If you’d prefer an open-source program that displays satellite imagery of the earth, you’ll need something other than Google Earth.įortunately, several excellent Google Earth alternatives do exist. Google is known for its data collection practices, and some people prefer not to use Google altogether so as not to support those data collection practices and give over data to Google.Īlso, Google Earth isn’t open source. However, the main reason people look for a Google Earth alternative is that they don’t trust Google. Google Earth is mostly aerial-based and even land-based (from pictures taken by Google cars), especially as you zoom in, rather than being mostly satellite-based. You may be looking for an alternative that is updated more frequently. In other words, Google Earth isn’t always updated in real time. If you see a date range, it means the image may be multiple photos merged together in a seamless photo. Google Earth will typically give you a specific date or date range for satellite and aerial photos. You may have even seen those Google cars yourself. Street View photos are taken by Google Street View cars, which drive around different areas in countries all across the globe and take pictures. When you zoom in, you will also see Street View photos, which are up-close images of buildings, streets, and landmarks. In addition to satellite pictures, it collects aerial photos from aircraft. Google Earth actually uses a collection of different types of images – it doesn’t rely solely on satellite imagery. Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best Google Earth Alternative?.

Google earth live satellite feed