10 Best Google Earth Alternatives in 2024

The changing times show that users are looking for better mapping experiences which tools like Google Earth are failing to deliver at the expected levels. There was a time when we had limited options, but thanks to the changing times, today we have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to the best Google Earth alternatives. Remember, each tool comes with its own set of functionalities that you must carefully try to fully understand how they fit your needs.

So it doesn’t matter whether you are looking to just explore our planet, or make use of the mapping for professional reasons, here are the best Google Earth alternatives in 2024 that you must consider.

Best Google Earth Alternatives in 2024

Cesium Ion

Cesium Ion is a dynamic platform for advanced 3D visualization and analysis of geospatial data. This makes it usable in the defence industry, building industry, urban planning, etc. Moreover, Cesium Ion provides great data management and hosting capabilities that are well integrated with the open-source Cesium’s 3D globe viewer.

Features:

• State-of-the-art data fusion and analysis capabilities in 3D.
• Safe and scalable cloud-based data hosting.
• Sophisticated developer tools and APIs.

Pros:

• Advanced 3D visualization and analysis.
• Seamless integration with Cesium 3D globe viewer.
• Robust data management and hosting platform 
• Comprehensive developer tools and APIs

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Limited free tier for non-commercial use
• A relatively new player in the market
• Limited community support and resources

Pricing:

• Free – Community
• Commercial – $149/month
• Premium – $499/month
• Custom: Contact sales.

Link: https://www.cesium.com/

ArcGIS Earth

ArcGIS Earth by Esri is a virtual globe application that integrates seamlessly with the ArcGIS platform. It’s one of the best Google Earth alternatives that offers various GIS data formats for importation and visualization making it useful for professionals dealing with geographical information systems (GIS). Additionally, ArcGIS Earth provides strong analysis tools as well as data management features supported by Esri’s wide range of products and services.

Features:

• Integrated with ArcGIS Online for data sharing and collaboration.
• Authoring and editing GIS data right in the 3D world.
• Access to Esri’s extensive collection of base maps and imagery layers.

Pros:

• Integration with Esri’s ArcGIS platform.
• Access to vast data resources from Esri.
• Powerful analysis tools.
• Support for creating and editing GIS data.

Cons:

• Users have experienced performance issues when loading large shapefiles.
• Some users find it complex to learn, especially when transitioning from ArcMap to newer interfaces.
• Some users find the service and technical support to be weak and slow.
• When working with the ArcGIS REST APIs, there are several technical limitations to keep in mind, such as search result limits, file upload size restrictions, and the handling of items and user information.

Pricing:

• A free tool, but its nearby range of products and services come with their own set of pricing that you can enquire about by reaching out directly to ArcGIS.

Link: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-earth/overview

NASA WorldWind

NASA WorldWind is an open-source virtual globe software developed by NASA. It supports different types of data formats and image sources so that users can access huge amounts of NASA’s scientific data. WorldWind has a customizable user interface as well as extensible architecture. Marble’s active community ensures continuous development and support, making it one of the best Google Earth alternatives.

Features:

• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and web).
• An expansive library of celestial body-related information with advanced graphical representations.
• VR/AR-enabled applications.

Pros:

• Completely free, open-source software.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Access to NASA’s planetary data.

Cons:

• Limited documentation and community support.
• Limited data format support.
• An outdated user interface

Pricing:

• Free

Link: https://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

Marble

Marble is a free and open-source virtual globe software that supports various map projections and coordinate systems. It being one of the best Google Earth alternatives integrates with OpenStreetMap and other open data sources, providing users with a customizable user interface and data visualization options. Marble’s active community ensures continuous development and support.

Features:

• Great Offline mapping functionality 
• OpenStreetMap integration for better access
• GPS support for quick and real-time updates

Pros:

• Supports Wikipedia integration
• Offers intuitive user experience

Cons:

• Quite an old tool that has lost a bit of its mainstream.
• The performance varies based on the maps being shown and the hardware.

