# Best GIS Software

  *By [Daniel Rivera](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/daniel-rivera)*

   A geographic information system (GIS) lets users visualize, question, analyze, and interpret geographical data to help them understand and problem-solve relationships, patterns, and trends. Companies use GIS to manage geographical data in order to improve operations in many geoscience industries as well as land-centric enterprises (e.g. sales territory management, field service dispatching, asset maintenance, transportation or construction). The [best GIS software](https://learn.g2.com/best-gis-software) collects, incorporates and manipulates attribute data from maps to a business’ reporting systems to analyze and assess real-world problems. GIS data usually displays different kinds of data on one map, to facilitate deep analysis and efficiently use as much data as possible. GIS software usually focuses on gathering, analyzing, and displaying geographical data to manage business operations. GIS can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. Typical implementations can result in a savings in operational expenses. GIS often integrates with CAD, BIM, and other drafting and design software to enhance its analytics capabilities.

To qualify for inclusion in the Geographic Information System (GIS) category, a product must:

- Store, organize, edit, and analyze geographical data
- Include visualization capabilities to display geographical information
- Either have GIS capability or utilize a GIS platform in its solution
- Align and/or manipulate data from maps and sources





## Category Overview

**Total Products under this Category:** 333


## Trust & Credibility Stats

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 8,800+ Authentic Reviews
- 333+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.


## Best GIS Software At A Glance

- **Leader:** [Google Earth Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/google-earth-pro/reviews)
- **Highest Performer:** [BatchGeo](https://www.g2.com/products/batchgeo/reviews)
- **Easiest to Use:** [Badger Maps](https://www.g2.com/products/badger-maps/reviews)
- **Top Trending:** [Google Maps Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/google-maps-platform/reviews)
- **Best Free Software:** [BatchGeo](https://www.g2.com/products/batchgeo/reviews)


---

**Sponsored**

### Smarty

Smarty offers global address verification, address validation, and geocoding via API, bulk upload, and a collection of 3rd party integrations that transform how organizations handle address data. With real-time address autocomplete, correction, standardization, and validation, it guarantees the accuracy and reliability of addresses. Smarty's US rooftop geocoding, reverse geocoding, and property data APIs help you enrich and hone your address data. These powerful APIs have far-reaching benefits, from improving the efficiency of your marketing campaigns to enhancing data analysis and operational processes.



[Try for Free](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=362&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=362&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=362&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=68353&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=362&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fgis&secure%5Btoken%5D=8856adc31a37535d7c513246875f614a059589c6b63eff1ced15803bef31b95e&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smarty.com%2Flanding%2Fg2&secure%5Burl_type%5D=free_trial)

---

## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score)
  ### 1. [Google Earth Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/google-earth-pro/reviews)
  Google Earth Pro is a comprehensive desktop application that offers an immersive 3D representation of the Earth's surface, combining high-resolution satellite imagery, aerial photography, and geographic information system (GIS) data. Designed for professionals and enthusiasts alike, it provides advanced tools for geographic analysis, visualization, and presentation. Users can explore diverse terrains, urban landscapes, and historical imagery, making it a versatile platform for various applications. Key Features and Functionality: - High-Resolution Printing: Export and print map images up to 4800x3200 pixels, suitable for detailed reports and presentations. - Historical Imagery Viewer: Access archived satellite and aerial images to analyze changes over time, such as urban development or environmental shifts. - GIS Data Import Support: Import various spatial data formats, including ESRI Shapefiles, for comprehensive geographic analysis. - Movie Creation: Record and export guided tours or area walkthroughs as video files, enhancing presentations and storytelling. - Advanced Measurement Tools: Measure 3D buildings, calculate areas of polygons or circles, and assess distances with precision. Primary Value and User Solutions: Google Earth Pro empowers users to conduct in-depth geographic analyses without the need for expensive GIS software. Its advanced features facilitate tasks such as site selection, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and educational projects. By providing access to high-resolution imagery and robust analytical tools, it enables users to visualize and interpret spatial data effectively, supporting informed decision-making and comprehensive presentations.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 368

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google)
- **Year Founded:** 1998
- **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA
- **Twitter:** @google (31,885,216 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1441/ (336,169 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ:GOOG

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Project Manager, Project Engineer
  - **Top Industries:** Civil Engineering, Construction
  - **Company Size:** 42% Mid-Market, 42% Small-Business


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- 3D Visualization (3 reviews)
- Geospatial Analysis (3 reviews)
- Location Services (2 reviews)
- Address Validation (1 reviews)
- Customization Options (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Not User-Friendly (2 reviews)
- Poor Usability (2 reviews)
- Export Issues (1 reviews)
- Image Issues (1 reviews)
- Licensing Issues (1 reviews)

  ### 2. [Google Maps Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/google-maps-platform/reviews)
  Google Maps Platform is a comprehensive suite of APIs and SDKs that enables developers to integrate dynamic, real-world mapping and location-based services into their applications. Leveraging Google's extensive geospatial data, it offers tools for creating interactive maps, providing accurate routing, and delivering detailed place information, thereby enhancing user engagement and functionality. Key Features and Functionality: - 3D Maps: Developers can create immersive, photorealistic 3D maps, offering users a more engaging and realistic navigation experience. - Aerial View: Provides pre-rendered, 3D cinematic videos of points of interest and their surroundings, enriching applications with dynamic visual content. - Dynamic Maps: Allows customization and real-time styling of interactive maps across all devices and platforms, ensuring a consistent and personalized user interface. - Dynamic Street View: Embeds 360° panoramic imagery, enabling users to explore locations virtually with real-world visuals. - Elevation Data: Offers access to elevation information for specific locations, useful for applications requiring topographical context. - Map Tiles: Enables the design of unique interfaces and interactions tailored to specific brand and design requirements, enhancing visual appeal and usability. - Maps Embed: Facilitates the addition of interactive maps or Street View panoramas to websites with simple HTTP requests, simplifying integration processes. - Photorealistic 3D Tiles: Provides access to a 3D mesh model of the real world, allowing the creation of cinematic experiences using preferred rendering tools. - Static Maps and Street View: Allows embedding of static map images or Street View panoramas into web pages without the need for JavaScript, streamlining content inclusion. - Street View Tiles: Utilizes street-level images and tile metadata to create immersive experiences, enhancing user interaction with real-world visuals. Primary Value and Solutions Provided: Google Maps Platform empowers developers to build applications that offer users accurate, real-time, and interactive mapping experiences. By integrating these tools, businesses can enhance user engagement, improve navigation and location-based services, and provide detailed geospatial insights. This platform is particularly beneficial for industries such as logistics, travel, real estate, and retail, where precise location information and mapping are crucial for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 55

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google)
- **Year Founded:** 1998
- **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA
- **Twitter:** @google (31,885,216 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1441/ (336,169 employees on LinkedIn®)
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ:GOOG

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 57% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (15 reviews)
- Location Services (15 reviews)
- Navigation Ease (9 reviews)
- Location Tracking (8 reviews)
- Mapping Features (7 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Mapping Issues (5 reviews)
- Inaccurate Geolocation (4 reviews)
- Accuracy Issues (3 reviews)
- Expensive (3 reviews)
- High Cost (3 reviews)

