The two most widely used desktop GIS platforms are QGIS (open source) and ArcGIS Pro (Esri). Both are professional tools – the right choice depends on your needs and environment.
QGIS
- Free and open source, no licence fees
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Large plugin ecosystem
- Excellent support for open standards and formats
- Works perfectly with PostGIS, GeoServer and web mapping libraries
- Community and commercial support available
ArcGIS Pro
- Commercial licences (named user or other models)
- Deeply integrated platform: ArcGIS Online, Enterprise, Field Maps, Dashboards
- Strong in enterprise workflows and standard templates
- Widely used in public administration and utilities
- Extensive official training and support
Comparison
| Criteria | QGIS | ArcGIS Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Licence fees |
| Analysis tools | Very extensive | Very extensive |
| Web & mobile ecosystem | Open-source stack | Integrated Esri platform |
| Open standards | Excellent | Good |
| Learning resources | Community | Official + community |
| Typical users | SMEs, research, many authorities | Enterprises, utilities, authorities |
When QGIS is the better choice
- You want to avoid licence costs
- You build web maps with open-source technology
- Flexible scripting with Python and open data is important
When ArcGIS is the better choice
- Your organisation already uses the Esri platform
- You need integrated mobile field apps and dashboards out of the box
- Partners and authorities exchange data in Esri environments
Using both
Many organisations combine them: QGIS for editing and analysis, ArcGIS for existing enterprise workflows. Standard formats such as GeoPackage make exchange easy.
We work with both and recommend based on your existing systems, budget and goals.
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