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  1. Stackups
  2. Utilities
  3. API Tools
  4. Mapping Apis
  5. ArcGIS vs OpenLayers

ArcGIS vs OpenLayers

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

OpenLayers
OpenLayers
Stacks776
Followers462
Votes57
ArcGIS
ArcGIS
Stacks144
Followers194
Votes20

ArcGIS vs OpenLayers: What are the differences?

Key differences between ArcGIS and OpenLayers

ArcGIS and OpenLayers are both mapping software that provide users with tools to create, edit, analyze, and visualize geographic data. However, there are several key differences that set them apart.

  1. Data Sources: ArcGIS primarily uses Esri's proprietary data formats such as File Geodatabases and Shapefiles, while OpenLayers is more flexible and can work with various open data formats such as GeoJSON and KML. This allows OpenLayers to easily integrate with different data sources and web services.

  2. Licensing: ArcGIS is a commercial software with several licensing options, including paid subscriptions and enterprise licenses. On the other hand, OpenLayers is an open-source software released under the permissive BSD license, meaning it can be used, modified, and distributed freely.

  3. Customization: While both ArcGIS and OpenLayers provide customization options, OpenLayers offers more flexibility in terms of customization and extending functionality. OpenLayers allows users to easily modify the source code to suit specific requirements or add additional functionality, which may require more technical knowledge compared to ArcGIS.

  4. Deployment: ArcGIS is commonly used as desktop software to create and analyze maps, while OpenLayers is designed primarily for web-based applications. OpenLayers allows for easy integration with other web technologies and frameworks, making it suitable for creating interactive web maps that can be accessed by users through browsers.

  5. Community Support: OpenLayers benefits from a large and active community of developers and users, which means there are numerous online resources, tutorials, and forums available for support and troubleshooting. ArcGIS also has a community, but it is more centralized around Esri's official support channels and documentation.

  6. Third-party Integration: OpenLayers has strong support for integration with various mapping APIs and web services, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps, and Mapbox. This allows for seamless integration of external data sources and services. ArcGIS, on the other hand, is designed to work best with Esri's own suite of products and services.

In summary, ArcGIS and OpenLayers differ in terms of data sources, licensing, customization options, deployment, community support, and third-party integration. ArcGIS specializes in commercial mapping software focusing on Esri's proprietary formats, while OpenLayers is an open-source solution that offers more flexibility and compatibility with various data sources and web services.

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Detailed Comparison

OpenLayers
OpenLayers
ArcGIS
ArcGIS

An opensource javascript library to load, display and render maps from multiple sources on web pages.

It is a geographic information system for working with maps and geographic information. It is used for creating and using maps, compiling geographic data, analyzing mapped information, sharing and much more.

Tiled Layers - Pull tiles from OSM, Bing, MapBox, Stamen, MapQuest, and any other XYZ source you can find. OGC mapping services and untiled layers also supported.;Fast & Mobile Ready - Mobile support out of the box. Build lightweight custom profiles with just the components you need.;Vector Layers - Render vector data from GeoJSON, TopoJSON, KML, GML, and a growing number of other formats.;Cutting Edge & Easy to Customize - Map rendering leverages WebGL, Canvas 2D, and all the latest greatness from HTML5. Style your map controls with straight-forward CSS.
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Statistics
Stacks
776
Stacks
144
Followers
462
Followers
194
Votes
57
Votes
20
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 15
    Flexibility
  • 11
    Maturity
  • 8
    Open Source
  • 7
    Incredibly comprehensive, excellent support
  • 4
    Extensible
Pros
  • 7
    Reponsive
  • 4
    A lot of widgets
  • 4
    Data driven vizualisation
  • 2
    3D
  • 2
    Easy tà learn

What are some alternatives to OpenLayers, ArcGIS?

Google Maps

Google Maps

Create rich applications and stunning visualisations of your data, leveraging the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and usability of Google Maps and a modern web platform that scales as you grow.

Mapbox

Mapbox

We make it possible to pin travel spots on Pinterest, find restaurants on Foursquare, and visualize data on GitHub.

Leaflet

Leaflet

Leaflet is an open source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. It is developed by Vladimir Agafonkin of MapBox with a team of dedicated contributors. Weighing just about 30 KB of gzipped JS code, it has all the features most developers ever need for online maps.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more, all over the world.

CSV2GEO

CSV2GEO

It provides live conversion of batch addresses into geographic coordinates (address to lat long) or turn coordinates into well formatted address. It creates and publishes interactive maps.

MapTiler

MapTiler

It is a software for map tile rendering. It has been designed for producing seamless maps and aerial photo layers covering whole countries. The rendering is fast and efficient, and it can fully utilize multiple CPUs to 100%.

MAPS.ME

MAPS.ME

MAPS.ME is an open source cross-platform offline maps application, built on top of crowd-sourced OpenStreetMap data. It was publicly released for iOS and Android.

LocationIQ

LocationIQ

Free and Fast Geocoding Service

Stadia Maps

Stadia Maps

We enable devs to contextualize their data on a map and build complicated apps involving routing, time zones, and more with our APIs. We hate billing surprises as much as you, and if you send us an email, you'll get a real human reply.

CARTO

CARTO

The CARTO platform empowers everyone, from business analysts to data scientists, to turn location data into business outcomes. We accelerate innovation, power new use cases and disrupt business models through Location Intelligence.

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