ArcGIS vs. QGIS

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
ArcGIS
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Esri in Redlands, California offers ArcGIS, a geographic information system.
$100
per year
QGIS
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
QGIS (formerly Quantum GIS) is a free and open source geographic information system.N/A
Pricing
ArcGISQGIS
Editions & Modules
Viewer
$100
per year
ArcGIS for Personal Use
$100
per year
ArcGIS for Student Use
$100
per year
Editor
$200
per year
Field Worker
$350
per year
Creator
$500
per year
GIS Professional Basic
$700
per year
GIS Professional Basic
2,750
per year
GIS Professional Advanced
3,800
per year
QGIS
Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
ArcGISQGIS
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
ArcGISQGIS
Considered Both Products
ArcGIS
Chose ArcGIS
Compared to other suites like ENVI, ERDAS Imagine, IDRISI TerrSet, and OSGEO QGIS, ArcGIS compares favorably in most use cases. Naturally, different tools are best suited for different tasks (ENVI/ERDAS for spectral analysis, for instance) but ArcGIS is competent enough across …
Chose ArcGIS
Both ArcGIS and QGIS are professional GIS applications. The price tag on ArcGIS is equivalent to the cost to train a professional on QGIS. ArcGIS is a more mature solution and is a stable tool with many years in production. QGIS is the new software, with almost the same tools …
Chose ArcGIS
ArcGIS is superior to all the other GIS existing in the market, none of them are half as good as ArcGIS is. They constantly try to evolve or to copy ArcGIS but they cannot do it. The principal limitation of the free software is the constant updates, that make the program so …
Chose ArcGIS
Both tools are very powerful. The difference is that QGIS is open source. I could say that these tools can be complemented. However, I have more experience in the use of ArcGis, and I see greater advantages. For example, the cartographic output is of higher quality, is of …
Chose ArcGIS
ArcGIS is more robust than QGIS, but often slower and more memory intensive. QGIS is also free, while providing at least 90% of the functionality. Although it might be difficult to get used to the interface differences between the two programs, QGIS is a worthy competitor …
Chose ArcGIS
In my opinion ArcGIS is the most comprehensive geographic information system program in the world, select it over QGIS because it contains all the tools for a proper planning of the territory. arcgis offers the best geo-statistics tools, automated cartography, maps …
Chose ArcGIS
ArcGIS and QGIS have a lot of similarities between their products. Where ArcGIS stands out is with their online version of their software. ArcGIS's online solution will pair up with your on-prem solution to offer a fully synchronized system. I wasn't able to duplicate the …
Chose ArcGIS
I was working with this software fore more than 10 years. I learned ArcGIS at University and I believed this software to be essential in the management of GIS. It was before I tried QGIS. I regret my purchase by the expensive cost, the complex method to licencing and the weak …
Chose ArcGIS
To be honest, there isn't really any competition to ArcGIS, while there are smaller applications such as QGIS, they are not enterprise. Meaning that they might do onething well, but not at a enterprise level. Other applications such as Google Maps API, and Mapbox, is just …
Chose ArcGIS
Much better than any other similar product in the market.
Chose ArcGIS
There's really no competitor to ArcGIS. The software was really the first to get into advanced geographic analysis and has kept that lead through today. The software does everything that any other geographic analytics tool attempts to do and then some. Some tools offer …
Chose ArcGIS
I find ArcGIS to be more consistent and reliable.
Chose ArcGIS
ArcGIS is overall a better program than most of the competitors. It is generally more user-friendly, has better displays, and more customization than other programs. It is especially useful in the geosciences and workplace settings, where data can be seamlessly shared among …
Chose ArcGIS
Select ArcGIS because it is a work tool for professional recognition of experts linked to the geography and planning of the territory.
It is a very complete program because it allows you to debug content, georeference, analyze content, and cartography design. It is the best …
Chose ArcGIS
I selected ArcGIS because is a tool that we use in our firm to perform base cartography and we depend on the exchangeable files from shape to dxf and kml. This software have as an advantage it's flexibility and stability, and it stacks up well because it has evolved from the …
Chose ArcGIS
The other software out there lacks the support that you get from the software manufacturer, Esri. I would also add that they look old, have a clunky feel and just aren't as intuitive or lack some of the functionality that the ArcGIS software has.
QGIS
Chose QGIS
QGIS vs. ArcGIS. The main reason is the price of ArcGIS. Most of the functionality is identical in both products, however, interfacing QGIS with external software allows it to dramatically increase processing capabilities.

