Maps · head to head
Global Mapper vs GraphHopper
Global Mapper
Maps
A GIS and lidar desktop that still sells a genuine perpetual licence with published prices
- From
- $700/one-time
- Rated
- -
GraphHopper
Maps
Open-source routing engine for road networks, providing fast route calculations, turn-by-turn navigation
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Global Mapper it is Windows only with no macOS or Linux build, so mixed-platform teams end up running a virtual machine and lose graphics performance on large point clouds; GraphHopper the free plan is non commercial use only
- They diverge on capability: Global Mapper covers Format breadth, GraphHopper covers Core Functionality.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Global Mapper and GraphHopper actually diverge.
| Attribute | Global Mapper | GraphHopper |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $700/one-time | On request |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | freemium |
| Platforms | Windows | Web |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Global Mapper
- Format breadth
- Lidar processing
- Pixels to Points
- Coordinate transformation
- Terrain analysis
- Scripting
- Mobile companion
Only in GraphHopper
- Core Functionality
- User Interface
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Global Mapper
- A survey office that receives lidar in a different format from every client and needs reliable conversion without writing scriptsnot GraphHopper
- A consultancy that wants to classify ground points and extract building footprints from a drone survey without an Esri enterprise agreementnot GraphHopper
- An organisation with an irregular workload that wants to buy the licence outright and skip maintenance in quiet yearsnot GraphHopper
- A geologist producing volumes, contours and cross sections from terrain data on a standalone office workstationnot GraphHopper
GraphHopper
- Routing, distance matrix and route optimisation over an APInot Global Mapper
- Map matching GPS traces and generating isochronesnot Global Mapper
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Global Mapper
- It is Windows only with no macOS or Linux build, so mixed-platform teams end up running a virtual machine and lose graphics performance on large point clouds
- The interface has grown by accretion over two decades and features are scattered across menus, so new users are slow to find capabilities that are already installed
- Node-locked perpetual licences are tied to the machine identifier, so a hardware refresh or a failed workstation means a support request rather than a login on a new device
- Multi-user and web publishing are weak relative to Esri or QGIS with a server stack, so it is a desktop analysis tool and not a platform for sharing data across an organisation
- Published prices apply to North America and differ elsewhere, so buyers outside that market must go through a reseller and cannot rely on the listed figures for budgeting
GraphHopper
- The free plan is non commercial use only
- Free allows 500 credits a day, 5 locations per request and a single vehicle
- Request complexity is capped per plan, at 30 locations and 2 vehicles on Basic at 69 EUR a month, rising to 200 locations and 20 vehicles on Premium at 479 EUR
- Isochrone range is limited by plan, at 15 minutes on Basic and 30 on Premium
- Credits are a daily allowance, so a busy day cannot draw on a quiet one
Pricing, plan by plan
Global Mapper
$700/one-time- Global Mapper Standard, node-locked$700/one-time
- Perpetual licence tied to one machine
- First year of maintenance and support included
- Renewal 245 USD per year, optional
- Global Mapper Standard, floating or dongle$1050/one-time
- Shared between users or carried on a USB dongle
- Maintenance renewal 365 USD per year
- Network licence 2,100 USD with a two-seat minimum
- Global Mapper Pro, node-locked$1750/one-time
- Adds lidar classification, feature extraction and Pixels to Points
- Maintenance renewal 610 USD per year
- Upgrade from Standard version 26 costs 1,050 USD
- Global Mapper Pro, floating or dongle$2625/one-time
- Shared or dongle licence
- Maintenance renewal 915 USD per year
- Network licence 5,250 USD with a two-seat minimum
GraphHopper
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the GraphHopper review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Global Mapper if
- You need format breadth.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want lidar processing.
Questions people ask
- Is Global Mapper or GraphHopper better?
- Neither clearly leads. Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time and GraphHopper at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Global Mapper or GraphHopper?
- Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time and GraphHopper at On request.
- Does Global Mapper or GraphHopper run on more platforms?
- Global Mapper runs on Windows. GraphHopper runs on Web.
- What is Global Mapper best used for?
- Global Mapper is most often used for a survey office that receives lidar in a different format from every client and needs reliable conversion without writing scripts, a consultancy that wants to classify ground points and extract building footprints from a drone survey without an esri enterprise agreement, an organisation with an irregular workload that wants to buy the licence outright and skip maintenance in quiet years, a geologist producing volumes, contours and cross sections from terrain data on a standalone office workstation. Of those, a survey office that receives lidar in a different format from every client and needs reliable conversion without writing scripts and a consultancy that wants to classify ground points and extract building footprints from a drone survey without an esri enterprise agreement are not what GraphHopper is typically brought in for.
- What can Global Mapper do that GraphHopper cannot?
- Global Mapper covers Format breadth, Lidar processing, Pixels to Points, Coordinate transformation. GraphHopper covers Core Functionality, User Interface.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Global Mapper: Is there still a perpetual licence?
Yes. Blue Marble sells perpetual node-locked, floating, dongle and network licences that keep working after maintenance lapses.
GraphHopper: Is the free plan actually usable for production?
No. The free tier is limited to non-commercial use only and includes 500 daily credits. To use GraphHopper in production, you need a paid plan starting at 69 euros per month.
SourceGlobal Mapper: What is the difference between Standard and Pro?
Pro is an add-on to a matching Standard licence and carries the lidar classification, feature extraction, Pixels to Points photogrammetry and advanced terrain tools.
GraphHopper: What happens if I exceed my daily credit limit?
The page does not specify. Each tier has a daily credit limit (500 for free, 5,000 for Basic, 15,000 for Standard, 50,000 for Premium), but no overage policy is documented.
SourceGlobal Mapper: Do I have to pay maintenance?
Only for the first year, which is included. After that it is optional; without it the software continues to run but you receive no upgrades or support.
GraphHopper: Does GraphHopper offer a trial period?
No. There is no trial period. You can start with the free plan to test, but commercial use requires a paid subscription.
SourceGlobal Mapper: Can it replace ArcGIS?
For desktop format conversion, lidar and terrain analysis, often yes. For enterprise data management, web services and organisation-wide sharing, no.
GraphHopper: How much does the Premium plan cost and what do I get?
Premium is 479 euros per month and includes 50,000 daily credits, up to 200 locations per request, up to 20 vehicles, email and phone support, and access to all APIs including routing and optimization.
SourceGraphHopper: Is there a discount if I link back to GraphHopper?
Yes. A 20% discount is available with proper attribution. The page also mentions a 99.5% uptime SLA on paid plans only.
SourceRelated pages
More on Global Mapper
More on GraphHopper
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