This is a comparison of notable GIS software. To be included on this list, the software must have a linked existing article.
The selection of GIS software is a non-trivial task typically undertaken at project commencement. The use of appropriate selection criteria and methodology can be critical to a project's success, with considerations including outlay costs, ease of use, data and system harmonization and maintenance, incorporation of advances in technology, and downstream system integration.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
License, source, & operating system support[ edit ]
GIS software
Free software
Open source
Windows
Mac OS X
Linux
BSD
Unix
Web
Other
ArcGIS
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
No[ 4]
No
No
Yes
Yes
Google Earth Plugin , KML , WMS
Autodesk
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Cadcorp
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Deegree
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
Yes
No
Erdas Imagine
Viewers & Plug-ins
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
FME [ 5]
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
FME Cloud[ 6]
No
GeoBase - Telogis
Trial
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Traffic, WMS , ADAS, Routing
GeoNetwork
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
Yes
No
GeoServer
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
GeoTools
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
GRASS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
via pyWPS[ 7]
No
gvSIG
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
IDRISI
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
ILWIS
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
GeoMedia
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
No
No
No
CLIX
Yes
KML
JUMP GIS
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
Kosmo
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
LandSerf
No
No
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
MapDotNet
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Manifold System
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Microsoft MapPoint
Discontinued
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Pitney Bowes MapInfo Pro
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
MapServer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
AMP
No
Maptitude Caliper software
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
MapWindow GIS
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
Oracle Spatial
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
PostGIS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
QGIS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Earth Plugin , KML , WMS
RegioGraph
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
RemoteView
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
SAGA GIS
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
KLM
SAP HANA
Free Trial
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Smallworld
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Read-only
OLE, XML, Multiuser, Utility Data Model, Data Translator export/import
SPRING
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Solaris
No
No
TerraLib TerraView
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
TNTmips
Viewer(s)
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
TransModeler Caliper Software
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
uDig
Yes
Yes
Java
Java
Java
Java
Java
No
No
GIS software
Free software
Open source
Windows
Mac OS X
Linux
BSD
Unix
Web
Other
Name
Language
WMS
WFS
GeoRSS
Other
OpenLayers
JavaScript
Yes
Yes
Yes
support for navigation, icons, markers, and layer selection.
Leaflet
JavaScript
Yes[ 8]
Yes
No
support for navigation, icons, markers, layers, GeoJSON
MapDotNet
JavaScript/HTML5
Yes
Yes
Yes
digitizing, wkt rendering, draggable icons and content, geospatial queries (intersection, overlapping)
^ Idrizi, B.; Zhaku, S.; Izeiroski, S.; Kabashi, I.; Nikolli, P. (2014). "Defining methodology for selecting most appropriate GIS software". Survey Review . 46 (338): 383– 389. doi :10.1179/1752270614Y.0000000116 .
^ Eldrandaly, Khalid (2007). "GIS software selection: a multi criteria decision making approach" (PDF) . Applied GIS . ISSN 1832-5505 .
^ Appleton, Katy; Lovett, Andrew; Sünnenberg, Gilla; Dockerty, Trudie (2002). "Rural landscape visualisation from GIS databases: a comparison of approaches, options and problems". Computers, Environment and Urban Systems . 26 (2– 3): 141– 162. doi :10.1016/S0198-9715(01)00041-2 .
^ "ArcGIS Pro in Mac OS X" . esri.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07 .
^ "FME Downloads" . Safe Software . Retrieved 5 November 2022 .
^ "Harness the Power of FME Server in the Cloud" . Safe Software . Retrieved 5 November 2022 .
^ "PyWPS" . PyWPS.org. Retrieved 2018-07-24 .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2014-08-06 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )