ArcGIS Earth
GIS software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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Completely free
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Free version
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- Arts, entertainment, and recreation
- Education and training
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
What is ArcGIS Earth
ArcGIS Earth is a desktop and mobile 3D globe application used to visualize and explore geographic data in a scene-based context. It targets GIS analysts, field staff, and stakeholders who need to view layers, perform basic measurements, and communicate location context without using a full GIS authoring environment. The product focuses on interactive 3D visualization and supports common GIS formats and services, particularly within the ArcGIS ecosystem. It is often used for situational awareness, briefing-style map review, and lightweight data inspection.
Strong 3D globe visualization
ArcGIS Earth provides a 3D globe interface suited to viewing terrain, imagery, and 3D content such as scene layers. It supports interactive navigation, bookmarks, and presentation-style workflows for sharing geographic context. For organizations that need a viewer rather than a full desktop GIS, it offers a simpler way to consume 3D geospatial content.
Integrates with ArcGIS services
The application connects to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise content such as web maps, scene services, and other hosted layers. This makes it practical for organizations already publishing authoritative layers and basemaps through ArcGIS. It also helps standardize consumption of internal services compared with relying on general-purpose mapping platforms.
Broad data format support
ArcGIS Earth supports common GIS and geospatial file types used for visualization and exchange, including KML/KMZ and other Esri-supported formats. Users can bring local files into a 3D scene alongside web services for quick inspection. This reduces the need to convert data for basic viewing and stakeholder review.
Limited GIS analysis tools
ArcGIS Earth is primarily a visualization and data consumption tool rather than a full GIS authoring and analysis environment. Advanced geoprocessing, data management, and cartographic production typically require other GIS products. Teams expecting end-to-end GIS workflows may find the tool insufficient on its own.
Best within Esri ecosystem
While it can consume some non-Esri formats and standards, the most seamless experience is with ArcGIS-hosted services and content. Organizations using mixed GIS stacks may encounter gaps in interoperability or need additional configuration and publishing steps. This can increase reliance on ArcGIS Online/Enterprise for content delivery.
Not a web-first platform
ArcGIS Earth is an installed application, which can add deployment and device-management overhead compared with browser-based mapping tools. Sharing interactive experiences may require recipients to install the app or rely on separate web products for distribution. This can be a constraint for external audiences or large, distributed stakeholder groups.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free (download) | ArcGIS Earth is a free desktop and mobile application for 3D visualization and exploration, supports KML/KMZ, many data formats and offline use. Included with all ArcGIS user types; some ArcGIS Online subscriber/premium content may consume ArcGIS credits. Download available from Esri. |
Seller details
Esri
Redlands, California, USA
1969
Private
https://www.esri.com/
https://x.com/Esri
https://www.linkedin.com/company/esri/
