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Maps · head to head

Atlas.co vs Gaia GPS

Atlas.co logo

Atlas.co

Maps

Browser-based collaborative GIS with published per-seat pricing and a free tier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gaia GPS logo

Gaia GPS

Maps

Premium backcountry navigation for outdoor adventurers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Atlas.co analytical depth is a long way short of a mature GIS: there is no serious raster analysis, network analysis, topology editing or geodetic control, so complex work still goes back to QGIS or ArcGIS.; Gaia GPS no specific pricing details are published for the Premium tier
  • They diverge on capability: Atlas.co covers Browser GIS, Gaia GPS covers Topo maps.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Atlas.co and Gaia GPS actually diverge.

Attributes where Atlas.co and Gaia GPS differ
AttributeAtlas.coGaia GPS
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Web
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Atlas.co

  • Browser GIS
  • Workflow builder
  • Geocoding
  • Collaboration
  • Data import
  • Cheap viewer seats
  • Export and embed
  • AI credits

Only in Gaia GPS

  • Topo maps
  • Satellite imagery
  • Offline maps
  • Track recording
  • Waypoint management
  • Garmin inReach
  • Apple Watch
  • Garmin Connect

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Atlas.co

  • A renewables developer screening sites against constraint layers who needs an answer this afternoon and has no GIS analyst availablenot Gaia GPS
  • A planning or property team that mainly needs colleagues to view and comment on maps, where $7 viewer seats replace expensive read-only GIS licencesnot Gaia GPS
  • A consultancy producing client-facing maps and embeds without maintaining desktop GIS installs across a distributed teamnot Gaia GPS
  • An analyst with an address spreadsheet who needs geocoding, buffering and a shareable map without learning a desktop GISnot Gaia GPS

Gaia GPS

  • Offline topographic map navigation for hiking and backcountry travelnot Atlas.co
  • Trail discovery and uploading in remote areasnot Atlas.co
  • 4x4 off-road and overlanding navigationnot Atlas.co
  • Ski touring and backcountry skiing navigationnot Atlas.co

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Atlas.co

  • Analytical depth is a long way short of a mature GIS: there is no serious raster analysis, network analysis, topology editing or geodetic control, so complex work still goes back to QGIS or ArcGIS.
  • Geocoding and workflow runs are metered per tier, and a single large address batch can exhaust a month’s Pro allowance in one afternoon, forcing an upgrade for a one-off job.
  • The company is at pre-seed stage with roughly $2m raised and a small team, so buyers embedding it in a business process carry meaningful continuity risk.
  • Annual billing is required to get the advertised prices, which removes the flexibility that would otherwise make a young vendor a low-risk trial.
  • There is no offline or field capability at all, so any organisation whose spatial work includes data collection needs a second tool alongside it.

Gaia GPS

  • No specific pricing details are published for the Premium tier
  • Pricing information only available through checkout or app interface

Pricing, plan by plan

Atlas.co

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 3 projects
    • 3 editors
    • 1 GB storage
  • Pro$23/month
    • 10 projects
    • 10 GB storage
    • 10,000 geocoding runs
  • Team$72/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Viewer seats at $7 per month
    • 25,000 geocoding runs
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Unlimited storage and workflows
    • 100,000 geocoding runs
    • White-labelled embeds

Gaia GPS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Gaia GPS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Atlas.co if

  • You need browser gis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want workflow builder.
Atlas.co review

Choose Gaia GPS if

  • You need topo maps.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want satellite imagery.
Gaia GPS review

Questions people ask

Is Atlas.co or Gaia GPS better?
Neither clearly leads. Atlas.co starts at Free and Gaia GPS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Atlas.co or Gaia GPS?
Atlas.co starts at Free and Gaia GPS at Free.
Does Atlas.co or Gaia GPS run on more platforms?
Atlas.co runs on Web. Gaia GPS runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Atlas.co for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Atlas.co best used for?
Atlas.co is most often used for a renewables developer screening sites against constraint layers who needs an answer this afternoon and has no gis analyst available, a planning or property team that mainly needs colleagues to view and comment on maps, where $7 viewer seats replace expensive read-only gis licences, a consultancy producing client-facing maps and embeds without maintaining desktop gis installs across a distributed team, an analyst with an address spreadsheet who needs geocoding, buffering and a shareable map without learning a desktop gis. Of those, a renewables developer screening sites against constraint layers who needs an answer this afternoon and has no gis analyst available and a planning or property team that mainly needs colleagues to view and comment on maps, where $7 viewer seats replace expensive read-only gis licences are not what Gaia GPS is typically brought in for.
What can Atlas.co do that Gaia GPS cannot?
Atlas.co covers Browser GIS, Workflow builder, Geocoding, Collaboration. Gaia GPS covers Topo maps, Satellite imagery, Offline maps, Track recording.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Atlas.co: How much does Atlas.co cost?

Starter is free, Pro is $23 per user per month and Team is $72 per editor per month with viewers at $7, all billed annually. Enterprise is quoted.

Gaia GPS: Does Gaia GPS offer a free version?

Yes, Gaia GPS Free is available. The service also offers Gaia GPS Premium as a paid tier, but specific pricing details are not disclosed on the website.

Source
Atlas.co: Can it replace ArcGIS or QGIS?

For visualisation, light analysis and sharing, often yes. For raster, network or geodetic work, no.

Gaia GPS: How much does Gaia GPS Premium cost?

Gaia GPS Premium is a paid subscription option, but the vendor does not publish specific pricing on their website. Pricing information is available through the app's checkout or registration pages.

Source
Atlas.co: What is the viewer seat?

A read-only seat at $7 per month on the Team plan, intended for stakeholders who consume maps rather than build them.

Atlas.co: Where is the company based?

Oslo, Norway. It was founded in 2021 and has raised around $2m in pre-seed funding.

Atlas.co: Is there a free tier?

Yes, Starter gives three projects, three editors and 1 GB of storage with metered geocoding and workflow runs.

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