Google Earth: Explore the world in 3D with satellite imagery. USGS EarthExplorer: Search and download Landsat and other USGS archives.
| Google Earth | USGS EarthExplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | 3D Cities & Digital Twins | Satellite & Aerial Imagery |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free tier | — | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Software licence | — | — |
| API | — | — |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Web, API |
| Made by | US Geological Survey | |
| Commercial use | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Export / print images | With conditions | Allowed |
| Offline / caching | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Visits from MapTools | 4 | 8 |
| Visit | Visit |
Google Earth features
- Global imagery and 3D
- Projects and placemarks
- KML import
- Historical imagery (Pro)
Commercial or promotional use of Google Earth imagery is prohibited. A handful of static images may be exported for non-commercial uses such as blogs or education, with attribution. Embedding Google Earth in websites or apps is not allowed.
Google Earth alternativesUSGS EarthExplorer features
- Landsat archive back to 1972
- Aerial photography
- Elevation data
- Bulk download
Landsat data is public domain in the United States. Credit USGS as the source.
USGS EarthExplorer alternativesSummary based on public information. Check each provider's current pricing and terms.