What is Google Earth used for?

Google Earth is a 3D globe and satellite imagery viewer from Google that runs in the browser and lets users explore places around the world. It is a good fit for exploring a destination from above before a trip and teaching geography with a 3D globe.

Is Google Earth free?

Yes. Google Earth is free to use.

Is Google Earth open source?

No. Google Earth is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Maps & Navigation category, open-source options include Organic Maps, Dawarich and OsmAnd.

What are some alternatives to Google Earth?

Google Earth competes with ArcGIS, Cesium and Nearmap.

Google Earth: features, pricing and alternatives

About Google Earth

Google Earth is a viewer for a three-dimensional globe built from satellite imagery. Users can zoom from a view of the whole planet down to individual places, look at terrain and buildings in 3D, and search for locations. It is a general-purpose way to explore geography, as opposed to the turn-by-turn focus of everyday navigation apps.

The web version runs in the browser using WebAssembly, and the site offers separate single-threaded and multi-threaded launch options for browsers that need them, along with a link to system requirements. Google Earth is a hosted product from Google, free for general use, and it cannot be self-hosted.

Key features

3D globe built from satellite imagery
Place search and exploration
Terrain and building views
Runs in the browser using WebAssembly

Good fit for

→Exploring a destination from above before a trip
→Teaching geography with a 3D globe

Tags: 3d-globe; satellite-imagery; maps; geography; google; web-app; exploration

Google Earth: questions and answers

What is Google Earth used for?: Google Earth is a 3D globe and satellite imagery viewer from Google that runs in the browser and lets users explore places around the world. It is a good fit for exploring a destination from above before a trip and teaching geography with a 3D globe.
Is Google Earth free?: Yes. Google Earth is free to use.
Is Google Earth open source?: No. Google Earth is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Maps & Navigation category, open-source options include Organic Maps, Dawarich and OsmAnd.
What are some alternatives to Google Earth?: Google Earth competes with ArcGIS, Cesium and Nearmap.