  ### 3. [Esri ArcGIS](https://www.g2.com/products/esri-arcgis/reviews)
  ArcGIS is a comprehensive suite of mapping and location intelligence tools and capabilities. ArcGIS can be deployed on local machines (ArcGIS Pro), on your remote or on-premises servers (ArcGIS Enterprise), or as SaaS hosted by Esri (ArcGIS Online). ArcGIS includes focused apps to deliver complete solutions for your business or organization. Along with software, Esri provides a comprehensive collection of data and content to geo-enrich your own data. ArcGIS also provides rich software development tools for you to configure and create your own mapping and location intelligence products.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 513

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** GIS Analyst, GIS Specialist
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration, Environmental Services
  - **Company Size:** 39% Mid-Market, 32% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (3 reviews)
- 3D Visualization (2 reviews)
- Data Visualization (2 reviews)
- User-Friendly (2 reviews)
- Visualization (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Data Management (2 reviews)
- High Cost (2 reviews)
- Integration Issues (2 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Learning Difficulty (2 reviews)

  ### 4. [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews)
  Accelerate your creativity with Autodesk® AutoCAD®. Experience the fastest release yet with performance enhancements and innovative capabilities that save you time with every DWG™ file. Unlock new insights and automations powered by Autodesk AI. Access AutoCAD on desktop, web, or mobile to capture, share, and review ideas on the go. Manage design data with Autodesk Docs integrations to deploy Connected Support Files and incorporate revisions with Markup Import and Markup Assist. And tailor AutoCAD to your needs with specialized toolsets, custom AutoLISP routines, and third-party apps. Great design starts here. Get started with the 2D and 3D design software trusted by millions.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1,817

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk)
- **Company Website:** https://www.autodesk.com
- **Year Founded:** 1982
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco
- **Twitter:** @autodesk (275,060 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ (15,679 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Architect, Designer
  - **Top Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Civil Engineering
  - **Company Size:** 45% Small-Business, 34% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (183 reviews)
- Drawing (116 reviews)
- Features (72 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (70 reviews)
- Detailed Engineering Drawings (66 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Expensive (65 reviews)
- Learning Curve (48 reviews)
- High Cost (46 reviews)
- Difficult Learning (45 reviews)
- High Hardware Requirements (42 reviews)

  ### 5. [Maptitude](https://www.g2.com/products/maptitude/reviews)
  Maptitude is the best mapping software and GIS, on both desktop and online/SaaS/Cloud, to: • Optimize sales territories, vehicle routes, and site locations • Visualize, analyze, and present mission-critical data • Maximize profits, time, and resources Maptitude GIS and mapping software gives you the tools, maps, and data you need to analyze and understand how geography affects you and your organization. Maptitude is the most capable, and least expensive, full-featured mapping software available. With Maptitude you can create maps and map images from spreadsheets and you can see external data on the map from a variety of sources including Google Maps KML/KMZ files. Designed for data visualization and geographic analysis, Maptitude comes with a comprehensive library of maps and GIS data for your country. What Can You Do with Maptitude Mapping Software Features? • Optimize sales territories, districts, service areas, vehicle routes, and site locations • Map customer locations, visualize sales performance, and identify over- and under-served areas • Reveal hidden geographic patterns, trends, data density, and hotspots from spreadsheets and databases • Visualize and analyze population, income, and other demographic data • Plan efficient travel routes with advanced proximity, navigation, and travel time tools • Customize every aspect of your maps including symbols, themes, layers, annotations, and 3D graphics to tailor both appearance and functionality to your specific needs • Customize maps with flexible color schemes, layers, and annotations to highlight mission-critical data • Connect to corporate databases, add your own data, and answer geographic questions impacting operations • Find growth opportunities by spotting patterns you can't see in tables • Create, edit, and manage interactive maps with zoom, pan, filter, query, and layer toggle features for dynamic exploration and improved decision-making • Create, edit, and manage interactive, shareable maps for better decision-making


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 148

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Caliper](https://www.g2.com/sellers/caliper)
- **Company Website:** https://www.caliper.com
- **Year Founded:** 1983
- **HQ Location:** Newton, MA
- **Twitter:** @Maptitude (1,202 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/209992/ (41 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** President, Owner
  - **Top Industries:** Hospital & Health Care, Higher Education
  - **Company Size:** 53% Small-Business, 26% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Features (11 reviews)
- Ease of Use (10 reviews)
- Mapping Features (7 reviews)
- Data Accuracy (6 reviews)
- GIS Analysis (5 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Limited Accessibility (3 reviews)
- Expensive (2 reviews)
- Feature Limitations (2 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Learning Difficulty (2 reviews)

  ### 6. [ArcGIS Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-pro/reviews)
  ArcGIS Pro is Esri’s powerful, single desktop GIS application. Technologically ahead of everything else on the market, ArcGIS Pro supports data visualization, advanced analysis and authoritative data maintenance in both 2D and 3D. ArcGIS Pro is tightly coupled with the ArcGIS platform supporting data sharing across ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise through Web GIS.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 172

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** GIS Analyst, GIS Specialist
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration, Environmental Services
  - **Company Size:** 38% Mid-Market, 37% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- User-Friendly (3 reviews)
- 3D Visualization (2 reviews)
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Powerful Tools (2 reviews)
- Tool Variety (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- High Cost (2 reviews)
- Connectivity Issues (1 reviews)
- Data Management (1 reviews)
- Expensive Licensing (1 reviews)
- Learning Curve (1 reviews)

  ### 7. [BatchGeo](https://www.g2.com/products/batchgeo/reviews)
  BatchGeo is the easiest way to get your list of addresses on a map. Since 2006 BatchGeo has hosted millions of maps for Fortune 50 companies, non-profits, and individuals. The idea behind BatchGeo is most geographic data is stored in some sort of spreadsheet, list, or simple table (ex: Excel, CSV, Google Spreadsheets, etc.) So its optimized for those formats, making it super easy to drag in or copy/paste your tabular data into a map. Once your data is mapped the real fun begins. Your data points are spread out on an easy to navigate Google Map. Data can be color coded by groups or ranges, or even heat mapped. If routing is what you are interested in, BatchGeo can give you optimized routes for up to 23 points at a time. This ensures you don't waste time when visiting your customers. Finally, if you want to share your map it's easy to do. You can choose if your map is to be secured (password protected) or generally available to the public. BatchGeo can even be used for a store locator for your website.


