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Free ArcGIS Pro alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

2 of the 3 ArcGIS Pro alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). QGIS and GRASS rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1QGIS logoQGISOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 468.8
2GRASS logoGRASSOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 564.8
  1. QGIS logo

    1. QGISTop pick

    Best for: Analysts, researchers and organisations that want full desktop GIS without licence fees

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from ArcGIS Pro

    Free and open source on Windows, Mac and Linux, covering most everyday mapping and analysis.

    Pros

    • Free for any use under the GPL, with no seat licences
    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Strong cartography with layouts, atlases and reports
    • Large plugin library and Python scripting

    Cons

    • Less integrated with Esri's ArcGIS Online and Enterprise services
    • Support comes from the community or third-party firms, not one vendor
    • Frequent releases mean plugins can lag behind new versions
    Visit QGIS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is QGIS a good ArcGIS Pro alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026qgis.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Release tracks
    Long-term and latest releases
    Checked Nov 8, 2026qgis.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free and open source
    Checked Nov 8, 2026qgis.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. GRASS logo

    2. GRASS

    Best for: Researchers and analysts who need heavy raster, terrain or hydrology processing and can script it

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from ArcGIS Pro

    Free engine for heavy raster, terrain and hydrology analysis, scriptable with Python.

    Pros

    • Very deep set of raster, vector and imagery analysis modules
    • Python API and command line make large batch jobs repeatable
    • Built-in temporal framework for time-series rasters
    • Free under the GPL, with decades of documentation and teaching material

    Cons

    • Steeper learning curve than QGIS, with its own project and region concepts
    • Weak at cartography and print layouts compared with QGIS or ArcGIS Pro
    • The desktop GUI looks dated next to commercial GIS tools
    Visit GRASS Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GRASS a good ArcGIS Pro alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GNU GPL v2 or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026grass.osgeo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, conda
    Checked Nov 8, 2026grass.osgeo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    In development since
    1982
    Checked Nov 8, 2026grass.osgeo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Python API
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026grass.osgeo.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest macOS release
    8.5.0
    Checked Nov 8, 2026grass.osgeo.org(opens source in a new tab)