Global Mapper: Affordable desktop GIS with strong format support and terrain tools. GRASS GIS: Open-source GIS for advanced raster, vector and terrain analysis.
| Global Mapper | GRASS GIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Desktop GIS | Desktop GIS |
| Pricing model | Paid | Open source |
| Starts at | See website | Free |
| Free tier | Free trial | — |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Software licence | — | GPL-2.0+ |
| API | — | — |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux, Python |
| Made by | Blue Marble Geographics | — |
| Commercial use | Check terms | Allowed |
| Export / print images | Check terms | Allowed |
| Offline / caching | Check terms | Allowed |
| Visits from MapTools | 7 | 8 |
| Visit | Visit |
Global Mapper features
- Hundreds of supported formats
- Terrain and contour generation
- Lidar module
- Digitising and analysis
GRASS GIS features
- Raster and terrain analysis
- Hydrological modelling
- Image processing
- Python and command-line scripting
Summary based on public information. Check each provider's current pricing and terms.