PostGIS vs ArcGIS

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

PostGIS is a Development solution with tags like spatial, gis, geographic, postgresql-extension.

It boasts features such as Spatial data types and functions, Spatial indexes, Geometry and geography types, Spatial relationships and measurements, Coordinate reference systems, Raster data support and pros including Powerful spatial analysis capabilities, Scalable to large datasets, Integrates with PostgreSQL, Active development community, Free and open source.

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.

PostGIS

PostGIS

PostGIS is an open source spatial database extender for PostgreSQL. It adds support for geographic objects, allowing location queries to be run in SQL. PostGIS enables PostgreSQL to store, query, and manipulate spatial data efficiently.

Categories:
spatial gis geographic postgresql-extension

PostGIS Features

  1. Spatial data types and functions
  2. Spatial indexes
  3. Geometry and geography types
  4. Spatial relationships and measurements
  5. Coordinate reference systems
  6. Raster data support

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Powerful spatial analysis capabilities

Scalable to large datasets

Integrates with PostgreSQL

Active development community

Free and open source

Cons

Steep learning curve

Not as user friendly as some GUI GIS tools

Requires PostgreSQL database server

Limited support for some advanced GIS functions


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