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 998

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [BatchGeo](https://www.g2.com/sellers/batchgeo)
- **HQ Location:** VANCOUVER, Washington
- **Twitter:** @batchgeo (554 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/batchgeo/about (1 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Manager, Analyst
  - **Top Industries:** Real Estate, Marketing and Advertising
  - **Company Size:** 59% Small-Business, 27% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (5 reviews)
- Easy Sharing (3 reviews)
- Mapping Features (3 reviews)
- Location Services (2 reviews)
- Tool Variety (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Feature Limitations (3 reviews)
- High Cost (1 reviews)
- Limited Customization (1 reviews)
- Manual Input (1 reviews)
- Update Issues (1 reviews)

  ### 8. [Badger Maps](https://www.g2.com/products/badger-maps/reviews)
  Your field sales tool kit to sell more– Badger Maps is the top rated mobile app for B2B reps in the field and a total territory management for your entire field team. With Badger, outside sales & field service reps get a mobile app (available on both iPhone and Android) that cuts drive time, improves data collection, and increases sales. Activities that were once a time sink like customer mapping, route planning, scheduling, data collection, and reporting are all made easy with Badger’s mobile mapping app. Paired with a suite of territory management tools that includes performance dashboards and a robust territory mapping interface, Badger Maps will enhance the workflows of everyone on your field team with features like: Route Planner & Mobile Sales Mapping - Fit 2 more meetings into each day by optimizing routes with up to 120 stops. - Visualize all your Accounts, Contacts, Leads, and Opportunities on an interactive map on your phone. - Filter and colorize accounts by custom metrics like priority status or last order date to instantly spot your best opportunities as you plan your day. - Plan and save all your routes in advance so you never fly blind on the road. Scheduling & Reminders - Sync routes to your calendar with the touch of the button. - Get alerts for follow-ups or nearby accounts that need attention. Mobile Lead Generation - Find new, qualified leads near your route– great for downtime on the road! Data Collection & A Mobile CRM Front-End - Take notes, capture photos, and keep all your customer information up to date from your phone. - Automatically sync all your data with the leading CRMs including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Pipedrive, monday.com, Veeva, Insightly, SugarCRM, and more. - Map and access all your CRM data in the field. See the relationship between different data types so you’re never left fumbling for the information you need to serve your customers. Reporting & Mileage Tracking - Get automated reports summarizing your routes and customer activity. - Generate mileage tracking reports that make submitting your expenses easy. Territory Mapping & Management - See all your reps’ data represented in performance dashboards and customizable charts & graphs. - Use territory alignment software to automatically balance and optimize your territories. - Automate lead routing to assign new leads to the right territory instantly- no manual work needed! - Create competitions and incentivize your reps with dynamic leaderboards. - Uncover insights with territory mapping tools like heat maps, bubble maps, thematic maps & more. Get a free 14-day trial, integrated with your CRM. With optimized routes, Badger pays for itself with just the savings on gas!


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 318

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Badger Maps, Inc](https://www.g2.com/sellers/badger-maps-inc)
- **Company Website:** https://www.badgermapping.com
- **Year Founded:** 2012
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California
- **Twitter:** @BadgerMaps (2,101 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2719153/ (76 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Regional Sales Manager, Territory Manager
  - **Top Industries:** Medical Devices, Wholesale
  - **Company Size:** 62% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (72 reviews)
- Mapping Features (50 reviews)
- Route Optimization (49 reviews)
- Route Planning (47 reviews)
- Customer Support (40 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Routing Issues (19 reviews)
- Mapping Issues (18 reviews)
- Expensive (15 reviews)
- Improvement Needed (13 reviews)
- Limitations (11 reviews)

  ### 9. [Fulcrum](https://www.g2.com/products/fulcrum/reviews)
  Fulcrum is a field-first SaaS platform designed to transform how organizations manage field data collection and inspections for mission-critical operations. Built specifically for the challenges of field teams, Fulcrum automates workflows, captures real-time location data, and integrates seamlessly with GIS and other systems to ensure a continuous, accurate flow of information—before, during, and after inspections. With Fulcrum, organizations centralize their field operations on a single platform, standardizing data collection and driving productivity gains. From utilities to construction, Fulcrum supports diverse industries by offering customizable workflows that adapt to evolving field conditions. Non-technical users can quickly build data collection apps, while enterprise clients enjoy advanced scalability to manage even the most complex processes. Fulcrum’s AI-powered tools extend the platform beyond standard field data collection. Audio FastFill automatically populates forms using information captured from voice input, photos, and text, reducing manual entry in the field. Insights transforms field data into instant charts, graphs, and maps by answering plain-language questions in seconds. Teams can also deploy custom AI models to support specialized workflows such as anomaly detection or vegetation management. Next, Fulcrum will introduce AI-driven photo recognition, followed by intelligent, in-the-moment guidance designed to assist field crews as they work. Thousands of organizations worldwide rely on Fulcrum to improve data accuracy, reduce operational inefficiencies, and drive digital transformation. By eliminating time-consuming manual processes, Fulcrum helps field teams work faster, smarter, and with greater confidence. Whether capturing inspection results, monitoring assets, or ensuring compliance, Fulcrum delivers the clarity and control needed to make better decisions in real time.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 241

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Fulcrum](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fulcrum-b0e3b20e-466a-44dc-b7bb-74dc1eec070c)
- **Company Website:** https://www.fulcrumapp.com/
- **Year Founded:** 2011
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California, United States
- **Twitter:** @fulcrumapp (2,753 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulcrum-mobile-data-collection/ (150 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Project Manager
  - **Top Industries:** Environmental Services, Utilities
  - **Company Size:** 52% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (16 reviews)
- User-Friendly (13 reviews)
- Easy Setup (7 reviews)
- Customization Options (6 reviews)
- Customer Support (5 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Editing Issues (3 reviews)
- Limited Features (3 reviews)
- Not User-Friendly (3 reviews)
- Feature Limitations (2 reviews)
- Form Complexity (2 reviews)

  ### 10. [Mapme](https://www.g2.com/products/mapme/reviews)
  Mapme is an interactive map-building platform that empowers organizations to transform location-based information into engaging, visual experiences - without writing a single line of code. Designed for teams that want to communicate data, stories, places, and programs with clarity, Mapme offers a seamless way to build customizable maps, embed multimedia, visualize datasets, and publish digital experiences that inform, inspire, and drive action. With Mapme, users can create dynamic maps for tourism, real estate, government, education, community initiatives, events, foundations, and more. From showcasing local businesses and development projects to displaying property listings, university campuses, or cultural landmarks - every map is intuitive to build, beautiful to navigate, and accessible across devices. The platform supports photos, videos, custom branding, geo-layers, categories, filters, routing, 3D buildings, and advanced search capabilities, allowing audiences to explore locations in depth. Map editors can collaborate in real time, manage updates effortlessly, and integrate data from spreadsheets, CRMs, or GIS tools. Embedding maps on websites or sharing them as standalone experiences takes seconds, making Mapme a scalable solution for campaign rollouts, stakeholder communication, and public storytelling. Organizations choose Mapme for its balance of simplicity and power. What traditionally required GIS expertise or custom development can now be achieved visually - with the flexibility to grow from small single-map use cases to large multi-map environments. Whether you are mapping 50 local nonprofits or 50,000 global assets, Mapme ensures performance, clarity, and a premium user experience. Trusted by marketing teams, city planners, real estate groups, tourism boards, and digital experience leaders worldwide, Mapme turns static data into living information. It helps organizations increase engagement, improve transparency, strengthen community participation, and showcase impact at a glance. In a world where customers expect clarity, interactivity, and ease of use, Mapme offers a modern way to visualize location intelligence and bring stories to life - beautifully and at scale.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 26

