Best GIS Software in 2026
Updated
In short: GIS Cloud is ranked #1 of 62 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of NextGIS Web and Google Earth Engine. The best-ranked option with a free plan is NextGIS Web. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Google Earth Engine at $0.40/mo.
Geographic information work can range from raster analysis to building maps and dashboards for others to use. Compare the entries on spatial analysis and raster data support, then consider deployment, web mapping, mobile apps, and dashboard-building needs. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer additional ways to assess fit with your team’s constraints. GRASS GIS and GIS Cloud lead the opening entries, with NextGIS Web and Google Earth Engine also near the top, followed by Felt, CARTO, and QGIS. Use the ranking as an order to scan, while weighing the listed capabilities against the spatial data you handle and how you intend to analyze, publish, or share it.
62 GIS software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GIS Cloud | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $5/mo | Yes | — | cloud | View |
| 2 |  NextGIS Web | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €15/mo | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 3 | Google Earth Engine | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.40/mo | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 4 | Felt | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 | GRASS GIS | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 6 | Precisely EnterWorks | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | desktop | View |
| 7 | CARTO | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 8 | eSpatial | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $41.58/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 9 | QGIS | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 10 |  QGIS Cloud | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 11 |  StatSilk | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $41.25/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 12 | MapX | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | cloud | View |
| 13 | PolSAR tools | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 14 |  TerrSet | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 15 | ALIGN | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | cloud | View |
| 16 | earthpy | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 17 | geemap | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 18 |  GPXSee | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 19 | HyperCoast | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 20 | HyRiver | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 21 | icepyx | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 22 | leafmap | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 23 |  MapServer | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 24 |  MapWindow GIS | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
| 25 | momepy | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | desktop | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which GIS software is ranked first on Inferse?
GIS Cloud is ranked #1 of 62 with a score of 7.4. NextGIS Web is second and Google Earth Engine third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Google Earth Engine has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.40/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.