Differences Between QGIS and ArcGIS: A Comparative Analysis
In the realm of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, two prominent names stand out: QGIS and ArcGIS. While both offer powerful geospatial data management, analysis, and mapping tools, they differ significantly across various aspects.
License
One of the most significant differences lies in their licensing. ArcGIS, developed by Esri, is proprietary software that requires paid licenses, whereas QGIS is free and open-source 1, 2, 3.
Operating System
When it comes to operating systems, ArcGIS (especially ArcGIS Pro) runs only on Windows, whereas QGIS supports Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, and soon Android 1, 2, 3.
Availability of Versions
ArcGIS offers desktop, server, and web versions, while QGIS primarily offers desktop with extensive plugin and cloud integration possibilities 2, 3.
Tools and Mapping Functionalities
Both provide powerful geospatial data management, analysis, and mapping tools. ArcGIS Pro has expanded, tightly integrated cloud functionality, while QGIS offers a full spatial analysis platform and supports complex spatial workflows 1.
File Format Extensions
Both support numerous common GIS file formats (e.g., shapefiles, GeoTIFFs), but QGIS's open-source nature allows broader compatibility with diverse formats, whereas ArcGIS tends to favor Esri-specific formats alongside standard ones 1, 2.
Source Code
ArcGIS source code is closed, whereas QGIS source code is publicly available under open-source license, enabling community contributions and customization 1.
Time Consumption and Usability
ArcGIS has a steeper learning curve and requires purchase/licensing, whereas QGIS is easier to adopt, free to download, and has many learning resources 2, 3.
Reliability
Both are mature, reliable systems widely used in professional contexts. ArcGIS still dominates industry adoption, though QGIS rapidly gains ground, especially where cost or OS flexibility is important 1, 3.
Plugins
QGIS has a robust plugin ecosystem managed by its community, enabling extensive functionality expansions, whereas ArcGIS also supports add-ons but with more restricted development due to proprietary constraints 1, 5.
Guides and Documentation
Both have extensive documentation, online resources, and user communities. ArcGIS benefits from Esri's professional support and training, whereas QGIS has vibrant community support and open guides 3, 3.
Data Entry and Tools Availability
Both allow creating, editing, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data with comprehensive toolsets. ArcGIS includes advanced proprietary tools, while QGIS offers broad tool access via core software and plugins 1, 2.
Accessibility and Data Storage
ArcGIS integrates with Esri's cloud platform (ArcGIS Online) tightly, whereas QGIS can connect to various data stores and services due to open standards, offering flexible data storage and sharing 1.
Raster Calculator Tool
Both provide raster calculation tools. QGIS users often praise its straightforward and accessible raster calculator, whereas ArcGIS offers advanced raster analysis but requires license access 1, 5.
Join Tables and GeoData
Both support table joins and management of geospatial attribute data. ArcGIS provides powerful relational data management features, whereas QGIS supports similar functionality integrated into the GUI and plugins 1.
Developers and Future Updates
ArcGIS is developed solely by Esri with planned continual proprietary updates emphasizing cloud and platform integration, whereas QGIS is community-developed under the OSGeo umbrella with frequent releases driven by global contributors and transparency about future enhancements 1, 2, 3.
In summary, ArcGIS is a comprehensive, industry-standard proprietary suite primarily for Windows with strong cloud integration and commercial support. On the other hand, QGIS is a versatile, free, open-source platform supporting multiple OS with a strong community, ease of use, and extensibility through plugins 1, 3, 5.
- QGIS, being open-source software, allows for greater compatibility with diverse file formats compared to ArcGIS, which tends to favor Esri-specific formats.
- Unlike ArcGIS, which is a proprietary software requiring paid licenses, QGIS is free to download and use.
