Mapserver vs ArcGIS

Struggling to choose between Mapserver and ArcGIS? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Mapserver is a Development solution with tags like mapping, gis, geospatial, open-source.

It boasts features such as Publish spatial data and interactive maps on the web, Support for common data formats like PostGIS, GeoJSON, Shapefiles, Customizable map rendering with support for styling, labeling, symbology, OGC standards compliance for WMS, WFS, WCS, Scriptable using Python, PHP, Perl, Ruby, Java, and .NET, Extensible architecture for customization and integration and pros including Open source and free, High performance and scalability, Cross-platform and works with major web servers, Supports wide range of spatial data formats, Active development community.

On the other hand, ArcGIS is a Business & Commerce product tagged with gis, maps, geographic-data, geolocation.

Its standout features include Desktop GIS for creating and analyzing maps, ArcGIS Pro for advanced 2D and 3D mapping and analysis, ArcGIS Online for web-based mapping and analysis, ArcGIS Enterprise for hosting and sharing GIS services, ArcGIS API for JavaScript for web mapping, ArcGIS Runtime SDKs for building native apps, ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for advanced raster analysis, ArcGIS 3D Analyst for 3D visualization and analysis, and it shines with pros like Powerful and versatile GIS capabilities, Industry-leading mapping and analytics, Scales from desktop to enterprise deployments, Integrates well with other Esri products, Large user community and resources.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Mapserver

Mapserver

Mapserver is an open source platform for publishing spatial data and interactive mapping applications to the web. It enables users to quickly build web mapping applications that leverage data from PostgreSQL/PostGIS, GeoJSON, and other sources.

Categories:
mapping gis geospatial open-source

Mapserver Features

  1. Publish spatial data and interactive maps on the web
  2. Support for common data formats like PostGIS, GeoJSON, Shapefiles
  3. Customizable map rendering with support for styling, labeling, symbology
  4. OGC standards compliance for WMS, WFS, WCS
  5. Scriptable using Python, PHP, Perl, Ruby, Java, and .NET
  6. Extensible architecture for customization and integration

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

High performance and scalability

Cross-platform and works with major web servers

Supports wide range of spatial data formats

Active development community

Cons

Steep learning curve

Less user friendly compared to commercial alternatives

Limited documentation and support

Not as feature rich as commercial software


ArcGIS

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic information. It allows you to create, analyze, store, and share geographic data and maps.

Categories:
gis maps geographic-data geolocation

ArcGIS Features

  1. Desktop GIS for creating and analyzing maps
  2. ArcGIS Pro for advanced 2D and 3D mapping and analysis
  3. ArcGIS Online for web-based mapping and analysis
  4. ArcGIS Enterprise for hosting and sharing GIS services
  5. ArcGIS API for JavaScript for web mapping
  6. ArcGIS Runtime SDKs for building native apps
  7. ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for advanced raster analysis
  8. ArcGIS 3D Analyst for 3D visualization and analysis

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based
  • Pay-As-You-Go

Pros

Powerful and versatile GIS capabilities

Industry-leading mapping and analytics

Scales from desktop to enterprise deployments

Integrates well with other Esri products

Large user community and resources

Cons

Can be complex for new users

Requires proprietary software and formats

Expensive licensing model

Steep learning curve for advanced features