Global Mapper vs Terrasolid TerraScan
Global Mapper
bluemarblegeo.comTerrasolid TerraScan
terrasolid.comSide by side
| Figure | Global Mapper | Terrasolid TerraScan |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $49.92/mo | €47.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 3 | 10 |
| Spec score · Point Cloud Software | 8.3 (#1) | 7.4 (#13) |
| Headquarters | Hallowell, Maine, United States | Helsinki, Finland |
| Intended users | The maker identifies GIS professionals, surveyors, engineers, government agencies, utilities, environmental consultants, and public safety organizations as users. | The maker lists applications including urban planning, asset management, emergency response, mapping, powerline, road, railway, water resources, forestry, and mining. |
| Support | Technical support is included with Global Mapper purchase and covers the current software version; the policy lists security patches, bug fixes, feature enhancements, and standard support. | The maintenance agreement describes support as replies to technical questions and reasonable efforts to resolve problems, while excluding training and consulting. |
Plans
Global Mapper
- Essentials$599 a year
- Advanced$1,199 a year
- Professional$2,199 a year
Terrasolid TerraScan
- TerraScan UAV — 2-month subscription€370, paid once
- TerraScan Lite — annual subscription€570 a year
- TerraScan Full — 2-month subscription€612, paid once
- TerraScan UAV — 6-month subscription€738, paid once
- TerraScan UAV — annual subscription€1,026 a year
- TerraScan Full — 6-month subscription€1,245, paid once
- TerraScan Full — annual subscription€1,710 a year
- TerraScan Lite — perpetual license€1,900, paid once
- TerraScan UAV — perpetual license€3,420, paid once
- TerraScan Full — perpetual license€5,700, paid once
In their own words
Global Mapper
Global Mapper is a desktop GIS application for geospatial data processing, spatial analysis, geodetic workflows, and preparing maps for deployment. It supports more than 300 vector, raster, elevation, and point cloud formats without add-ons or additional licenses. The Essentials plan covers data viewing and conversion, coordinate transformation and reprojection, and streamed online data sources. Advanced adds terrain and vector analysis, scripting, geodetic analysis, and cartographic production. Professional adds lidar and point cloud processing, drone photogrammetry, complex imagery and raster analysis, automated breakline extraction, and AI/ML image classification. Lidar tools include feature classification, noise removal, point cloud thinning, and vector feature extraction. GeoCalc provides more than 12,000 geodetic definitions and supports modernized NSRS and CSRS. AI-assisted extraction can identify roads, buildings, vegetation, power lines, and other features. It exchanges data with ArcGIS formats, exports to Avenza Maps for offline field use, and supports a workflow with MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator. Plans start at $599/user/yr; a 14-day trial is listed.
Terrasolid TerraScan
Terrasolid TerraScan is Windows desktop software for managing, processing, and visualizing point clouds, including tools for creating 3D vector data from laser points. Automatic classification routines can be refined with semi-automatic and manual tools. It can generate 3D building vector models up to LOD2 over large areas and vectorize power lines. Classification routines can be combined into macros for batch processing, and TerraBatch can run macros on other workstations over a LAN. Import and export formats include LAS, LAZ, TerraScan Binary, TerraScan Fast Binary, and user-defined ASCII formats. TerraScan supports point-cloud registration, E57, point classification, and geospatial analysis. The available editions are Full, UAV, and Lite, with network or node-locked licenses. A network license allows multiple users on the same network to share product licenses. Use cases listed by the maker include urban planning, asset management, emergency response, mapping, powerline, road, railway, water resources, forestry, and mining. Paid plans include subscriptions and perpetual licenses; a free trial is available, and no free plan is listed.