QGIS vs. ERDAS IMAGINE. It is quite good for satellite …
Chose QGIS
Both tools are very powerful. The difference is that QGIS is open source. Experts can develop applications that suit the specific needs of certain users. A big advantage of QGIS is undoubtedly the economic cost, because Qgis is a software almost as powerful as ArcGIS. I could …
Chose QGIS
ESRI programs like ArcGIS are the gold standard in planning, GIS, and digital data visualization, but QGIS stands up to the ArcGIS package at a lower price point and with excellent training information. ArcGIS has very little other components not found in QGIS, and QGIS has …
Chose QGIS
I learned GIS with ArcGIS and have used ArcGIS longer than QGIS. Both programs have essentially the same functionality. However, QGIS is free, while users need a license for ArcGIS (individual licenses are available for a few hundred dollars). I really like that QGIS is open …
Chose QGIS
Frankly, QGIS is an inferior tool as compared to ArcGIS as ArcGIS is a market leader in spatial data analysis, offers a family of GIS Suite catering to different needs, has a huge repository of training exercises and tutorials, an organized catalog of data if you need further …
Chose QGIS
QGIS is open source and freely available for Windows and Mac iOS Geographic Information System Software. QGIS is highly customizable as per project requirements and different application usage. QGIS has ample tools and plugins that are useful for the analysis of raster and …
Chose QGIS
Handling ESRI licenses was not an easy task for our organization as we had a large number of users that needed access to GIS capabilities on a very occasional basis. R requires a lot of coding to get a decent-looking map. QGIS hits the spot when it comes to visual …
Chose QGIS
First of all QGIS it is a free software in an are that has always been monopolized for big companies like ESRI, in that way QGIS bring the opportunity to know how to work with GIS and how we can manage data from so many formats in only one software. Qgis it is the best …
Chose QGIS

Each of the products have their strong points and their weak points, as well as some products being particularly adept at certain analyses or workflows. That being said, QGIS can do nearly everything all of the above products can do, and it does them for free, with continual …

Top Pros
Top Cons
TrustRadius Insights
ArcGISQGIS
Highlights

TrustRadius
Research Team Insight
Published

ArcGIS and QGIS are geographical information systems used for mapping census data, traffic data, construction plans, environmental information, and other types of spatial data. ArcGIS is a longstanding product of Esri, while QGIS is a free, open-source project.

Features

ArcGIS and QGIS are both used for mapping spatial data, but they have a few important differences.

ArcGIS has been in use for quite a long time, and as such it is well known in spatial data mapping fields. Reviewers say they haven’t found it difficult to locate and hire ArcGIS experts for their projects, which is helpful since ArcGIS is a very robust, full-featured program with a steep learning curve for end users. Data sharing and exporting options make it possible to use ArcGIS for many different types of projects, and ArcGIS provides excellent support for its users, including training. 

QGIS is the lean and nimble open-source version of ArcGIS. Simpler than ArcGIS, it is perfect for small projects which use less data, and since it’s free, it’s ideal for organizations with leaner budgets. It’s compatible with ArcGIS, however, so QGIS users can still accept and work with ArcGIS-specific files. Like many open-source projects, it has lots of plugins and extensions that can be used to accomplish things the program alone can’t do. 

Limitations

Though ArcGIS and QGIS provide similar services, each has specific limitations that may inform which one is best for your needs.

As the elder statesman of the industry, ArcGIS is prone to the downsides of such a role. It’s complex and fully-featured, so it needs a lot of computer processing power to use properly, the program loads slowly upon opening, and large files take a very long time to save. It’s too complex for simple tasks for the end user, and this complexity is reflected in the price as well. Advanced analytical tools not included in the original software cost extra money. But it should be noted that ArcGIS has an online version that may address and fix many of these issues.

QGIS’s limitations are typical of open-source software. Plugins and extensions for tasks QGIS itself can’t do are abundant, but they are not centrally located and can be difficult to find. QGIS is easier to use than ArcGIS, but there’s still a learning curve, and QGIS lacks the official training resources and dedicated support of its rival. And some builds can be unstable or prone to crashing.

Pricing

As QGIS is open source software, it is free to use. Businesses may reach out to ArcGIS sales for a price quote.