Pricing:

• Free

Link: https://marble.kde.org/

Zoom Earth

Zoom Earth is one of the best Google Earth alternatives, giving direct competition. It allows one to view satellite photographs and search for places of interest all over the world. Some graphical capabilities include viewing high-quality maps of the roads and cities that, besides getting a full virtual map, you will be able to manage information like favourite routes, favourite cities, and many more. It also can share locations with friends or family.

Features:

• High-resolution satellite imagery for detailed views of various locations.
• Various types of maps including street, terrain, and satellite maps.
• Overlay options for weather data, traffic data, and more.
• Tools for measuring distance and area on the map.

Pros:

• It lets you access historical satellite imagery as old as the mid-1990s. 
• Free web-based application, making it accessible without any cost
• Works well with mobile and tablet gadgets.

Cons:

• Limited features and tools compared to Google Earth, potentially making it less suitable for advanced users.
• Some satellite imagery might not be available due to data limitations.
• Being web-based, it requires an internet connection to use

Pricing:

• Free

Link: https://zoom.earth/

MapQuest

MapQuest uses a Google Earth platform to locate places across the world. Equally, like Google Maps, it also portrays maps that enable one to know the required destination and the direction of how to get there. Basic controls and feeding enable a closer view of the maps and also take advantage of the zoom-in and out features. In addition, it is capable of supporting even satellite images, other than the offered vector graphics.

Features:

• Voice command integration for hands-free operation.
• Accident rerouting and a cheap gas finder enhance the driving experience.
• Multi-stop directions and bookmarking for easy navigation planning.
• Customizable layering to display nearby hotels, gas stations, airports, etc., without clutter.

Pros:

• Offers powerful functionalities like bookmarking, voice navigation, multi-stop directions, etc, that can be very useful. 
• The personalized layers make it easy to locate a hotel, parking, gas station, hospital, bar, airport, postal service, movie, grocery, or even ice cream when the need arises.
• A progress bar with the time estimated, and compass controls that will assure continuity in direction provision, ease of memorizing, and accuracy of direction provision, is contained in the navigation window.

Cons:

• It would not be possible to change the routes with the addition of more roads, which would not be the best for those users who are likely to plan the most scenic rides.
• Not the best option for delivery drivers due to limitations on the number of addresses per route and a lack of features like delivery time windows, customer notifications, and scheduled breaks.
• Lacks an offline mode, and needs a  GPS/Internet to work, potentially making it one of the biggest downsides.

Pricing:

• Free
• Basic – $119/month.
• Basic Plus – $249/month.
• Business – $499/month.
• Business+ERG – $599/month.
• Business Plus – $949/month.
• Business Enhanced – $599/month.
• Business Plus Enhanced – $1199/month.

Link: https://www.mapquest.com/

Here WeGo

Here WeGo is one of the best Google Earth alternatives that gives access to city maps in every city of the world for virtual exploration. It also serves as a navigation app that gives directions on how to get into places without losing the way.

Features:

• Turn-by-turn directions, public transit information, and offline maps for over 100 countries
• Integration with automotive companies for in-car GPS navigation systems.
• Real-time traffic information, location sharing, and Carplay/Android Auto support.
• A comprehensive API for developers to integrate Here WeGo services into their applications.

Pros:

• User-friendly, available online and offline, supporting various modes of transportation.
• Utilizes Car2Go for traffic information, showing even taxi fares in some cities.
• Preferred by big automotive companies, indicating strong industry endorsement.

Cons:

• Lacks functionality for planning routes with multipoint destinations.
• AR/VR features and 3D map coverage are limited.
• Some users have reported the application to be unstable at times and less comprehensive in rural areas.

Pricing:

• Available for free.

Link: https://wego.here.com/

Street View

Street View is seen as one of the best Google Earth alternatives, offering immersive 360-degree panoramic images. The tool brings people into faraway places as it enables them to explore virtually from home. In contrast to the aerial views in Google Earth, Street View shows detailed ground-level panoramas that provide an enhanced experience. This great tool allows viewing parts of cities, explore the surroundings, and get lost virtually.

