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Maps & Navigation · head to head

Esri ArcGIS vs exactEarth

Esri ArcGIS logo

Esri ArcGIS

Maps & Navigation

Geographic Information System Platform

From
On request
Rated
-
exactEarth logo

exactEarth

Maritime & Shipping

Advanced satellite AIS data services

From
$1000/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Esri ArcGIS arcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence; exactEarth exactEarth's own homepage, as captured by the Internet Archive on 28 December 2021, carried a banner stating: 'We are happy to announce that exactEarth is now part of Spire Global,' confirming in the vendor's own words that exactEarth was absorbed into Spire (now sold as Kpler's spireMT product); no independent exactEarth pricing survives
  • They diverge on capability: Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, exactEarth covers Satellite AIS data.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Esri ArcGIS and exactEarth actually diverge.

Attributes where Esri ArcGIS and exactEarth differ
AttributeEsri ArcGISexactEarth
Starting priceOn request$1000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (field apps), DesktopApi, Web
CategoryMaps & NavigationMaritime & Shipping
Founded19692009

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Esri ArcGIS

  • Mapping & Visualization
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Data Management
  • Field Operations
  • Real-time Analytics
  • AutoCAD
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Office

Only in exactEarth

  • Satellite AIS data
  • Global vessel tracking
  • Historical data archive
  • Anomaly detection
  • API
  • Data feeds
  • GIS platforms
  • Api support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Esri ArcGIS

  • Geospatial mapping and spatial analysisnot exactEarth
  • Enterprise data governance and managementnot exactEarth
  • Real-time field data collectionnot exactEarth
  • AI-assisted geospatial analysisnot exactEarth

exactEarth

No use cases recorded yet. See the exactEarth review.

Where each one falls short

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

Esri ArcGIS

  • ArcGIS Online is cloud-based only; self-hosted deployment requires separate ArcGIS Enterprise licence
  • Field and offline workflows require advanced capabilities; basic plans may lack offline synchronisation
  • Pricing details not published; customers must contact sales for quotes

exactEarth

  • exactEarth's own homepage, as captured by the Internet Archive on 28 December 2021, carried a banner stating: 'We are happy to announce that exactEarth is now part of Spire Global,' confirming in the vendor's own words that exactEarth was absorbed into Spire (now sold as Kpler's spireMT product); no independent exactEarth pricing survives

Pricing, plan by plan

Esri ArcGIS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Esri ArcGIS review.

exactEarth

$1000/month
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Global AIS data
    • Historical archive
    • Custom analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Esri ArcGIS if

  • You need mapping & visualization.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop.
  • You also want spatial analysis.

Choose exactEarth if

  • You need satellite ais data.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want global vessel tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Esri ArcGIS or exactEarth better?
Neither clearly leads. Esri ArcGIS starts at On request and exactEarth at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Esri ArcGIS or exactEarth?
Esri ArcGIS starts at On request and exactEarth at $1000/month.
Does Esri ArcGIS or exactEarth run on more platforms?
Esri ArcGIS runs on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop. exactEarth runs on Api, Web.
What is Esri ArcGIS best used for?
Esri ArcGIS is most often used for geospatial mapping and spatial analysis, enterprise data governance and management, real-time field data collection, ai-assisted geospatial analysis. Of those, geospatial mapping and spatial analysis and enterprise data governance and management are not what exactEarth is typically brought in for.
What can Esri ArcGIS do that exactEarth cannot?
Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, Spatial Analysis, Data Management, Field Operations. exactEarth covers Satellite AIS data, Global vessel tracking, Historical data archive, Anomaly detection. Both handle Web support.

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