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Mapme](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mapme)
- **Year Founded:** 2014
- **HQ Location:** N/A
- **Twitter:** @mapme (57 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/9199493 (13 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 59% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (8 reviews)
- Customer Support (7 reviews)
- Customization Options (3 reviews)
- Easy Implementation (3 reviews)
- Easy Integration (3 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Curve (1 reviews)
- Learning Difficulty (1 reviews)
- Limited Customization (1 reviews)
- Offline Issues (1 reviews)
- Outdated Information (1 reviews)

  ### 11. [Xactly](https://www.g2.com/products/xactly/reviews)
  Xactly provides the only AI-powered platform that combines revenue intelligence and sales performance management so organizations can unlock their full revenue potential. Backed by two decades of pay and performance data, Xactly’s Intelligent Revenue Platform is designed for finance, revenue, compensation, and sales leaders who want to drive quality, sustainable revenue.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 1,036

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Xactly](https://www.g2.com/sellers/xactly)
- **Company Website:** https://www.xactlycorp.com
- **Year Founded:** 2005
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA
- **Twitter:** @Xactly (21,114 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/22530/ (889 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** Account Executive, Account Manager
  - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 56% Enterprise, 37% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (75 reviews)
- Compensation Management (36 reviews)
- Detailed Breakdown (30 reviews)
- Simple (30 reviews)
- Accuracy (29 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Slow Loading (34 reviews)
- Not Intuitive (29 reviews)
- Poor Interface Design (22 reviews)
- Not User-Friendly (21 reviews)
- Insufficient Detail (18 reviews)

  ### 12. [Mergin Maps](https://www.g2.com/products/mergin-maps/reviews)
  Mergin Maps is a field data collection tool built on the free and open-source QGIS which allows you to collect, store and synchronise your data with your team. It removes the pain of writing down paper notes, georeferencing photos and transcribing GPS coordinates. With Mergin Maps, you can get your QGIS projects into the mobile app, collect data and synchronise it back on the server. Setting up your project with Mergin Maps only takes a few minutes. First, create your survey project in QGIS, then connect it to Mergin Maps with a plugin and synchronise it with the mobile app to start collecting in the field. The data you capture in the field survey is shown on a map and can be exported to a wide variety of formats including CSV, Microsoft Excel, ESRI Shapefile, Mapinfo, GeoPackage, PostGIS, AutoCAD DXF, and KML. Mergin Maps allows you to do live position tracking, fill out survey forms and capture and edit points, lines or polygons. You can also connect external GPS/GNSS devices via Bluetooth for high-precision surveying. Map layers look the same as in QGIS desktop so you can set your layer symbology how you want it on the desktop and it will appear that way on your mobile device. Mergin Maps supports offline field data capture for situations where a data connection is unavailable. It can be configured to use either offline or web-based background maps and contextual layers. Perks of the Mergin Maps sync system: - No need for cables to get your data on/off your device - Share projects with others for collaborative working, even offline - Updates from different surveyors are intelligently merged - Push data back from the field in real time - Version history and cloud-based backup - Fine-grained access control - Record metadata such as EXIF, GPS and external GNSS device information - Sync with your PostGIS datasets and external media storage such as S3 and MinIO Supported field types for forms are: - Text (single or multi-line) - Numeric (plain, with +/- buttons or with slider) - Date / time (with calendar picker) - Photo - Checkbox (yes/no values) - Drop-down with predefined values - Drop-down with values from another table


  **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 34

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Lutra Consulting ltd](https://www.g2.com/sellers/lutra-consulting-ltd)
- **Year Founded:** 2009
- **HQ Location:** London, GB
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/lutra-consulting (16 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Environmental Services
  - **Company Size:** 71% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (12 reviews)
- Easy Integration (6 reviews)
- User-Friendly (6 reviews)
- Ease of Learning (4 reviews)
- Mapping Features (4 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Integration Issues (3 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Limited Features (2 reviews)
- Complexity (1 reviews)
- Data Loss (1 reviews)

  ### 13. [Smarty](https://www.g2.com/products/smarty-smarty/reviews)
  Smarty offers global address verification, address validation, and geocoding via API, bulk upload, and a collection of 3rd party integrations that transform how organizations handle address data. With real-time address autocomplete, correction, standardization, and validation, it guarantees the accuracy and reliability of addresses. Smarty's US rooftop geocoding, reverse geocoding, and property data APIs help you enrich and hone your address data. These powerful APIs have far-reaching benefits, from improving the efficiency of your marketing campaigns to enhancing data analysis and operational processes.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 313

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Smarty](https://www.g2.com/sellers/smarty-c6665f3b-76d8-4c3a-9f89-f3467aaf2dbe)
- **Company Website:** https://www.smarty.com/
- **Year Founded:** 2011
- **HQ Location:** Provo, Utah
- **Twitter:** @smartycompany (1,250 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2368339/ (154 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** CTO, CEO
  - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Financial Services
  - **Company Size:** 51% Small-Business, 38% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (50 reviews)
- Address Validation (43 reviews)
- Data Accuracy (27 reviews)
- Easy Integration (24 reviews)
- Customer Support (18 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Address Issues (13 reviews)
- API Issues (7 reviews)
- High Cost (7 reviews)
- Feature Limitations (5 reviews)
- Integration Issues (5 reviews)

  ### 14. [ArcGIS Online](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-online/reviews)
  Connect people, locations, and data using interactive maps created with ArcGIS Online. Quickly create maps by dropping in your spreadsheet and mashing it up with other location data included in ArcGIS Online. Apply Smart Mapping styles to make your data visually stunning and use intuitive analysis tools to deliver location intelligence. Add valuable context to your data by combining it with Esri’s demographic and lifestyle data. Work collaboratively with your colleagues to build maps and apps. Instantly share your maps and apps with anyone, anywhere. Thousands of organizations and millions of users have proven ArcGIS Online to be a scalable and secure software-as-a-service hosted by Esri.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 174

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Who Uses This:** GIS Analyst, GIS Specialist
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration, Civil Engineering
  - **Company Size:** 40% Mid-Market, 32% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (4 reviews)
- Feature Functionality (2 reviews)
- Collaboration (1 reviews)
- Data Management (1 reviews)
- Design Quality (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Expensive (1 reviews)
- Expensive Subscription (1 reviews)
- High System Requirements (1 reviews)
- Learning Curve (1 reviews)
- Poor Customer Support (1 reviews)

  ### 15. [Living Atlas of the World](https://www.g2.com/products/living-atlas-of-the-world/reviews)
  Living Atlas of the World is the foremost collection of global geographic information from Esri and its partners, including maps, apps, and data layers used to support critical decision making.


