Maps · head to head
Global Mapper vs Nominatim
Global Mapper
Maps
A GIS and lidar desktop that still sells a genuine perpetual licence with published prices
- From
- $700/one-time
- Rated
- -
Nominatim
Maps
Open-source geocoding tool for OpenStreetMap data, providing address search and reverse geocoding capabilities
- 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; Nominatim the public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
- They diverge on capability: Global Mapper covers Format breadth, Nominatim 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 Nominatim actually diverge.
| Attribute | Global Mapper | Nominatim |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Nominatim
- 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 Nominatim
- A consultancy that wants to classify ground points and extract building footprints from a drone survey without an Esri enterprise agreementnot Nominatim
- An organisation with an irregular workload that wants to buy the licence outright and skip maintenance in quiet yearsnot Nominatim
- A geologist producing volumes, contours and cross sections from terrain data on a standalone office workstationnot Nominatim
Nominatim
- Geocoding and reverse geocoding servicesnot Global Mapper
- Address lookup and location searchnot Global Mapper
- OpenStreetMap-based geolocation datanot 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
Nominatim
- The public API allows an absolute maximum of 1 request per second
- Bulk geocoding must run in a single thread and cannot be distributed across machines
- Scripts running longer than a day or on a schedule are limited to 4 requests per minute
- Autocomplete search against the public API is explicitly prohibited
- Systematic queries such as grid based reverse lookups and complete data downloads are prohibited
- Reselling geocoding results or acting as an API intermediary is prohibited
- Every request must send a valid HTTP Referer or User-Agent identifying the application, and default library headers are rejected
- Results must be cached client side, and repeated identical queries can lead to blocking
- Attribution to OpenStreetMap under ODbL must be displayed
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
Nominatim
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Nominatim 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 Nominatim better?
- Neither clearly leads. Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time and Nominatim at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Global Mapper or Nominatim?
- Global Mapper starts at $700/one-time and Nominatim at On request.
- Does Global Mapper or Nominatim run on more platforms?
- Global Mapper runs on Windows. Nominatim 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 Nominatim is typically brought in for.
- What can Global Mapper do that Nominatim cannot?
- Global Mapper covers Format breadth, Lidar processing, Pixels to Points, Coordinate transformation. Nominatim 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.
Nominatim: Is Nominatim free?
Nominatim is open source software built on OpenStreetMap data. It appears to be free to use, though commercial usage may require separate licensing or terms. Check the project repository or contact support for clarity on licensing.
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.
Nominatim: What is Nominatim's pricing model?
Nominatim does not publish a standard pricing model on its website. As open source software, it is available for free, but commercial or large-scale deployments may require reviewing their licensing terms or contacting project maintainers.
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.
Global 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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