.

Can GIS software run on the web or Linux?

Web and Linux are among the platforms covered. Platform availability differs by product, so check the product listing for your needs.

Some top positions on this board can be paid placements, standing where they were sold. The facts on each platform are not for sale. How we rank · Disclosure

How to choose

Where does the GIS need to run?

Can I use GIS software for free?

Which spatial analysis and data formats do I need?

Do I need mobile, offline use, or map publishing?

Questions