# ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Reviews **Vendor:** Esri **Category:** [GIS Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/gis) **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 28 ## About ArcGIS Spatial Analyst The ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension adds a range of tools for spatial modeling and analysis by integrating raster and vector data. Use it to solve complex problems such as modeling terrains, performing hydrologic analysis, finding suitable locations, discovering spatial patterns, modeling distance and cost, and carrying out statistical analysis for raster data. ## ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Reviews ### 1. Very useful extension **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Environmental Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 13, 2020 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** This tool is easy to navigate and executes quickly. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Sometimes there are errors which aren't easy solved. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Spatial Analyst is a great extension that allows for further analysis of GIS data beyond the basic level. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am spatially joining data between layers that otherwise don't have common fields. ### 2. Very usefull **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prasad E. | Sr. RPA developer, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 19, 2020 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Great tool for spatial analysis on complex datasets and can address most of the technical requirements. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** There is nothing negative about the extension. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Elevation and flood zones ### 3. Recommend ArcGIS Spatial Analyst **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Higher Education | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2020 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** ArcGIS Spatial Analyst in an effective geospatial tool that we can use to do spatial analysis. It is quick to run and the results are accurate **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I don’t dislike anything about it. Love as it is now **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am solving real world problems with this tool. It is quick and easy to use ### 4. Making Elevation Data Useful **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** John S. | Director of Geospatial Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The suite of tools that Spatial Analyst provides allows for a myriad of products and analyses. The surface tools are the most useful for the workflows that I have used in the past. I appreciate how easy it is to mosaic DEMs in ArcGIS Pro especially. workflows that used to take several minutes are now as easy as a few drop and click steps. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The learning curve on how to use the Spatial Analyst tools in Pro can be taxing for a seasoned ArcMap user. However this is not limited to the Spatial Analyst toolset. What I DO like though is that it is easy to find tools in Pro. In fact, it is much easier than in ArcMap. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Move to Pro. It is much quicker to use. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Watershed analyses, viewshed analyses, stream networks, slope analyses, creating nice hillshades for static map products... I have used this toolbox for the last ten years for a number of jobs. It has helped with making highly stylized maps, to aiding in locating potential hydro-electric project locations, to figuring out floodzone midigation models. ### 5. No clear error messages **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aliz B. | GIS Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Is very useful to do complex spatial analysis or statistical ones. I like also the scientific background of the tools and the detailed explanations how to use, which parameter to put in. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** When the tool is not executed error messages are not clear. Sometimes there is a unwanted character in the name or name is too long. More hints where to search for the problem would be great. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** All kinds of data analysis. I use it a lot for more complex anaysis, which shows the importance of this extension. ### 6. its the product i cant do without in my work **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Festus I. | DR., Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** i like its ability to handle literally any spatial querry i need to implement **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** i cant spot something i dislike. its done what i needed it to do for me. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** it enables me anayse spatial distribution of elephant tracking data. with it i am able to model where elephants go when, in relation to physical and environmental factors. ### 7. Good, but needs work **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Flavio F. | Researcher, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The fact you don't have to code, just click and you are good to go **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** too slow, some zonal statistics jobs took me over a week **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** usually I use to extract data from raster ### 8. Works for my purposes **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Environmental Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The fact that the tools are so integrated into the ArcGIS workflow. Rather than searching for a tool they appear in the toolbar ready to use. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** For power users the modifying inut parameters may be considered clear, however, for less powerful users the modifying parameters are not as intuitive as they could be to generate a meaningful output. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Use for the purpose of evaluating hazardous materials proerties near sensitive receptors ### 9. Spatial Analyst is nice **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The tool functions as delivered. It works in Pro and Desktop. and there are a great number of functions. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Pricing is suspicious. and more of a personal problem, but getting enough time to figure it all out is a challenge. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Viewshed Analysis to evaluate something of the effectiveness of proposed Cell Tower Location. ### 10. Using Spatial Analyst **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Tons of useful functionality that I use on a daily basis. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** There is nothing that I dislike about this product. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Clipping, joins, surface analysis. ### 11. Powerful tools for Easter analysis **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Barry F. | Team Leader, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 14, 2019 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Built in functionality for multiple types of analytical operations. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Limited details in error messages, making troubleshooting difficult. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Make sure to complete formal training on the tools included in Spatial Analyst, in order to understand how the functions are meant to be used. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Evaluating suitability for future development, analyzing hazard risk, and assessing distribution of environmental variables. ### 12. Spatial Analyst is awsome **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Curtis P. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Flexibility to solve problems using standard tools using scripting model builder to make easy to use for users **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** 9998 errors, it would be great if the tools were better at detecting too-large datasets (limits) and pathname limitations. Most problems I run into are system resource, pathname, network latency issues and it would be a huge issue if the software were smarter about detecting such things. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Learn the fundamentals of raster analysis take the time up front. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Landscape characterization flow analysis. A long career of successful work with landscape characterization ### 13. One happy customer **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David C. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I think the Spatial Analyst suite offers a diverse set of tools that has been invaluable to my work in hydrology and related modeling. A coworker of mine recently switched away from 3D analyst in favor of this product. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I can't think of anything, as the product has worked quickly and done its job whenever called upon. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Hydrology and related modeling; this is work largely related to endangered species range in relation to toxic chemicals. The tool helps us with our federal clients most. ### 14. the most complete vector gis software **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 02, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Is the most robust gis environment package on the market, adapting to the budgets of companies and the processes required by those involved in the definition of the expected product. ESRI is the company with the most experience in the management of georeferenced data, that experience is reflected in the levels of the results thrown by its main ArcGIS product **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The management of analysis tools through license fees tends to slow down the development of complex analysis methods. Requires high performance hardware for the 3d models. work with raster data continues to be poor if compare with erdas, envi Arcgis spatial analyst works only with windows, does not allow its execution in another operating system **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** You must handle very well the theoretical foundations on which this software is based, that will guarantee your success. ArcGIs Spatial Analysis gives you another perspective of the spatial behavior of the data. A few years ago I had to obtain the critical points of a micro-hydrography basin, starting from a srtm and some old maps that reflected the contour lines and the hydrographic parameters of the area, with another software I had to invest three weeks, with arcgis spatial analyst a week **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** The main benefits are: time saving, expedited handling of the complementary elements of the final map, support of heavy databases, interoperability with the vector products generated in other software. I do not waste time with cartographic product treatments in other color enhancement programs, graphic effects and other things, the map design interface is sufficient. ### 15. review_spatial_analyst **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Farming | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I like the selection of different interpolation methods and the ease of use of the extention. The documentation is a great resource for learning about the different interpolation techniques. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** It's not quite clear why some interpolation methods are not available with the spatial analyst extention but available in the geostatistical analyst. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Combing disparate layers together to form a better understanding of what drives a crop. FYI - It would be a good idea to add 'Agriculture' to the industry drop-down list. Farming and Agriculture can be considered similar yet different. (e.g. GIS spatial analyst can be used in the analysis of research plots) ### 16. Spatial Analyst is helpful **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Randy O. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Interpolation tools are pretty good. The variety and hep resources are extensive and solve most problems. Python tools are great with integration with Numpy and Scipy **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Checking out extensions is clunky. I would prefer if the extension would check itself out and back in when used or needed. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Surface interpolation and analytics. Cut-fill, volume calculations. ### 17. Great for finding data quickly. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Utilities | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I often use the Intersect tool to provide data for my group. I am always being asked to pull multiple sets of data from other multiple sources, and this tools helps me to quickly collect the data I need to produce the output needed for a complex request. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The extention is not always availble in a shared citrix enviroment. However, that is not the fault of the tool itself. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** There are many helpful applications of Spatial Analyst for my job, it certainly makes my work more efficient then doing those processes manually. ### 18. ArcGIS Spatial Analyst **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Environmental Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I appreciate all the capabilites to look at and analyze my data using the various tools and components of ArcGIS Spatial Analyst. Most of my workflows include at least one Spatial Analyst tool. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Some of the tools do not provide the ability to create more specific analysis that I need to do. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for conservation planning and environmental modelling. The capabilities of ArcGIS Spatial Analyst provide the tools I need to make informed decisions and to interpret my data correctly and apropriately. ### 19. Great expansion to ArcGIS Pro **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I love the additional features; the spatial analysis tools that are available save a ton of time and are easy to use. The software helps drive decision making through effective presentation and description of data. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I like most aspects of the software; I assume that my company wishes it was cheaper, but that's not relevant on my end. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** We used the product to analyze spatial data relating to health events (i.e. mosquito borne diseases and relationship to pools of water). ### 20. New User **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Farming | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The cool visualizations and products created and utilized by this toolset. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Its a little confusing, but I'm also just starting so its tough to say. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Determining the average distances between clearcuts to meet SFI requirements. Also conducting inventory analysis using Lidar and Satellite Imagery ### 21. ArcGIS Spatial Analyst **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Oil & Energy | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 10, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** It was the first time that I realized the true power of GIS using Spatial Analyst. It made me believe that there are reall world application of GIS. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I have nothing negative to say about this product. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** viewshed, site suitabliity analysis ### 22. Spatial Analyst, the Only Tool for the Job **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Environmental Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Spatial analyst provides a suite of critical tools for any serious industry professional working with geospatial data. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Spatial analyst is not complimentary, requiring advanced user access. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can answer as many geospatial questions as my company has. ### 23. Lots of options **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Military | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Really great tools to do spatial analysis that are necessary in many facets of GIS analysis **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** cost, understandable but certain organizations have a hard time justifying the cost **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** elevation, flood zones etc ### 24. Spatial Analyst **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Renewables & Environment | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 11, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The extension has intuitive tools and can address most of the technical requirements I need to perform my daily job functions. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** There is nothing that I dislike about the extension. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** . ### 25. Meets all necessary needs and then some. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Renewables & Environment | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 09, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Spatial analysis on complex datasets with limited processing resources.. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Learning curve with new tools is steep, but plenty of support available online. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Go for it, it's worth it. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Suitability analyses. ### 26. Spatial Analyst allows for in-house viewshed creation **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 21, 2017 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Powerful raster and vector tools allowed me to perform useful analyses with data I already have on hand to inform planning and emergency response decisions. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** The added annual cost to our software purchase and requires extensive technical education in order to filly utilize. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** Some capabilities are included in ArcGIS Pro. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Sight lines for new developments and radio tower connectivity ### 27. Great software with endless possibilities **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 12, 2017 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** I love how many things the spatial analyst tool lets you do- there’s so many different functions. They aren’t difficult to master and are intuitive. **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** While it’s not hard to get the hang of the spatial analyst tools, it could be a bit more user friendly for beginners. **Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS Spatial Analyst:** If there’s other software out there that can accomplish what the spatial analyst does, I’m unaware. I love arcGIS and all of its products. **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** We solve a lot of problems- from basic mapping for presentations and reports, to actual technical analysis of information- specifically transportation. ### 28. Good extension **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 04, 2018 **What do you like best about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** Different tools for different purposes can be combined together for different spatial analysis **What do you dislike about ArcGIS Spatial Analyst?** data has to be perfect to run some of the tools **What problems is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst solving and how is that benefiting you?** Disease mapping and spatial disease clustering analysis ## ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Discussions - [What is ArcGIS Spatial Analyst used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-arcgis-spatial-analyst-used-for) - [View ArcGIS Spatial Analyst pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-spatial-analyst/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-06-02+16%3A30%3A34+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=c7d88594-42b9-44ca-a594-f0f02a72b998&secure%5Btoken%5D=56bc074ffe1feebce96571bf3d697fa2545b5a4169dc8e48f4f99a84cb9892fd&format=llm_user) ## ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Features **Reports** - Reports Interface - Steps to Answer - Graphs and Charts - Score Cards - Dashboards **Data Management** - Data Capture - Data Storage - Data Manipulation - Data Visualization **Cartography** - Map Design - Vector Mapping - Data Visualization - Overlaying **Map Creation** - Geocoding - Buffer Zone Query - Overlaying - Publishing **Analysis** - Predictive Analysis - Distance Analysis - Spatial Analysis - Data Stream **Analysis** - Spatial Analysis - Reporting - Real-Time Streaming **Reporting** - Data Transformation - WYSIWYG Design - API Integrations **Self Service ** - Calculated Fields - Data Column Filtering - Data Discovery - Search - Collaboration / Workflow - Automodeling **Advanced Analytics** - Predictive Analytics - Data Visualization - Big Data Services **Building Reports** - Data Transformation - Data Modeling - WYSIWYG Report Design - Integration APIs **Platform** - Mobile User Support - Customization - User, Role, and Access Management - Internationalization - Sandbox / Test Environments - Performance and Reliability - Breadth of Partner Applications ## Top ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Alternatives - [Alteryx](https://www.g2.com/products/alteryx/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (775 reviews) - [BatchGeo](https://www.g2.com/products/batchgeo/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (998 reviews) - [Qlik Sense](https://www.g2.com/products/qlik-sense/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (761 reviews)