Comparison of geographic information systems software explained

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.^{[1] [2] [3]}

License, source, & operating system support

GIS software	Free software	Open source	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	Unix	Web	Other
	ArcGIS	Viewer(s)			^[4]					Google Earth Plugin, KML, WMS
	Autodesk	Viewer(s)
	Cadcorp	Viewer(s)
	Deegree			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	Erdas Imagine	Viewers & Plug-ins
	FME^[5]								FME Cloud^[6]
	GeoBase - Telogis	Trial								Traffic, WMS, ADAS, Routing
	GeoNetwork			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	GeoServer			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	GeoTools			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	GRASS								via pyWPS^[7]
	gvSIG			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	IDRISI
	ILWIS
	GeoMedia	Viewer(s)						CLIX		KML
	JUMP GIS			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	Kosmo			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	LandSerf			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
	MapDotNet
	Manifold System
	Microsoft MapPoint	Discontinued
	Pitney Bowes MapInfo Pro	Viewer(s)
	MapServer								AMP
	Maptitude Caliper software
	MapWindow GIS
	Oracle Spatial
	PostGIS
	QGIS									Google Earth Plugin, KML, WMS
	RegioGraph
	RemoteView
	SAGA GIS									KLM
	SAP HANA	Free Trial
	Smallworld								Read-only	OLE, XML, Multiuser, Utility Data Model, Data Translator export/import
	SPRING							Solaris
	TerraLib TerraView
	TNTmips	Viewer(s)
	TransModeler Caliper Software
	uDig			Java	Java	Java	Java	Java
GIS software	Free software	Open source	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	Unix	Web	Other

Pure server

Map servers

Name	Language			WFS-T					Other
ArcGIS Server	.NET/Java								SOAP, REST, KML
MapServer	C
Deegree	Java
GeoServer	Java
MapDotNet	C#/.NET								SOAP and REST feature and map services
Manifold System	ASP C#								client and server
GeoMedia WebMap	ASP C#						?

Map caches

Name	Language	WMS-C	Other
ArcGIS Server	.NET/Java
MapDotNet	C#/.NET		File-based and SQL Server

Pure web client

Libraries

Name	Language	WMS	WFS		Other
OpenLayers	JavaScript				support for navigation, icons, markers, and layer selection.
Leaflet	JavaScript	^[8]			support for navigation, icons, markers, layers, GeoJSON
MapDotNet	JavaScript/HTML5				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

Notes and References

1. Defining methodology for selecting most appropriate GIS software . Survey Review . 2014 . 10.1179/1752270614Y.0000000116.
2. Eldrandaly . Khalid . GIS software selection: a multi criteria decision making approach . Applied GIS . 2007 . 1832-5505.
3. Rural landscape visualisation from GIS databases: a comparison of approaches, options and problems . Computers, Environment and Urban Systems . 2002 . 10.1016/S0198-9715(01)00041-2.
4. Web site: ArcGIS Pro in Mac OS X . esri.com . 2022-07-07.
5. Web site: FME Downloads . Safe Software . 5 November 2022.
6. Web site: Harness the Power of FME Server in the Cloud . Safe Software . 5 November 2022.
7. Web site: PyWPS . PyWPS.org . 2018-07-24.
8. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180815055415/https://leafletjs.com/reference.html#tilelayer-wms . 2018-08-15 . dead .