Comparison of geographic information systems software

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.

License, source, & operating system support

GIS software	Free software	Open source	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	Unix	Web	Other
Template:Rh | ArcGIS	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Google Earth Plugin, KML, WMS
Template:Rh | Autodesk	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Cadcorp	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Deegree	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Erdas Imagine	Viewers & Plug-ins	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | FME	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	FME Cloud	No
Template:Rh | GeoBase - Telogis	Trial	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Traffic, WMS, ADAS, Routing
Template:Rh | GeoNetwork	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	Yes	No
Template:Rh | GeoServer	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No
Template:Rh | GeoTools	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No	No
Template:Rh | GRASS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	via pyWPS	No
Template:Rh | gvSIG	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No	No
Template:Rh | IDRISI	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | ILWIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | GeoMedia	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	No	No	No	CLIX	Yes	KML
Template:Rh | JUMP GIS	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No	No
Template:Rh | Kosmo	Yes	Yes	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No	No
Template:Rh | LandSerf	No	No	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	No	No
Template:Rh | MapDotNet	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Template:Rh | Manifold System	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Microsoft MapPoint	Discontinued	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Pitney Bowes MapInfo Pro	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Template:Rh | MapServer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	AMP	No
Template:Rh | Maptitude Caliper software	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | MapWindow GIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | Oracle Spatial	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Template:Rh | PostGIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Template:Rh | QGIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Google Earth Plugin, KML, WMS
Template:Rh | RegioGraph	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | RemoteView	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | SAGA GIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	KLM
Template:Rh | SAP HANA	Free Trial	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Template:Rh | Smallworld	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Read-only	OLE, XML, Multiuser, Utility Data Model, Data Translator export/import
Template:Rh | SPRING	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Solaris	No	No
Template:Rh | TerraLib TerraView	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | TNTmips	Viewer(s)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Template:Rh | TransModeler Caliper Software	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Template:Rh | 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

Pure server

Map servers

Name	Language	WMS	WFS	WFS-T	WCS	WMC	SLD	FES	Other
ArcGIS Server	.NET/Java	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	SOAP, REST, KML
MapServer	C	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deegree	Java	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
GeoServer	Java	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MapDotNet	C#/.NET	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	SOAP and REST feature and map services
Manifold System	ASP C#	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	client and server
GeoMedia WebMap	ASP C#	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	No

Map caches

Name	Language	WMS-C	Other
ArcGIS Server	.NET/Java	No
MapDotNet	C#/.NET	No	File-based and SQL Server

Pure web client

Libraries

Name	Language	WMS	WFS	GeoRSS	Other
OpenLayers	JavaScript	Yes	Yes	Yes	support for navigation, icons, markers, and layer selection.
Leaflet	JavaScript	Yes	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)

See also

• Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo)
• Geographic information system software
• GIS Live DVD