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Maps · head to head

Esri ArcGIS vs Felt

Esri ArcGIS logo

Esri ArcGIS

Maps

Geographic Information System Platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Felt logo

Felt

Maps

Collaborative browser mapping with a free non-commercial tier and annual-only paid contracts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Felt has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Esri ArcGIS no specific pricing information published on the product page; Felt felt publishes no prices for Professional or Enterprise, so buyers cannot compare against ArcGIS Online or QGIS with hosting without entering a sales process
  • They diverge on capability: Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, Felt covers Real-time collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Esri ArcGIS and Felt differ
AttributeEsri ArcGISFelt
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (field apps), DesktopWeb, iOS, Android
Founded1969Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (quote), 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 Esri ArcGIS

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

Only in Felt

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Drag and drop data
  • Unlimited viewers
  • Field app with offline support
  • Dashboards
  • Live cloud sources
  • API and SDK

What people use each for

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

Esri ArcGIS

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

Felt

  • An environmental consultancy that needs a client to view and comment on survey results without installing GIS softwarenot Esri ArcGIS
  • A utility field crew collecting asset condition offline and syncing to the same map the office is looking atnot Esri ArcGIS
  • A planning department sharing a proposal map with the public where the viewer count is unpredictable and viewer seats would be uncostednot Esri ArcGIS
  • A team of analysts who each hold data in different formats and want one map assembled in an afternoon rather than a weeknot Esri ArcGIS

Where each one falls short

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

Esri ArcGIS

  • No specific pricing information published on the product page
  • Customers directed to Esri Store or sales contact to learn about purchasing options
  • Pricing model not disclosed online; requires direct contact with sales

Felt

  • Felt publishes no prices for Professional or Enterprise, so buyers cannot compare against ArcGIS Online or QGIS with hosting without entering a sales process
  • Paid tiers are annual contract only with no monthly option, which excludes consultancies that need a tool for a single short engagement and forces them to the free non-commercial tier they are not licensed to use for client work
  • The API, JavaScript SDK and live warehouse connections are enterprise-only, so a mid-sized team that wants programmatic access has to buy the top tier rather than pay for one capability
  • Analytical depth is limited: there is no meaningful geoprocessing, topology checking or model building, so Felt sits beside a real GIS rather than replacing one
  • The Professional tier caps data processing at 25 GB a month and map views at 100,000 a month, which are easy to exceed with raster imagery or a public-facing map, and the overage terms are not published either

Pricing, plan by plan

Esri ArcGIS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Esri ArcGIS review.

Felt

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Free forever for non-commercial mapping
    • Map creation, upload and sharing
    • Not licensed for commercial use
  • Professional$undefined/year
    • 10 full-access seats with unlimited viewers
    • 25 GB of data processing per month
    • 100,000 map views per month
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Live cloud sources including Postgres, Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks and S3
    • REST API and JavaScript SDK
    • AI features

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.
Esri ArcGIS review

Choose Felt if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want drag and drop data.
Felt review

Questions people ask

Is Esri ArcGIS or Felt better?
Neither clearly leads. Esri ArcGIS starts at On request and Felt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Esri ArcGIS or Felt?
Felt has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Esri ArcGIS and Free for Felt.
Does Esri ArcGIS or Felt run on more platforms?
Esri ArcGIS runs on Web, Mobile (field apps), Desktop. Felt runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Felt for free?
Yes. Felt has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Esri ArcGIS starts at On request.
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 Felt is typically brought in for.
What can Esri ArcGIS do that Felt cannot?
Esri ArcGIS covers Mapping & Visualization, Spatial Analysis, Data Management, Field Operations. Felt covers Real-time collaboration, Drag and drop data, Unlimited viewers, Field app with offline support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Esri ArcGIS: How much does ArcGIS cost?

ArcGIS pricing is not displayed on the main product page. Customers can view self-service options through the Esri Store at https://www.esri.com/en-us/store/overview or contact sales at 1-877-228-1724 for custom enterprise pricing.

Source
Felt: What does Felt cost?

Felt does not publish prices for Professional or Enterprise. Personal is free but licensed for non-commercial use only.

Esri ArcGIS: How do I purchase ArcGIS?

ArcGIS is available through multiple purchasing channels: self-service online ordering through the Esri Store for standard user types and apps, or contact the sales team at 1-877-228-1724 (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday-Friday) for enterprise solutions and custom licensing arrangements.

Source
Felt: Can I pay monthly?

No. Paid plans are annual contracts. There is a 7 day trial of Professional.

Felt: Do viewers cost anything?

No. Viewer access is unlimited on the paid plans, which is the main reason organisations with large map audiences choose it.

Felt: Is there a nonprofit discount?

Yes, 30 per cent for verified United States nonprofits, and free access for verified students and classrooms.

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