Maps · head to head
Global Mapper vs MAPS.ME
Global Mapper
Maps
A GIS and lidar desktop that still sells a genuine perpetual licence with published prices
- From
- $700/one-time
- Rated
- -
MAPS.ME
Maps
Free, offline maps application based on OpenStreetMap data
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only MAPS.ME has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; MAPS.ME mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client
- They diverge on capability: Global Mapper covers Format breadth, MAPS.ME 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 MAPS.ME actually diverge.
| Attribute | Global Mapper | MAPS.ME |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $700/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows | iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 2011 |
Identical on both: 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 MAPS.ME
- 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 MAPS.ME
- A consultancy that wants to classify ground points and extract building footprints from a drone survey without an Esri enterprise agreementnot MAPS.ME
- An organisation with an irregular workload that wants to buy the licence outright and skip maintenance in quiet yearsnot MAPS.ME
- A geologist producing volumes, contours and cross sections from terrain data on a standalone office workstationnot MAPS.ME
MAPS.ME
- Downloading offline maps for travel without connectivitynot Global Mapper
- Turn-by-turn driving, walking, and cycling navigation without datanot Global Mapper
- Finding points of interest and hiking trailsnot Global Mapper
- Following built-in travel guidesnot Global Mapper
- Hotel booking via Booking.com integrationnot 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
MAPS.ME
- Mobile-only - no web or desktop navigation client
- Free tier limits offline map downloads and shows monetization prompts
- No native Windows, macOS, or Linux app
- Map data comes from the OpenStreetMap community rather than a commercial map provider
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
MAPS.ME
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the MAPS.ME review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Global Mapper if
- You need format breadth.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want lidar processing.
Choose MAPS.ME if
- You need core functionality.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want user interface.
Questions people ask
- Is Global Mapper or MAPS.ME better?
- Neither clearly leads. Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time and MAPS.ME at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Global Mapper or MAPS.ME?
- MAPS.ME has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $700/one-time for Global Mapper and Free for MAPS.ME.
- Does Global Mapper or MAPS.ME run on more platforms?
- Global Mapper runs on Windows. MAPS.ME runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use MAPS.ME for free?
- Yes. MAPS.ME has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time.
- 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 MAPS.ME is typically brought in for.
- What can Global Mapper do that MAPS.ME cannot?
- Global Mapper covers Format breadth, Lidar processing, Pixels to Points, Coordinate transformation. MAPS.ME 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.
MAPS.ME: Is MAPS.ME free to download and use?
MAPS.ME is available as a free download for both iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play. No pricing information is published on the MAPS.ME website, suggesting a free service model.
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.
MAPS.ME: What features are included in MAPS.ME?
MAPS.ME is marketed as 'not just an app but a friend in all your adventures.' Full feature details require downloading the app from App Store or Google Play. Specific limitations or premium features are not disclosed on the website.
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.
MAPS.ME: How does MAPS.ME make money if the app is free?
MAPS.ME does not publish pricing or monetization details on its website. The app is available free on both iOS and Android platforms, but the business model for generating revenue is not disclosed publicly.
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.
Related pages
More on Global Mapper
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