Is there a free alternative to Esri ArcGIS?

Yes — CARTO, Maptitude, ArcGIS Online offer free tiers or trials suitable for small teams and individuals.

Last updated: August 26, 2026

Top 12 Free Esri ArcGIS Alternatives, Compared (2026)

Q: What are the best alternatives to Esri ArcGIS?

The top-rated alternatives to Esri ArcGIS are Maptitude, Badger Maps, CARTO. Compare all 12 alternatives at https://www.spotsaas.com/list/esri-arcgis-free-alternative.

Explore 12 alternatives to Esri ArcGIS — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Best free Esri ArcGIS alternatives: a side-by-side view

Quick answer

If you only check three Esri ArcGIS alternatives, make them CARTO, Maptitude and ArcGIS Online. CARTO leads with a SpotScore of 9.4 and a 4.65★ rating. See how all 12 compare on score, rating, and price below.

Not every team clicks with Esri ArcGIS, and that's fine. These 12 geographic information system software free alternatives give you real choices on price, features, and usability. We rank them by SpotScore, which combines real-user satisfaction with market presence, then layer in ratings and pricing. Scan the comparison table first, then read the detail for each pick.

Product	SpotScore	Rating	Pricing	Best for
CARTONavigate your data with interactive mapping.	9.4	★★★★★ 4.65(75)	FreeFree Trial · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
MaptitudeEmpowering spatial data analysis with high-performance GIS software.	9.3	★★★★★ 4.91(156)	Freefrom $420 One Time Payment	teams of all sizes
ArcGIS OnlineStreamline your location intelligence with ease.	9.2	★★★★☆ 4.49(147)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
MangoSolve complex problems with ease using Mango GIS.	8.7	★★★★★ 4.5(1)	Freefrom $39/mo	teams of all sizes
MapifyEmpowering smarter decisions with real-time location insights.	7.5	Not yet rated	FreeFree Trial · Quotation Based	small & mid-size businesses
MapboxPowering location innovation with Mapbox.	9.8	★★★★☆ 4.42(45)	FreeFreemium · Open-source · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
MaptiveVisualize, analyze, and share your data with ease.	8.9	★★★★★ 4.62(46)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription	teams of all sizes
ZeeMapsEffortless mapping made simple.	8.8	★★★★☆ 4.43(40)	FreeFreemium · Subscription	teams of all sizes
Scribble MapsExplore, map, and analyze with ease.	8.7	★★★★★ 4.51(78)	FreeFreemium · Subscription	teams of all sizes
Badger MapsNavigate your data with ease.	8.7	★★★★★ 4.82(166)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription	teams of all sizes
AziMapUnlock the power of GIS with AziMap.	8.6	Not yet rated	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
QGISEmpowering mapping and analytics for all.	8.6	★★★★☆ 4.46(142)	FreeFreemium · Open-source	teams of all sizes

9.4

SpotScore

CARTO

Navigate your data with interactive mapping.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

75 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is CARTO?

CARTO is a powerful yet easy to use Geographic Information System Software that allows for mapping and for the creation of interactive maps using the location data. Use it to create custom maps and locations, show spatial distributions of data, and make them searchable on the map. CARTO ...

Maptitude

Empowering spatial data analysis with high-performance GIS software.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.9

156 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Maptitude?

Maptitude is a high-performance Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The product allows anyone to visualize, analyze, and map all kinds of spatial data like health care costs, demographics, census tracks, topographic maps, climate or electoral results on local or global scales. ...

ArcGIS Online

Streamline your location intelligence with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

147 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is ArcGIS Online?

ArcGIS Online from Esri is a most powerful, flexible and easiest-to-use location intelligence platform in the market today. Using ArcGIS Online for ArcGIS Cloud, ArcGIS for Server, or a combination of the two allows to start improving workflows faster with this set of web services, maps, apps ...

Mango

Solve complex problems with ease using Mango GIS.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

1 verified reviews

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What is Mango?