Best Alternatives
ArcGISQGIS
Small Businesses
Google Maps API
Google Maps API
Score 8.9 out of 10
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Google Maps API
Google Maps API
Score 8.9 out of 10
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Score 8.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Google Maps API
Google Maps API
Score 8.9 out of 10
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
ArcGISQGIS
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(39 ratings)
9.7
(12 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(2 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(12 ratings)
8.0
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
ArcGISQGIS
Likelihood to Recommend
Esri
We utilize ArcGIS for each of our units. For example, we just completed our unit on the Middle Ages and are starting our unit on the Renaissance. There is a GeoInquiry that has students manipulate a map to not only see but understand the spread of the plague. They can toggle on and off different layers and icons to see how deadly the plague truly was, and how it led to the rebirth of Europe
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Open Source
Well suited:
  • To build beautiful and dynamic maps quickly.
  • To conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses.
  • To work cross-platform, as both the Windows version and the Linux version are identical in appearance and available resources.
Less appropriate:
  • To use and import files from proprietary software such as ArcGIS and AutoCAD.
Read full review
Pros
Esri
  • Enterprise GIS - multi-user, multi-versioned geodatabase access through a host of apps and web tools really help people stay connected to data.
  • Cartography - fantastic control and customization available with the ability to automate workflows.
  • Training - tons of training videos, seminars, and other learning materials are easily accessed. The help documentation is superb.
  • Ability to manage an organization through dashboards is extremely helpful.
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Open Source
  • Styling: the styling engine is fantastic with raster styling features that I recognize from apps like Photoshop.
  • Print layouts: I can set up custom print layouts, and even do automated multi-page atlas style reports that I use for cycling through detailed areas when providing my clients with pdf reports.
  • Extendable: the plugins are fantastic, and almost anything I need that isn't provided natively with QGIS is available as a plugin.
  • Community: the QGIS community is passionate about GIS, and are always ready to help. There are great training resources available online.
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Cons
Esri
  • There is a steep learning curve for ArcGIS users.
  • It takes a lot of computing power for ArcGIS, as it can't be installed on every computer.
  • At times, tools can be outdated and there are many similar competitors making more web-based tools that can replace ArcGIS.
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Open Source
  • Making maps in QGIS is a bit clunky. I also find it to be extremely unintuitive. For basic GIS, it is great, but I would much rather make maps (for publication purposes) in ArcGIS.
  • Editing and adding feature layers is not very intuitive. Changing colors of added point or line features is a rather convoluted process.
  • ArcGIS has a huge selection of online courses, and if you have the appropriate license, you can access most for free. I found these to be very helpful when dealing with map projections and other issues. However, QGIS does not have a large library of courses specifically made for that program.
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Likelihood to Renew
Esri
Simply because the program deserves it. It seems to me that it is a fundamental tool for the storage, analysis, and interpretation of medium and large-scale phenomena, unmanageable with traditional engineering software. Its versatility in the handling of the different "layers" with which the data is handled and interpolation tools, make this software a powerful ally both for companies and for the educational part of the universities.
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Open Source
No answers on this topic
Usability
Esri
Once set up, the tools are extremely easy to use. I had a staff member develop a tool for field data collection, that included an external and internal dashboards to monitor progress in days. The field workers that collected the data, barely knew how to use a computer, and within minutes they could use the application that was configured for them.
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Open Source
I wasn't a GIS user at all when I started using QGIS, nor did I have any background working with data in anything other than Excel, and as a result, I struggled quite a lot in the beginning (it's not quite Google Maps). But having said that, I haven't come across anything that I couldn't do with a little help from the online community. I've done complex spatial analyses on large datasets of metropolitan cities, designed custom multi-page pdf reports that automatically cycle through different areas of an area, etc.
And the GIS staff that I've appointed, after their initial resistance, took to the tool like a fish to water, and I haven't heard them complain after starting to use the tool for a week or two.
But if you're new to GIS, be patient and invest some time to learn how to use the tool. It is absolutely worth it.
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Support Rating
Esri
Unlike other platforms (ex: EMSI), there is no "help desk" new users can easily call into for troubleshooting or errors, and so you have to spend LOTS of time trying workarounds. This is also because the help center blog posts are usually pretty confusing, and many times do not include images or videos to help you along. Any such changes would be immensely useful!
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Open Source
Even though there is a no dedicated support team for QGIS (or at least we are not aware of it), there is a huge online community and a large number of forums catering to every question you may have regarding any particular functionality of QGIS. So, you have a lot of help available but you will have to sift through it on the web.
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Alternatives Considered
Esri
ArcGIS and QGIS have a lot of similarities between their products. Where ArcGIS stands out is with their online version of their software. ArcGIS's online solution will pair up with your on-prem solution to offer a fully synchronized system. I wasn't able to duplicate the efforts with QGIS's products and it also requires other 3rd party applications to offer something "somewhat" comparable.
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Open Source
QGIS is open source and freely available for Windows and Mac iOS Geographic Information System Software. QGIS is highly customizable as per project requirements and different application usage. QGIS has ample tools and plugins that are useful for the analysis of raster and vector data. It also supports GRASS, GDAL, and SAGA tools.
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Return on Investment
Esri
  • ArcGIS is almost assuredly a positive ROI. The software is nicely packaged with a large user base. If you plan on doing geographic analysis and think there could be a boost to your bottom-line by doing geographic analysis, ArcGIS is the first tool I would turn to.
  • For some analysts that just want to geocode addresses and plot city, county, or country boundaries, ArcGIS is a negative ROI. There are lots of other tools (free ones) that will accomplish these tasks without investing lots of time and money in ArcGIS. If that's all you're looking for, ArcGIS will turn out to be a negative ROI.
  • ArcGIS has been a positive ROI for cases involving customer analytics. The software is great for geofencing customers and finding the most optimal targeting of customers.
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Open Source
  • QGIS gives us more impactful data on children and maternal health issues, which in turn has helped us establish more programs, relationships, and funding opportunities because of the excellent data presentations we can give.
  • QGIS has allowed our staff to improve their data analysis skills, improving our workforce across the board, with or without the direct use of geographic data.
  • QGIS has required a lot of staff time to learn, but the ROI on time spent vs the reports we produced afterward has been well worth it.
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