Features:

• A 360-degree view of streets, allows the user to tour through neighborhoods and between interesting landmarks.
• Integration with Google Maps, enhancing location search and navigation.
• User-contributed content allows for up-to-date imagery and diverse perspectives.
• Available across devices and platforms for wide accessibility.

Pros:

• An immersive experience with detailed street-level imagery. 
• Extensive coverage globally, including remote and exotic locations.
• Enables businesses to showcase their premises to potential customers.

Cons:

• Privacy concerns due to the capture of images without explicit consent from individuals appearing in them. 
• Occasional outdated or blurred images can impact the accuracy and usefulness of the service. 
• Limited indoor imagery for certain regions and businesses.

Pricing:

• Free

Link: https://www.google.com/streetview/

Manifold

The GIS software, Manifold, contains immersive globe features, giving tough competition to the professional and best Google Earth alternatives. It supports many data formats and has advanced tools for data analysis that are useful for geospatial professionals. The Manifold offers customizing the user interface as well as workflow automation which results in simplifying the complicated geospatial processes.

Features:

• Comprehensive raster and vector data processing capabilities.
• Support for scripting and automation.
• Advanced spatial analysis and modelling tools.

Pros:

• Comprehensive data processing
• Scripting and automation
• Advanced spatial analysis

Cons:

• Requires paid license
• Steeper learning curve
• Limited community support and resources

Pricing:

• Manifold GIS Release 9 is available at a one-time cost of $145.

Link: https://manifold.net/

QGIS

QGIS is one of the best Google Earth alternatives free GIS software with virtual globe capabilities. It supports various types of data and has advanced analytical tools which makes it suitable to use in different cases. QGIS has a large plugin ecosystem, allowing users to customize it according to their requirements and extend its functionality.

Features:

• Support for a large amount of geospatial data formats.
• Integration with other open-source geospatial libraries and tools.
• Support for creating and editing GIS data.

Pros:

• Completely free and open-source
• Wide data format support
• Integration with other open-source tools

Cons:

• Limited documentation and training resources
• Lacks some enterprise-level features
• Performance issues with large datasets

Pricing:

• Available for free.

Link: https://qgis.org/en/site/

Which is the Best Google Earth Alternative in 2024?

From a both personal and professional point of view, QGIS takes the lead! It targets open-source adaptability lovers, those with a strong preference for compatibility with many data formats, and individuals interested in expanding its functions through plugins. This powerful Google Earth alternative is continuously updated by an engaged community of developers that make it more robust and flexible, offering speedy assistance to users when needed.

Conclusion: Best Google Earth Alternatives in 2024

Several powerful mapping and satellite imagery tools available today have made it much simpler to explore the world’s surface from one’s gadget. For several years Google Earth has been a favourite choice, which provides detailed satellite imagery, 3D mapping and comprehensive geographical exploration capacities.

However, in 2024 many other options serve different purposes including professional geospatial analysis or simply casual exploration. These are the best Google Earth alternatives that challenge the monopoly by offering distinctive features and capabilities that may be more suitable for your specific needs.

FAQs – Best Google Earth Alternatives in 2024

What will replace Google Earth?

Google doesn’t plan to replace Google Earth with any other tool anytime soon, but yes there are a few Google Earth alternatives that can be considered. This includes, but is not limited to, QGIS, Zoom Earth Cesium Ion, and Here WeGo.

Is Google Earth being discontinued?

No, Google Earth isn’t being discontinued, but due to different concerns and lack of features, people are looking for the best Google Earth alternatives that they can use for both personal and professional use.

What is the equivalent of Google Earth?

There are some best Google Earth alternatives that can act as an equivalent to Google Earth. Some of the popular names include Zoom Earth, ArcGIS, MapQuest, and so on.

How can I view anything in real time?

If you want to view anything in real time, you can check out the best Google Earth alternatives that we have talked about I’m this blog.

What is better than Google Earth?

There are various best Google Earth alternatives, and based on your needs, you can choose the alternative that seems the best fit for you.