Mango is a GIS software for solving complex spatial problems. The new, powerful interface makes Mango easy to learn. It's comprehensive, with tools for data management, processing, analysis and display that are unmatched by other GIS software. Easy to acquire and use, Mango gives all the ...

Mapify

Empowering smarter decisions with real-time location insights.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Mapify?

Mapify is a Location Intelligence Software that provides developers with secure, scalable APIs, SDKs and Map Components to produce real-time data results. From professional to small companies, there is a powerful application that allows users to upload spatial data and create data layers for ...

Mapbox

Powering location innovation with Mapbox.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.4

45 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Mapbox?

Mapbox is a location data platform, serving developers, design studios, and enterprises globally. It provide the building blocks for businesses to integrate location into any product or service. Whether looking to make a bold geo-enabled statement or simply need a reliable map that's both easy ...

Maptive

Visualize, analyze, and share your data with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

46 verified reviews

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What is Maptive?

Maptive is an GIS software with amazing functionalities. For this application, the target market is first and foremost GIS professionals and decision makers that are seeking a powerful tool to manage large-scale datasets. The software can be used in many different industries as a common ground ...

ZeeMaps

Effortless mapping made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.4

40 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is ZeeMaps?

ZeeMaps is an innovative geographic information system (GIS) and mapping system for Google Earth. It was designed to simplify the process of locating items on a map so that anyone can easily create layers for searching, modify them, and analyze the results. ZeeMaps contains over 700,000 ...

Scribble Maps

Explore, map, and analyze with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

78 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Scribble Maps?

Scribble Maps is a Geographic Information System (GIS) software for phone and desktop. Though originally intended to create maps from survey data (such as DEMs), it can also be used to overlay GIS data on top of imagery such as satellite or aerial photographs. This makes it useful for field ...

Badger Maps

Navigate your data with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.8

166 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Badger Maps?

Badger Maps software is a cost-effective professional tool for viewing, querying, and analyzing geographic information system (GIS) data. More of a mapping program than a CAD tool, Badger Maps provides an easy-to-use solution for viewing, querying, and analyzing geographic information systems ...

AziMap

Unlock the power of GIS with AziMap.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is AziMap?

AziMap GIS software is am open source Geographic Information System (GIS) softwares available on the market. AziMap is an easy to use, full-featured GIS written in Java, which integrates with other geographical systems to provide an extremely competitive solution for organizations involved with ...

QGIS

Empowering mapping and analytics for all.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.5

142 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is QGIS?

QGIS is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. No matter what continent on or which GIS software user uses at work, QGIS has much to offer in common with GIS tools already installed. It supports vector, raster & database ...

What makes each Esri ArcGIS alternative worth considering

CARTO9.4Best for teams of all sizes

Feature-rich platform for spatial mapping, allowing multiple layers on each map for complex work demands.

Watch for: Intimidating learning curve at the beginning for users without data analytics expertise.

Maptitude9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Mapping tool with strong data analysis capabilities.

Watch for: Learning curve for complex features may require some training.

ArcGIS Online9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Combines mapping and analysis tools in a cloud-based environment.

Watch for: Subscription costs may be high for smaller organizations.

Mango8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Mapify7.5Best for small & mid-size businesses

Real-time data insights

Watch for: Requires development skills

Mapbox9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Offers a wide range of customization options and base map styles for detailed, distinctive map designs.

Watch for: Map-view-based pricing can lead to unexpectedly high costs for popular sites or high-traffic apps.

Maptive8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Powerful data management

Watch for: Can be expensive for small users

ZeeMaps8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use with helpful team support.

Watch for: Occasionally slow performance during map creation.

Scribble Maps8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Highly user-friendly interface with easy-to-use tools for creating customized maps.

Watch for: Learning curve for some users due to minor inconsistencies in the interface conventions.

Badger Maps8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use with mapping capabilities for efficient route planning.

Watch for: Some users find the richness of features and customizations overwhelming without sufficient guidance or training.

