24 best Natural Earth alternatives in 2026

Free & open-source alternatives

OpenStreetMap

openstreetmap.org

The free, editable map of the world built by volunteers

FreeBasemaps10

Details Visit

USGS EarthExplorer

earthexplorer.usgs.gov

Search and download Landsat and other USGS archives

FreeImagery8

Details Visit

GeoNode

geonode.org

Open-source geospatial content management and data portal

Open sourceWeb GIS5

Details Visit

OpenTopography

opentopography.org

High-resolution topography and lidar data

FreeOpen Data4

Details Visit

Google Open Buildings

sites.research.google

Open building footprints detected from satellite imagery

FreeOpen Data3

Details Visit

Geofabrik Downloads

download.geofabrik.de

Daily OpenStreetMap extracts by country and region

FreeOpen Data2

Details Visit

GADM

gadm.org

Administrative boundaries for every country

FreeOpen Data2

Details Visit

Humanitarian Data Exchange

data.humdata.org

Open humanitarian datasets including boundaries and population

FreeOpen Data2

Details Visit

Global Human Settlement Layer

human-settlement.emergency.copernicus.eu

Global built-up area, population and settlement data

FreeOpen Data2

Details Visit

WorldPop

worldpop.org

Gridded population data for the world

FreeOpen Data2

Details Visit

Overture Maps

overturemaps.org

Open global map data: places, buildings, transport, addresses

FreeOpen Data1

Details Visit

US Census TIGER/Line

census.gov

Official US boundaries, roads and census geography

FreeOpen Data1

Details Visit

geoBoundaries

geoboundaries.org

Open administrative boundaries with permissive licences

FreeOpen Data1

Details Visit

Mapshaper

mapshaper.org

Simplify, edit and convert map shapes in the browser

Open sourceUtilities2

Details Visit

BlenderGIS

github.com

Import GIS data, terrain and basemaps into Blender

Open source3D & Twins2

Details Visit

D3 (d3-geo)

d3js.org

Map projections and SVG maps for custom data graphics

Open sourceLibraries1

Details Visit

All alternatives

Tool	Pricing	Commercial use	Export images	Platforms
Natural EarthPublic domain map data at small scales	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download
OpenStreetMapThe free, editable map of the world built by volunteers	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Web, Data download	Compare
USGS EarthExplorerSearch and download Landsat and other USGS archives	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Web, API	Compare
Foursquare PlacesGlobal points-of-interest data and Places API	Freemium	Check terms	Check terms	API, Data download	Compare
GeoNodeOpen-source geospatial content management and data portal	Open source	Check terms	Check terms	Web, Linux	Compare
RegridNationwide US parcel data and parcel map app	Freemium	Check terms	Check terms	Web, API, iOS, Android	Compare
OpenTopographyHigh-resolution topography and lidar data	Free	Check terms	Check terms	Data download, API, Web	Compare
Google Open BuildingsOpen building footprints detected from satellite imagery	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
Geofabrik DownloadsDaily OpenStreetMap extracts by country and region	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
GADMAdministrative boundaries for every country	Free	Not allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
SafeGraphPoints-of-interest and building footprint data	Enterprise	Check terms	Check terms	Data download, API	Compare
GeoNamesFree gazetteer of over 11 million place names	Freemium	Allowed	Allowed	Data download, API	Compare
Humanitarian Data ExchangeOpen humanitarian datasets including boundaries and population	Free	Check terms	Check terms	Data download, API	Compare
Global Human Settlement LayerGlobal built-up area, population and settlement data	Free	Check terms	Check terms	Data download	Compare
WorldPopGridded population data for the world	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
OSM Buildings3D buildings from OpenStreetMap on a web map	Freemium	Check terms	Check terms	Web, JavaScript	Compare
Overture MapsOpen global map data: places, buildings, transport, addresses	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
US Census TIGER/LineOfficial US boundaries, roads and census geography	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download	Compare
geoBoundariesOpen administrative boundaries with permissive licences	Free	Allowed	Allowed	Data download, API	Compare
TransitlandAggregated public transit data from thousands of agencies	Freemium	Check terms	Check terms	Web, API, Data download	Compare
MapboxCustom map styles, vector tiles and location APIs for developers	Freemium	Allowed	With conditions	Web, JavaScript, iOS, Android, API	Compare
MapTilerVector map tiles, styles and hosting built on OpenStreetMap	Freemium	Paid plan	With conditions	Web, API, JavaScript	Compare
MapshaperSimplify, edit and convert map shapes in the browser	Open source	Allowed	Allowed	Web, Command line	Compare
BlenderGISImport GIS data, terrain and basemaps into Blender	Open source	Check terms	Check terms	Plugin, Windows, macOS, Linux	Compare
D3 (d3-geo)Map projections and SVG maps for custom data graphics	Open source	Allowed	Allowed	JavaScript	Compare