Choosing between Google Earth Pro and QGIS depends mainly on what you want to accomplish. Both can be useful for mapping, but they are designed for different levels of geographic work.
Google Earth Pro is particularly convenient when you want to explore satellite imagery, visualise locations, create simple geographic features and work with formats such as KML and KMZ. QGIS, on the other hand, is a full-featured GIS application designed for working with spatial data, analysis, editing and professional map production.
The comparison provided for this article highlights the main difference: Google Earth Pro is strong for visualisation and straightforward mapping, while QGIS provides more advanced GIS analysis and map-layout capabilities.
If you are mainly interested in basic GIS workflows, see our guide on how to use Google Earth Pro for GIS mapping.
Google Earth Pro vs QGIS: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Google Earth Pro | QGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite imagery | Built-in imagery | Requires imagery/data sources |
| Digitising | Yes | Yes |
| GIS analysis | Limited | Advanced |
| KML/KMZ | Yes | Yes |
| Shapefiles | Yes | Yes |
| Raster analysis | Limited | Advanced |
| Map layouts | Basic | Advanced |
This table is a useful starting point, but the better choice depends on your particular task.
What Is Google Earth Pro Best For?
Google Earth Pro is particularly useful when the main goal is to see geographic information in context.
One of its biggest advantages is the availability of satellite imagery and a 3D geographic environment. Google's current product information describes Google Earth Pro on desktop as providing advanced users with tools to import and export GIS data and explore historical imagery.
For example, you might use Google Earth Pro to:
- Find and mark locations.
- Draw simple points, lines and polygons.
- Measure distances and areas.
- Examine historical imagery.
- View terrain in 3D.
- Import coordinates from a CSV file.
- View GIS imagery such as GeoTIFF.
- Work with KML and KMZ files.
- Prepare a map for a presentation or visual explanation.
Google's documentation confirms that Google Earth Pro can import CSV coordinate data and GIS imagery such as TIFF and GeoTIFF files.
This makes it a convenient option when visual understanding is more important than advanced spatial analysis.
What Is QGIS Best For?
QGIS is designed as a dedicated GIS application. Its official documentation covers vector and raster data, spatial analysis, coordinate reference systems, digitising, databases, processing tools and professional map production.
QGIS is therefore a better choice when your project requires more than simply displaying geographic information.
Typical tasks include:
- Advanced vector analysis
- Raster processing
- Spatial queries
- Data classification
- Coordinate reference system management
- Attribute-table editing
- Geoprocessing
- Terrain analysis
- Database connections
- Professional cartographic layouts
For example, QGIS provides raster-processing tools for operations such as slope, aspect, hillshade and terrain analysis.
Its Print Layout system also provides tools for creating maps with elements such as legends, scale bars, labels, tables and other map components, with output to formats including PDF, SVG and images.
Google Earth Pro for Visual Mapping
Imagine you have GPS coordinates for several water infrastructure sites.
You could import the coordinates into Google Earth Pro, display the locations over satellite imagery and visually examine their surroundings. Google Earth Pro converts imported spreadsheet locations into placemarks, making this type of workflow straightforward.
This is particularly useful during an initial investigation when you want to answer questions such as:
- Where is the site?
- What is around it?
- What does the terrain look like?
- How far apart are the locations?
- Has the area changed over time?
For these tasks, Google Earth Pro can be quicker and more accessible than setting up a complete GIS project.
QGIS for Detailed GIS Analysis
Now consider a different situation.
Suppose you have several spatial layers containing roads, rivers, land use, soil and elevation data and need to perform multiple spatial analyses.
This is where QGIS becomes much more appropriate.
You can combine layers, analyse their relationships, process raster datasets, edit attributes and create a final cartographic layout. QGIS's official documentation includes dedicated sections for vector analysis, raster processing, spatial databases and map production.
For a research project involving several analytical layers, QGIS will generally provide a much more suitable working environment than Google Earth Pro.
Which One Is Better for KML and KMZ?
Both can work with KML/KMZ data, but Google Earth Pro has a particularly natural relationship with these formats.
Google Earth uses KML to represent geographic information such as placemarks, paths and polygons, while KMZ packages KML information in a compressed format.
This makes Google Earth Pro convenient when your workflow involves creating geographic features and then sharing them with other Google Earth users.
QGIS can also work with KML/KMZ as part of a broader GIS workflow.
Which One Is Better for Shapefiles?
Both applications can be used with shapefile data, but their purposes are different.
Google Earth Pro can bring spatial data into its visual geographic environment. QGIS is much better suited when you need to edit, analyse, classify or manage the underlying GIS dataset.
Google Earth Pro community documentation also describes workflows for opening shapefiles and converting the data into KML for use within Google Earth.
Therefore, if your objective is simply to see a shapefile over satellite imagery, Google Earth Pro may be sufficient. If you need substantial GIS processing, QGIS is the stronger choice.
Which One Should You Use for Map Layouts?
For a simple visual map, Google Earth Pro can be useful. It allows you to position geographic information over imagery and create visual outputs.
However, if you need a professional cartographic layout containing a map, title, legend, scale bar, north arrow, labels and other layout elements, QGIS is the better choice.
QGIS's Print Layout system is specifically designed for creating and exporting maps and atlases.
Can You Use Google Earth Pro and QGIS Together?
Yes—and this is often the most practical approach.
You do not necessarily have to choose one application and ignore the other.
A workflow could look like:
QGIS → analysis and data preparation → Google Earth Pro → visual inspection and presentation
Or:
Google Earth Pro → initial visual investigation → QGIS → detailed GIS analysis
For example, you could inspect a proposed project area in Google Earth Pro, identify locations of interest, save them as KML/KMZ, and then bring suitable data into a QGIS project for more detailed analysis.
This approach allows each application to be used for what it does best.
Google Earth Pro vs QGIS: The Simple Decision
Choose Google Earth Pro when you mainly need:
- Satellite imagery
- Quick visual mapping
- Simple digitising
- Measurements
- 3D terrain visualisation
- Historical imagery
- KML/KMZ workflows
- Easy geographic presentations
Choose QGIS when you need:
- Advanced GIS analysis
- Raster processing
- Complex vector analysis
- Attribute-data management
- Spatial databases
- Detailed cartography
- Professional map layouts
- More extensive GIS workflows
The Bottom Line
If you are new to GIS or mainly want to explore locations and create simple maps, Google Earth Pro is an excellent place to start.
If your work involves serious spatial analysis, multiple GIS layers, raster processing or professional cartography, QGIS is the stronger option.
For many real-world projects, however, the best answer is not Google Earth Pro or QGIS. It is Google Earth Pro and QGIS, with each application handling the tasks it is best suited for.
For additional information and the latest guidance, see the official Google Earth Help documentation on Import & change map data
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