AziMap8.6Best for teams of all sizes

Open source

Watch for: Java-based may limit performance

QGIS8.6Best for teams of all sizes

QGIS is an open-source GIS platform with a wide array of features and plugins that make work easier and more efficient.

Watch for: Output templates are not readily available, requiring additional time for configuring settings when doing layout.

Why teams look for a Esri ArcGIS alternative

Most people weighing a Esri ArcGIS alternative are reacting to the same handful of pain points:

Some users find the complexity of features and customizations daunting, especially for newcomers without proper support.
Limited customization options in the Marketplace can be a drawback for those needing advanced functionalities.
Some users experience slowness and find it hard to automate tasks efficiently.
Certain tasks, like automating and large-scale projects, may require additional technical expertise or learning curve.

The buyer's checklist for a Esri ArcGIS alternative

A quick data read across all 12 geographic information system software free alternatives: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $39–$420, with Mango the cheapest entry point; and Maptitude is the highest rated at 4.91★ across 156 reviews.

How we sort these tools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

What are the best alternatives to Esri ArcGIS?

The top-rated alternatives to Esri ArcGIS are Maptitude (4.9★), Badger Maps (4.8★), CARTO (4.7★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

What features should I look for in a Geographic Information System Software alternative?

When evaluating alternatives to Esri ArcGIS, prioritize: Spatial Analysis, Map Sharing, Map Creation, Labeling, Interoperability, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

How difficult is it to migrate from Esri ArcGIS to an alternative?

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Esri ArcGIS is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to find your ideal Esri ArcGIS alternative

On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — CARTO, Maptitude and ArcGIS Online let you evaluate without paying upfront.
If real-user ratings matter most: Maptitude has the strongest star rating (4.91★) among the options with verified reviews.
Want the safest pick: CARTO has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.4) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Moving your team off Esri ArcGIS

Easing off Esri ArcGIS works best when you test before you commit. Export your data, confirm the new tool reads it, and verify your essential features. Pilot the change with a free trial, then roll out fully, keeping Esri ArcGIS as a fallback until migration ends.

Compare top products

ArcGIS Online

Mapify

Mango

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

Mango

CARTO

Maptive

CARTO

Maptitude

ArcGIS Online

QGIS

Maptitude

Scribble Maps

ArcGIS Online

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

ZeeMaps

About the reviewer

Rajat Gupta

Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

Top 12 Free Esri ArcGIS Alternatives, Compared (2026)

Best free Esri ArcGIS alternatives: a side-by-side view

CARTO

Navigate your data with interactive mapping.

Maptitude

Empowering spatial data analysis with high-performance GIS software.

ArcGIS Online

Streamline your location intelligence with ease.

Mango

Solve complex problems with ease using Mango GIS.

Mapify

Empowering smarter decisions with real-time location insights.

Mapbox

Powering location innovation with Mapbox.

Maptive

Visualize, analyze, and share your data with ease.

ZeeMaps

Effortless mapping made simple.

Scribble Maps

Explore, map, and analyze with ease.

Badger Maps

Navigate your data with ease.

AziMap

Unlock the power of GIS with AziMap.

QGIS

Empowering mapping and analytics for all.

What makes each Esri ArcGIS alternative worth considering

Why teams look for a Esri ArcGIS alternative

The buyer's checklist for a Esri ArcGIS alternative

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to find your ideal Esri ArcGIS alternative

Moving your team off Esri ArcGIS

Compare top products

ArcGIS Online

Mapify

Mango

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

Mango

CARTO

Maptive

CARTO

Maptitude

ArcGIS Online

QGIS

Maptitude

Scribble Maps

ArcGIS Online

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

ZeeMaps

Research Popular Software and Services

About the reviewer

Compare top products

ArcGIS Online

Mapify

Mango

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

Mango

CARTO

Maptive

CARTO

Maptitude

ArcGIS Online

QGIS

Maptitude

Scribble Maps

ArcGIS Online

Mapbox

ArcGIS Online

ZeeMaps

Research Popular Software and Services

About the reviewer

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