GIS comes in two formats. They are open source and commercial. The open-source is absolutely free of cost. It is usually open and anyone can come and make changes to it. The open-source does not have the same functionality as the commercial GIS software. The open-source GIS software is still pretty good and powerful (at least some of them are).
The commercial GIS software is not free and you require to get a subscription for using it. It has a lot of other features and different functionality but even then the top tier features are very expensive.
8 Best Free GIS Software
Open source GIS software is great for companies who are looking to get some GIS experience without spending a huge amount of money. It is also good for small companies. It is free so obviously, there will be some drawbacks. You do not get full features. However some are more than capable of carrying out a large variety of geospatial mapping.
We are going to offer about 8 free GIS mapping software that you can try out. Not everyone has the funds to get a commercial one so some have to make do with the open source ones. At least in the beginners stage. So without any delay let’s get into this first one.
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1. QGIS
QGIS is the first one on our list and it is very similar to ArcGIS. It can be used for general GIS tasks like map production and spatial analysis. It can also do specific task like terrain spatial analysis and environmental resource mapping. It can also be used for disaster risk reduction.
Since the style and features are similar to ArcGIS, the professional users can easily get into this software with ease. QGIS can integrate with other GIS software which are open source to increase its features and functions. One can edit the geospatial data using the vector and ratser format.
2. WhiteBoxGAT
Whitebox GAT is the next in the list and has the ability for advanced geospatial data. It is used in geomatics industry and environmental research. It can easily manage LiDAR data and that is one unique feature of this software. You can easily see the natural and man made features. In a short time it has become highly well tuned and is now one of the best free open source GIS software. The Cartographic tools are not as well developed in this software so fair warning. It is still a good software though.
3. SagaGIS
SAGA stands for System For Automated Geoscientific Analyses. It is one of the best free open source GIS software out there. It is specially known for its Geoscientific Analyses and it can also read LiDAR data and create 3D virtual images. This is a unique feature and this makes SAGA GIS as one of the favourite GIS software for people working on the technical Geoscience projects.
This software includes Geoscientific toolsets and even though they are not very well developed they are still useful. The user interface is also simple and can be easily understood by beginners too.
4. GrassGIS
GRASS stands for Geographic Resources Analysis Support System. They have advanced geoprocessing tools. It is generally used in land management and environment planning. It is very popular in the academic community. It has an easy code base that can be easily understood by people.
Though GRASS is much more advanced than an average open source GIS software it has some drawbacks too. The Cartographic tools are not good and the user interface appears to be clunky. It can create maps but apparently it is a difficult process and some users find it really bad. But terrain analysis is a specialty of GRASS and it ums exceptionally well developed.
5. GvSIG
This was developed in Spain in 2004. It is one of the best open source 3D virtualization tool available on the market. It boasts large network of open source geomatics. It is also very easy to use and can be used by the users to create layouts and access geoprocessing networks.
The 3D virtualization allows the user to see all the layers in raster. They can view it all together or one by one. NavTable is one of the most popular gvGIS plug ins. It allows the users to navigate within the map. This one also has a mobile app for android so that is a handy tool you can use on the go.
6. OpenStreetMap
It is a community software developed by the community itself. Mappers throughout the world add to it. It is a very basic app with cartographic facilities. It is a very easy to use app with a good interface that can be used by novices too. It is a popular app among outdoor enthusiasts. People can update the map with roads, railways and other stuff. No approval is required to make a change.
7. OpenJump
This is also a community driven software. Jump stands for Java Unified Mapping Platform. It can read the geometry and users can also edit the geometry. The app can handle large data sets and they work well in visualizing data. There is not much to it more that we can define. Why don’t you go check it out and see for yourself?
8. UDig
UDig is best for GIS mapping. It specializes in forest management and biodiversity projects. If has drag and drop interface, editing tools, and vector operation. This open-source platform works as independent software. The uDig community is smaller and it has a lot less updates available. Moreover, it is a great open-source GIS software out there. You should definitely give it a try. It has stellar GIS features even though it’s small.
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Conclusion
We hope that this article has been useful to you. Thank you for taking out some time and giving this article a read. Do recommend to your friends if you found this satisfactory.