  **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 10

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 40% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Comprehensive Data (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Mapping Issues (1 reviews)

  ### 16. [QGIS](https://www.g2.com/products/qgis/reviews)
  QGIS is a free and open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) that enables users to visualize, edit, analyze, and publish geospatial information across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Designed to be accessible to both beginners and professionals, QGIS offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating, managing, and sharing spatial data. Key Features and Functionality: - Map Creation and Design: QGIS provides an extensive set of cartographic design options, allowing users to craft detailed and aesthetically pleasing maps suitable for desktop, mobile, cloud, and print media. - Layer Editing: Users can create and edit points, lines, polygons, and meshes with precision, utilizing advanced construction tools that support curves, CAD-like functionalities, and a wide range of geometry transformations. - Data Processing and Analysis: The software includes a comprehensive array of analysis tools, enabling users to uncover insights from their data. It supports automated analysis workflows through visual combinations of tools, facilitating reproducible processes. - Data Sharing and Interoperability: QGIS supports various data sources and formats, ensuring seamless data integration. It adheres to industry standards, allowing users to explore, utilize, and create web services, and extends its capabilities to cloud and mobile platforms for broader accessibility. Primary Value and User Solutions: QGIS empowers users by providing robust spatial visualization and decision-making tools without the constraints of proprietary software. Its open-source nature ensures continuous development and community-driven enhancements, making it a cost-effective solution for organizations and individuals requiring advanced GIS capabilities. By supporting a wide range of data formats and offering extensive customization through plugins, QGIS addresses the diverse needs of its users, facilitating efficient data management, analysis, and dissemination.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 144

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [QGIS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/qgis)
- **Year Founded:** 2016
- **HQ Location:** Linkoping, Ostergotland
- **Twitter:** @qgis (63,470 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/28647111/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Civil Engineering, Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 44% Small-Business, 28% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Customization Options (3 reviews)
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- Excellent Service (2 reviews)
- Feature Functionality (2 reviews)
- Free Access (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Stability Issues (3 reviews)
- Feature Limitations (2 reviews)
- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Slow Loading (2 reviews)
- Accuracy Issues (1 reviews)

  ### 17. [Scribble Maps](https://www.g2.com/products/scribble-maps/reviews)
  Trusted for over 15 years by hobbyists and professionals, Scribble Maps offers an intuitive online platform for web mapping and data visualization. Users can annotate maps, plot territories, filter and analyze data, optimize routes, and more—all with a low learning curve that makes map creation accessible to every level of an organization. Founded in 2009, Scribble Maps has been continuously refined through direct user feedback. Our team portal lets teams collaborate and work together on maps and with a host of exporting options, Scribble Maps can integrate with existing work flows to bring geospatial capability to your entire organization.


  **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 195

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Scribble Maps](https://www.g2.com/sellers/scribble-maps-ace23924-b1a2-4fce-a757-f1fad3d8f34c)
- **Company Website:** https://www.scribblemaps.com/
- **Year Founded:** 2009
- **HQ Location:** Walnut, California
- **Twitter:** @scribblemaps (4,121 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/scribble-maps/about (4 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Construction, Real Estate
  - **Company Size:** 70% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (5 reviews)
- Mapping Features (5 reviews)
- User-Friendly (4 reviews)
- User Interface (4 reviews)
- Design Quality (3 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Limited Customization (2 reviews)
- Mapping Issues (2 reviews)
- App Bugs (1 reviews)
- Customization Difficulty (1 reviews)
- Feature Limitations (1 reviews)

  ### 18. [Octave Imagine (ERDAS IMAGINE)](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-imagine-erdas-imagine/reviews)
  Octave Imagine is an all‑in‑one geospatial software platform designed to help users understand and work with complex imagery, maps, and 3D data without needing multiple separate tools. While many competing products require users to jump between different applications for image processing, analysis, visualization, and modeling, Octave Imagine brings all these capabilities together in a single, integrated environment. This gives it a clear advantage in the marketplace, as its competitors typically only cover part of the workflow. What makes Octave Imagine stand out is its wide range of capabilities—from image classification and change detection to 3D modeling and advanced spatial analysis. Its automation features help users save significant time by reducing repetitive manual tasks, and its seamless integration with other Octave products creates a connected, efficient workflow that few alternatives can match. Users also benefit from an active community and strong support team, making it easier to learn, troubleshoot, and grow their expertise. By consolidating essential tools into one platform, Octave Imagine removes complexity and makes it easier to handle large datasets without sacrificing performance. Its precise processing tools ensure reliable results, helping users make better, faster decisions—especially for time‑sensitive projects. Automated workflows streamline everyday tasks, boosting productivity and reducing bottlenecks. The platform scales naturally as projects become more complex, serving analysts, scientists, engineers, planners, and many other professionals across industries. Ultimately, Octave Imagine helps organizations turn raw geospatial data into meaningful insight. It improves the quality of their work, speeds up their processes, and provides a clearer understanding of real‑world situations. With its unique combination of capability, automation, accuracy, and interoperability, Octave Imagine establishes itself as a leader in the geospatial market and a tool that genuinely transforms how users work.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 23

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Octave](https://www.g2.com/sellers/octave-9e5a428c-f303-4735-9417-dff1ef5736d4)
- **Company Website:** https://www.octave.com/
- **HQ Location:** Madison, US
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/octaveintelligence/ (2,352 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 42% Mid-Market, 27% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Feature Functionality (2 reviews)
- Geospatial Analysis (2 reviews)
- Powerful Tools (2 reviews)
- 3D Visualization (1 reviews)
- Comprehensive Data (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Learning Curve (2 reviews)
- Poor Design (2 reviews)
- Accuracy Issues (1 reviews)
- Big Data Issues (1 reviews)
- Expensive Licensing (1 reviews)

  ### 19. [ArcGIS Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-enterprise/reviews)
  Manage, map, analyze, and share Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data with ArcGIS Enterprise, the complete geospatial system that powers your data-driven decisions. ArcGIS Enterprise gives you a secure, browser-based mapping and analytics platform that leverages Esri’s powerful technology and extends your capabilities in the areas of real-time, big data, imagery, and more.


  **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 62

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration, Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 51% Mid-Market, 27% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Analytics (1 reviews)
- Collaboration (1 reviews)
- Content Creation (1 reviews)
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Integrations (1 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Dependency Issues (1 reviews)
- Expensive (1 reviews)
- Learning Curve (1 reviews)
- Software Performance (1 reviews)

  ### 20. [ArcGIS Earth](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-earth/reviews)
  ArcGIS Earth is a simple, lightweight, easy-to-use desktop application that allows you to display and explore a variety of 3D and 2D map data for any part of the world.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 28

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Government Administration
  - **Company Size:** 52% Mid-Market, 41% Small-Business


  ### 21. [Mapbox](https://www.g2.com/products/mapbox/reviews)
  Mapbox is the live location platform preferred by over 4 million developers. Mapbox provides precise location data and flexible developer tools that equip any business to add geospatial features to their applications and enhance operations with location intelligence. Customers span automotive, logistics, business intelligence, retail, travel, data visualization, consumer apps, weather, IoT, geospatial analysis, and beyond. With the leading map rendering technology for web and mobile, Mapbox is known for providing highly performant, customizable, reliable, and scalable location services trusted by developers, companies, and business leaders. Mapbox services include global map data, real-time traffic, geocoding and address search, and routing and directions for navigation. Build with Mapbox via APIs, code libraries, SDKs, and comprehensive developer documentation. Designed for businesses of all sizes, Mapbox is free to start building with and pricing is based on monthly usage, no upfront licenses or contracts required. Mapbox is a global team of 700+ with offices in Washington D.C., Helsinki, and Tokyo. Mapbox was founded in 2010. Today, Mapbox powers the location intelligence of platforms, apps, and brands around the world.


