Google Earth Pro
GIS software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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Completely free
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
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- Media and communications
- Education and training
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation
What is Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Pro is a desktop geospatial visualization application that lets users explore 3D satellite imagery, terrain, and historical imagery, and create basic map content such as placemarks, paths, polygons, and tours. It is commonly used for site reconnaissance, presentations, and lightweight spatial analysis such as measuring distances/areas and viewing elevation profiles. The product emphasizes interactive globe-based visualization and KML/KMZ workflows rather than enterprise GIS data management or advanced spatial analytics.
Rich 3D and imagery context
It provides a 3D globe with terrain, 3D buildings in many areas, and access to historical imagery where available. This supports quick visual validation of locations and context without building a full GIS project. The experience is optimized for exploration and communication rather than complex cartography.
Accessible desktop workflow
It runs as a desktop application and is generally straightforward for non-GIS specialists to use for basic mapping tasks. Users can create and organize placemarks, lines, polygons, and folders with minimal setup. This makes it practical for ad hoc analysis and sharing map narratives via tours and KML/KMZ files.
KML/KMZ import and export
It supports KML/KMZ as a primary interchange format, enabling sharing of annotated locations and simple geometries. Users can import common GIS data types (often via conversion) and export created content for use in other mapping tools. This interoperability is useful when a team uses multiple mapping and GIS systems.
Limited advanced GIS analysis
It does not provide the breadth of spatial analysis, geoprocessing, and data modeling found in full GIS platforms. Workflows such as network analysis, complex spatial joins, and automated geoprocessing typically require other GIS software. As a result, it is better suited to visualization and basic measurements than analytical GIS.
Not an enterprise GIS platform
It lacks native capabilities for multi-user editing, role-based administration, and governed data catalogs typical of enterprise GIS environments. Collaboration is commonly file-based (for example, sharing KML/KMZ) rather than managed through centralized services and versioning. Organizations with strict data governance often need complementary systems for authoritative datasets.
Imagery and data constraints
Imagery recency, resolution, and coverage vary by location and are not guaranteed for operational requirements. Some datasets and layers available in other mapping platforms are not exposed or configurable to the same extent in the desktop client. This can limit suitability for regulated use cases that require controlled data sources and update schedules.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Earth Pro (desktop) | $0 — Free | Advanced desktop application: import/export GIS data (KML, Shapefiles), historical imagery, high-resolution printing and movie maker, available for PC, Mac, Linux; downloadable from Google Earth official site (Earth Versions / Download Earth Pro). |
Seller details
Google LLC
Mountain View, CA, USA
1998
Subsidiary
https://cloud.google.com/deep-learning-vm
https://x.com/googlecloud
https://www.linkedin.com/company/google/
