Free Desktop GIS Software List
This is an overview of major open source and free GIS software available.
I noticed that the Wikipedia page for FOSS4G technology was getting a little long in the tooth so I decided to start maintaining an updated list instead.
Below, I’ve listed a few of the most popular free GIS programs and added a little explanation of them all.
Please let me know if there are other popular free and open source Desktop GIS software and I will add them to this list!
The most popular free GIS Desktop software:
1. QGIS
QGIS is the most popular and widely used free desktop GIS software that offers a wide range of tools for geospatial data analysis, management, and visualization.
It is free and open-source software, making it highly accessible to anyone who wants to use it. QGIS also offers a highly user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for beginners to learn and use.
Additionally, QGIS has an active and supportive community of developers and users who constantly work to improve the software, making it a highly adaptable and versatile tool for GIS professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts.
One disadvantage of QGIS (well, GIS software in general) is that its wide range of tools and features can be overwhelming for beginners who are just starting out.
Additionally, while QGIS offers a lot of capabilities, it can be challenging to find specific information or support for more specialized tasks or projects. (I’m using this blog to help fill in the information gap),
QGIS is an excellent choice for GIS professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts who need a highly versatile and customizable tool for their spatial data needs. Its accessibility, wide range of tools, and user-friendly interface make it an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced GIS users.
2. GRASS GIS
GRASS GIS is a powerful and robust desktop GIS software that offers a wide range of tools for geospatial analysis, modeling, and data management. It is free and open-source software, making it highly accessible to anyone who wants to use it. Additionally, GRASS GIS offers a highly advanced set of tools and features, which make it an excellent choice for more complex GIS projects.
GRASS GIS is an excellent choice for experienced researchers who need a highly advanced and customizable tool for their spatial data needs. Its wide range of tools and features make it an ideal choice for more complex GIS projects.
Like most GIS software, GRASS GIS is an advanced set of tools and can be overwhelming for beginners who are just starting out. Also, similar to QGIS, it can be challenging to find specific information or support for more specialized tasks or projects using GRASS GIS.
3. SAGA GIS
SAGA GIS is a free and open-source desktop GIS software that offers a range of tools for geospatial data analysis and modeling. It supports a variety of file formats and has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use for beginners.
Additionally, SAGA GIS offers a highly advanced set of tools and features, which make it an excellent choice for more complex GIS projects.
4. gvSIG
gvSIG is a desktop GIS software that is free and open-source. It offers a range of tools for geospatial data analysis and visualization, including 3D visualization, geoprocessing, and data editing.
gvSIG has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use for beginners. Additionally, gvSIG offers a wide range of plugins and extensions, which means it is a highly customizable tool for GIS professionals and researchers.
One potential disadvantage of gvSIG is that its set of tools and features may not be as advanced as some other GIS software. Some users have reported that the software can be slow when working with large datasets.
gvSIG is best suited for users who require a user-friendly software for basic GIS tasks, such as map creation and basic analysis.
5. uDig
uDig is a free and open-source GIS software that is primarily designed for data visualization, management, and analysis.
The software is based on the Eclipse RCP framework, which provides users with an extensible and customizable platform.
One of the key advantages of uDig is its powerful vector and raster data handling capabilities. It supports a range of data formats and provides advanced geospatial analysis tools, making it ideal for users who require sophisticated geospatial analysis.
uDig also provides plugins that allow users to extend its functionality, and it has an active user community that provides support and resources.
However, uDig's interface may be overwhelming for beginners, and the software is not designed for cartography. uDig is best suited for advanced users who require sophisticated data analysis tools and are comfortable with a more technical interface.
6. Whitebox GAT
Whitebox GAT is a free and open-source GIS software that is primarily designed for geospatial analysis and data visualization. The software is developed by Prof. John Lindsay at the University of Guelph and released under the GPLv3 license.
One of the key advantages of Whitebox GAT is its advanced geospatial analysis tools. The software supports a wide range of geospatial data formats, including lidar data, and provides powerful tools for terrain analysis, hydrology, and spatial statistics.
Additionally, Whitebox GAT has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it an ideal choice for beginners or users who need an easy-to-use software.
However, the software's advanced analysis capabilities can be overwhelming for new users, and it lacks some basic cartographic tools.
Similar to many other open source GIS software, Whitebox GAT is best suited for users who require advanced geospatial analysis tools and are comfortable with a more technical interface.
In summary, the free and open-source GIS software discussed here have different strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different users depending on their needs.
QGIS is an excellent all-around software that is ideal for users who want a wide range of features and a large user community. GRASS GIS is an excellent choice for users who need advanced geospatial analysis tools, particularly those who work with large datasets. SAGA GIS is another good choice for advanced geospatial analysis, particularly in the field of terrain analysis. gvSIG is a good option for beginners or users who need a simple and intuitive interface. uDig is great if you’re an advanced researcher or scientist who is familiar with clunky interfaces and doesn’t mind a challenging user interface. Finally, Whitebox GAT is an excellent choice for users who work with LiDAR data or who need advanced geospatial analysis tools.
What do you think? Which free GIS software is your favorite? Are there any other free GIS software that I should add to the list? Let me know!