  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 41

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Mapbox](https://www.g2.com/sellers/mapbox)
- **Year Founded:** 2011
- **HQ Location:** Washington D.C.
- **Twitter:** @Mapbox (76,241 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3302167/ (916 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 66% Small-Business, 20% Mid-Market


  ### 22. [MapInfo Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/mapinfo-pro/reviews)
  Location-based decisions: Explore, model and act with confidence. Harness the power of sophisticated mapping and geographical analysis software to make intelligent and productive business decisions. Location adds complexity to many decisions, and mistakes are too expensive for a “trial and error” approach. With MapInfo Pro, customers can easily identify – and make better decisions on – people, places, and patterns of interest. More and more people need to explore, model and act with confidence on… - Site selection - Asset management - Demand management - Risk management/ service resource allocation MapInfo Pro delivers: 1) An all-in-one solution A full-featured desktop solution to prepare data for web mapping applications and create presentation quality maps in a familiar environment that combines data analysis, visual insights, and map publishing. - Data analysis - Visual insights - Map publishing 2) MapInfo Marketplace Enhance your location analytics with the MapInfo Marketplace. Bring analytics to life and solve your specific business needs with customized apps that are released and updated continuously. 3) Team MapInfo Pro supports the larger team of business experts, database experts, and developers who collaborate to deliver “self-serve” decision tools across the entire organization allowing location analysts to focus on special projects and creating templates for others to use. 4) Community The MapInfo community is your professional peer group of location analysts who can provide ideas, tips and tricks, and help guide the future development of MapInfo Pro Make the move to MapInfo Pro v2021 and join the MapInfo Pro community. Together, we’ll take a new, exciting journey as we collaborate to improve the future of mapping analytics.


  **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 107

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Precisely](https://www.g2.com/sellers/precisely-0b25c016-ffa5-4f51-9d9e-fcbc9f54cc55)
- **HQ Location:** Burlington, Massachusetts
- **Twitter:** @PreciselyData (3,970 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/64863146/ (2,962 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Civil Engineering, Telecommunications
  - **Company Size:** 46% Enterprise, 28% Mid-Market


  ### 23. [CARTO](https://www.g2.com/products/carto/reviews)
  CARTO is the leading cloud-native spatial analysis platform. Unlike other GIS systems, CARTO eliminates data fragmentation and technical bottlenecks by letting you build and deploy everything from AI Agents and geospatial workflows to interactive maps directly within your data warehouse. CARTO breaks down the silos between technical and business teams, making spatial analysis accessible to everyone - from technical specialists like data analysts, GIS analysts & developers, to business analysts and decision-makers. This makes Location Intelligence more accessible, scalable, and governable, helping companies turn their data into business value for use cases like optimizing network planning, assessing risk, and identifying growth opportunities.


  **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 64

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [CartoDB](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cartodb)
- **Year Founded:** 2012
- **HQ Location:** New York, NY
- **Twitter:** @CARTO (31,151 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5084329/ (339 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Telecommunications, Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 31% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Ease of Use (3 reviews)
- Map Creation (3 reviews)
- 3D Visualization (2 reviews)
- Data Visualization (2 reviews)
- Visualization (2 reviews)

**Cons:**

- Big Data Issues (1 reviews)
- Customization Difficulty (1 reviews)
- Limited Customization (1 reviews)
- Slow Loading (1 reviews)
- Slow Performance (1 reviews)

  ### 24. [OpenStreetMap](https://www.g2.com/products/openstreetmap/reviews)
  OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project that creates a free, editable map of the world, maintained by a community of volunteers. Established in 2004, OSM allows users to contribute and update data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and more, utilizing tools like aerial imagery and GPS devices. Key Features and Functionality: - Editable Map Data: Users can add and modify map information, ensuring up-to-date and accurate representations of geographic areas. - Diverse Data Inclusion: OSM encompasses a wide range of data, including roads, buildings, addresses, points of interest, and natural features. - Community-Driven Contributions: With nearly 5 million registered users and over 1 million active contributors worldwide, OSM thrives on local knowledge and collective effort. - Open Data License: All map data is freely available under the Open Database License, allowing unrestricted use and distribution with proper attribution. Primary Value and User Solutions: OpenStreetMap provides an open-source alternative to proprietary mapping services, offering free access to comprehensive and customizable geographic data. It empowers individuals, organizations, and developers to create tailored maps, support navigation applications, and conduct geospatial analyses without licensing fees. OSM's emphasis on local knowledge ensures detailed and accurate mapping, particularly in areas underserved by commercial mapping services. Additionally, its open data model fosters innovation and collaboration across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, urban planning, and transportation.


  **Average Rating:** 3.9/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 18

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [OpenStreetMap](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openstreetmap-7053a736-8e46-4479-abab-2ed822c8ac91)
- **HQ Location:** Netherlands
- **Twitter:** @openstreetmap (83,464 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/820543/ (92 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 37% Enterprise


#### Pros & Cons

**Pros:**

- Easy Integration (1 reviews)
- Free Access (1 reviews)
- Geospatial Analysis (1 reviews)
- Powerful Tools (1 reviews)


  ### 25. [ArcGIS Navigator](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-navigator/reviews)
  Navigator for ArcGIS is a mobile app that gets your field workforce where it needs to be, unlocking efficiency and improving reliability.


  **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0
  **Total Reviews:** 36

**User Satisfaction Scores:**

- **Data Capture:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
- **Data Visualization:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10)
- **Ease of Use:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
- **Spatial Analysis:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)


**Seller Details:**

- **Seller:** [Esri](https://www.g2.com/sellers/esri)
- **Year Founded:** 1969
- **HQ Location:** Redlands, CA
- **Twitter:** @Esri (188,918 Twitter followers)
- **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/5311/ (7,207 employees on LinkedIn®)

**Reviewer Demographics:**
  - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services
  - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 34% Mid-Market




## Parent Category

[CAD & PLM Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-plm)



## Related Categories

- [Location Intelligence Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/location-intelligence)
- [Route Planning Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/route-planning-software)



---

## Buyer Guide

### What You Should Know About GIS Software

### What is GIS Software?

Geographic information systems, better known as GIS software, are tools that capture, analyze, and display geospatial data to make 2D or 3D maps. These tools act as asset management platforms for the geographic data they capture, meaning GIS technology has the ability to understand patterns and improve operations in land-based operations. 

A GIS is a technology rooted in geographic information science that allows users to dig into geospatial data. The first step in this mapping technology is capturing data. These data types include cartographic, photographic, and digital data to provide a complete picture. GIS programs require both hardware and software, such as the desktop needed to display information.

Cartographic data is already in map form and includes information such as the location of rivers, roads, valleys, hills, and more. Data from photographic interpretation analyzes aerial shots of a site. Digital data is collected from satellites that show land use.

All varieties of data can be inputted into GIS mapping tools through data capture. As long as it has been digitized, it can be inputted into a GIS program. Once that data has been inputted, GIS technology can transform it into a map.

### Who Uses GIS software?

GIS tools power location-based services. This technology is prevalent in a number of other professions:

**GIS Specialist** – A GIS specialist is an expert in geographic information systems. They analyze the spatial data stored in the geodatabases within these tools to solve problems related to a specific site or area. For example, a GIS specialist can assess the geospatial data of a region to determine the best escape route and then have the responsibility of mapping out an estimate time needed during a natural disaster. These specialists can create maps of certain areas using GIS technology and use that information to perform duties such as locating special features within a landscape.

A GIS specialist can be a full-time career, as a person in this role can act as a consultant to organizations who can benefit from the data extracted from GIS software. While the majority of this work can be conducted remotely from a computer, GIS specialists are sometimes required to visit a site in order to compare the landscape to the data in the GIS system. Those seeking this career path can obtain a GIS certificate from an accredited program; many universities offer GIS degrees as well.

**Urban Planner** – An urban planner develops procedures and programs for the use of land. The outcomes are typically mapping out plans to build communities, accommodate growth, revamp local physical facilities, and more. For example, an urban planner might approve plans for a new school to ensure it meets the needs of a growing population. As a community grows and changes, urban planners are there to help manage economic, social, and environmental changes that may arise. Urban planners can be utilized for communities of any size—small towns, large cities, and entire counties.

A great deal of data is needed for an urban planner to make an informed decision. They must stay up-to-date on zoning codes, environment regulations, and legal issues. Urban planners must also stay attuned to the landscape in their area and can utilize GIS technology to analyze and manipulate data. GIS software can be used to overlay a land map with population density indicators, which could show the best use for a piece of land. While an urban planner likely needs to perform site visits, they may also utilize a desktop GIS to analyze this data from their own office.

**Environmental Scientist** – An environmental scientist assesses the health and stability of a given landscape. This includes a great deal of fieldwork tests and surveys to gather geospatial data, like soil, water, and air samples. The data collected is then analyzed for negative indicators, such as pollution. An environmental scientist’s findings can be collected into an official report that may be presented to policymakers or other organizations concerned about environmental issues.

Environmental scientists rely heavily on GIS applications to succeed in their work. These tools capture the geographic information necessary to effectively map out the health of a physical area. This mapping technology has the ability to capture data from all aspects of a landscape—aerial, water, land—and then display as a variety of different maps. These solutions can also map changes in a specific area, which is hugely beneficial to an environmental scientist as it can fuel a course of action or anticipate future land conditions.

**Public Health Professionals** – Public health professionals are dedicated to protecting and improving the health of communities. Those in this field are focused more on preventing disease and injury rather than treating it. Public health intersects with a number of more specific fields to improve the health of the community. Epidemiology tracks the distribution and severity of diseases, along with how to prevent them from spreading. Biostatistics applies statistical and mathematical methods to the analysis of public health issues.

Environmental health is concerned with the quality of food supply, water and air pollution, and disease prevention. This is where GIS tools come into play. The use of a GIS and the spatial data it captures can help public health professionals come to decisions as well as predict outcomes. For example, public health officials can use GIS technology to map out potential risk from a contaminated water source. A desktop GIS program can also display information such as drug usage in a certain area.

**Law Enforcement** – Law enforcement officers can track crime trends within GIS software using crime mapping, which maps, visualizes, and analyzes crime incident patterns within their jurisdictions. These crime hot spots can be identified through the usage of GIS programs. Crime analysts can use a desktop GIS to overlay data sets such as census demographics. With this information, police officers are able to identify physical locations and potentially understand the underlying cause of crime in a certain area. GIS mapping software can also be useful for allocating police officers during emergency situations.

### Why Use GIS software?

GIS software is vital for creating maps, but that is not the only application for this technology. These tools capture data that can be utilized by small, mid-sized or enterprise businesses in many fields.

A GIS helps users make more informed decisions. When working with a physical location, you need to understand every aspect of it—air, land, water, surrounding area, and more. A GIS captures this array of data, detailing various aspects of a landscape, and stores it all within one platform. Visualizing this data aids in identifying areas of opportunity and potential issues, such as the best route for an evacuation during an impending hurricane.

The geospatial data stored within these platforms even helps provide answers about things other than the physical landscape itself. Demographics of the surrounding population, social, real-world business problems, and political information can be gathered using a GIS. Features such as overlaying and data visualization connect the dots and create relationships between seemingly unconnected qualities, such populations with geographic features. For example, if a business needs to open up a new storefront, GIS software can be used to find a site of land near a highly populated area. Data can then be manipulated to account for inevitable population change in the surrounding area.

GIS software is specifically designed to visualize data. Reading and understanding statistics and data can be incredibly challenging. Data visualization is a key component of GIS technology, which means that the inputted data will be presented in a clear and comprehensive manner. Using a GIS solution, you can layer your datasets into one image and find the connections between each dataset. Bringing this data to life also allows you to view it from a different perspective, which can provide a fresh insight on a potential problem needing to be solved. You can create multiple maps within GIS platforms, which enables you to track and visualize the change in a certain area over time.

GIS technology can assist in conserving natural resources. GIS software has the ability to manage and maintain agricultural, water, and forest resources. These tools easily manage data on forest conditions as well. The geographic distribution of water resources can be analyzed through GIS technology. These two resources are also connected—as tree cover tends to decrease stormwater runoff.

GIS software allows for better geographic information record keeping. Many organizations are required to maintain thorough geographic records, such government and environmental science agencies. GIS systems are at the foundation of creating policies such as zoning laws, population censuses, and land ownership. Record keeping is vital when creating and upholding these laws, and GIS technology can store the geographic information necessary.

GIS technology can also track the spread of infectious diseases. On top of mapping trends in geographic features, GIS technology is used to follow trends that relate to the spread of disease. Users can leverage desktop GIS solutions to compare geography with other relevant variables and predict where an infectious disease might spread next. This data enables on-the-ground personnel to quickly work to save lives of local residents.

GIS software helps automate previously tedious geographic tasks. Before this technology, gathering data needed for any land, environment, map, pipeline, or city planning could be incredibly time consuming, due to the fact that one platform was unable to capture and store data from various sources. In addition, each data sample was collected and stored individually. However, GIS programs act as a repository for this data and convert it into the correct format, if necessary. GIS technology then takes this one step further and allows users to also design, update, and edit in the same platform where their geographic data is stored. These solutions also provide analysis tools, which gives organizations more time to focus on other urgent and critical tasks.

Governments can use GIS software to plan more cost-effective communities. Governments rely on thorough planning when it comes to building and expanding their communities. However, government organizations, especially smaller municipal ones, can face difficulty when it comes to the economy. Expanding a community while sources are diminishing gets expensive. GIS technology provides a way for government organizations to expand their communities in the most cost-efficient ways possible, as the data provided by GIS software allows them to make more informed choices about decisions such as land usage and locations of physical facilities. Governments can utilize a free GIS solution to continue to drive costs down.

Districts can create more efficient schools with GIS technology. A common issue within communities is needing to redistrict school boundaries as the local population ebbs and flows. GIS programs capture and store addresses for all students at the school. Using feature-based proximity tools, you can manipulate the borders of these zones and a GIS relates the student counts by grade of this proposed boundary. Even after school district zones have been nailed down, these programs can continue to benefit schools. School administrators use GIS technology to analyze the distance students walk to school. If a student lives a certain distance away, GIS tools continue to analyze the data to determine which students are eligible to take school buses. As schools may not a lot of budget dedicated to non-essential technology, they can utilize a free GIS platform for these tasks.

Planning for for natural disasters can be done using GIS technology. One of the main uses of this software is protecting the environment. The flip side of that is protecting citizens from potential dangers of their local environment. GIS tools help with risk management by assessing which areas are at risk for natural or man-made disasters. Communities can then take this data and develop preventive measures. And when natural disasters are unavoidable, GIS technology can still help. These tools aid in the planning of emergency evacuation routes and help estimate the damage from floods. In addition, GIS helps local governments document the needs for federal disaster relief funds.

### GIS Software Features

While specific features may vary across different GIS solutions, the following features are typically found in geographic information systems:

**Data Capture** – This is simply the act of inputting data into a GIS. Relevant data can be grabbed from a number of sources. The software should be able to convert your data to a raster or vector file that will be compatible with your tool.

**Remote Sensing Integration** – Remote sensing is making measurements of a specific location on the earth through airplanes or satellites. These sensors have the ability to collect data in the form of images. As part of its data capture functionality, remote sensed imagery should easily integrate with a GIS.

**Data Warehouse** – GIS software stores the data on geographical features and their characteristics. It uses that data to publish maps. Just as GIS solutions capture data in multiple formats, said data is stored in multiple formats as well. Map city data can be stored as points, road data formatted as lines, boundaries as areas, and so on. Storing this information is what allows a GIS to identify features located in a map.

**Buffer Zone Querying** – Buffer zone querying is the ability to select a point on a map and display any given data within a certain radius. These buffers are used to show an area of influence around a location. For example, a buffer can be used to section off a radius around a school to plan for the transportation of students who live farther away. Some GIS tools may refer to buffer zone querying by other names, such as feature-based proximity tools.

**Editing Data** – The features of the landscapes you study change, which means your data will change as well. A GIS will enable you to keep up with these changes by allowing you to edit your data. Specific revision features and processes will vary in each tool, but they should all offer the ability to edit your data.

**Data Visualization** – The data visualization component of a GIS is what brings your data to life, in either a 2D or 3D format. A GIS displays the data you input as an easy-to-read map right on your desktop. This function may allow for additional features, such as adding pop-ups, charts, and infographics to maps.

**Geocoding** – This feature assigns locations to the addresses you need to keep track of so they may be placed as points on a map. It can be thought of as a interactive digital version of putting a pin on a location on a physical map. Some tools may refer to this feature as address-matching.

**Spatial Analysis** – Spatial analysis is at the core of publishing a map, and may be one of the key features of a GIS. This ability allows users to dig into their data and make informed decisions, predict patterns, and more. 

**Overlaying** – Overlaying makes it possible to visualize many different forms of data in one image. This function superimposes multiple datasets into one image to identify the relationships between them. Most GIS software provides overlaying capabilities for both vector and raster data.

**Publishing Maps** – Creating maps is the end goal of GIS software. All of these features, such as overlaying and data editing, contribute to the creation of a map. Once your data is set, you can simply print the map out on a corresponding printer. Some GIS tools may run one final analysis of your data before printing the final map.

### Potential Issues with GIS Software

With its wide range of capabilities and applications, GIS technology offers a plethora of benefits. But that does not mean this software does not come without its challenges.

While the data captured and stored in GIS platforms is incredibly beneficial to users, integrating with traditional maps is extremely complex. It can prove difficult to integrate a traditional map with GIS technology. It may not be possible to grab meaningful geospatial information from a GIS, as many only store and analyze the data collected from the platform itself. Reach out to the GIS vendor you select to determine if this integration is possible.

GIS software is expensive. These tools are hugely beneficial to users, as it collects a massive amount of data from various points. It can cost a lot to gather, input, and connect all of this data. Corresponding hardware, along with potentially needing to hire an expert in GIS, continues to drive those expenses up. While they may have some limited features, budget-conscious users can leverage a free GIS for their business.

Data management can be difficult. It’s great that GIS technology allows users to capture and store large amounts of data, but someone has to comb through all that information. Because there is so much data, this could lead to data generalization, which means you may be at risk for losing information. Large amounts of data also require massive storage space, which increases the cost and manpower required to run your GIS.

### Trends Related to GIS Software

**Drone Usage** – Because drones can be easily maneuvered to capture aerial shots, they are a perfect tool for capturing geospatial data. Drones have become more common with businesses and consumers, as they are easy to use, collect data from aerial vantage points, and can convert data in unique ways. Because use of these tools is becoming more widespread, drones are becoming cheaper.

**Geospatial Analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT)** – As a subset of spatial analytics, geospatial analytics digs into data that identifies the geographic locations of certain features on the earth, such as oceans. Sensors are needed to pick up this data, which is where IoT comes in. IoT powers positioning sensors, which can locate and track objects using a GPS or relative displacement information. Intelligent things, including objects embedded with AI, send data through mobile networks. This can provide real-time data about factors such as the density of a population in a given area.

**Open Data and GIS** – Open data is information that is shared with the public for anyone to freely view and use. This has the potential to be a game changer for GIS software, because that means governments, scientists, city planners, and more can study this information to anticipate how surrounding areas could impact their own community. This technology allows users to understand their environments and how they evolve, as well as anticipate future changes. An open-source GIS has the potential to impact non-land-centric industries. For example, this technology can be used to map out food deserts in specific areas in an effort to combat childhood obesity. If this data is open to the public, health officials can continue to discover additional applications for this information.

### Related Software Categories

With its 3D data visualization applications and focus on the environment, GIS is closely related to software categories such as CAD, BIM, and Forestry.

[CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad) — CAD software (computer-aided design) is typically used by those in the architecture, engineering and art fields to create 2D and 3D drawings, along with building 3D models of physical objects. While GIS and CAD are two completely different types of technologies, they should typically integrate with one another, as spatial relationships and components are vital to CAD software users.

[BIM Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/building-design-and-building-information-modeling-bim) — BIM software (building design and building information modeling) is a subcategory of computer-aided design (CAD) products commonly used by architects and those in the construction industry. Many of these products offer tools and libraries specifically targeted for users in these fields, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP). These tools offer a model-based process for designing and managing infrastructures. GIS extends the value of BIM software through data visualization and analysis in the context of both the natural environment and building structures. Attributes within BIM data can easily be converted to GIS features.

[Forestry Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/forestry) – Forestry software products are solutions that manage forestry-related tasks like forecasting, operating harvests, tracking inventory and managing contracts. These tools are used to perform functions such as predicting harvest size and assist users in finding the best way to optimize their resources. Companies use the software to predict harvest sizes and optimize their resources, all through a desktop solution. Users can create calendars to manage operations and allocate equipment to complete lumber-related efforts. As both GIS and forestry software concern the environment, these solutions should provide seamless data integration. In fact, some GIS solutions are intended exclusively for forestry work. GIS for forestry offers functions such as the ability to maximize the value of timber, reduce costs, map analytics, and manage forests.