Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Maps VS NASA World Wind

Compare Google Maps VS NASA World Wind and see what are their differences

Google Maps logo Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

NASA World Wind logo NASA World Wind

World Wind permits any client to zoom from satellite height into wherever on Earth, utilizing great determination Landsat symbolism and SRTM rises information to experience Earth in outwardly beautiful 3D, pretty much as though they were truly there.
  • Google Maps
    Image date //
    2024-01-08
  • NASA World Wind Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-14

Google Maps features and specs

  • Detailed Information
    Google Maps provides extensive details about locations, including photos, reviews, operating hours, and contact information.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform boasts an intuitive design that is easy to navigate for both casual users and professionals.
  • Real-Time Updates
    Offers real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and road closures to help users avoid delays.
  • Multi-modal Directions
    Supports directions for driving, walking, cycling, and public transportation, offering flexibility for different commuting needs.
  • Street View
    Provides 360-degree panoramic views of streets, enabling users to virtually explore neighborhoods before visiting.
  • Offline Maps
    Allows users to download maps for offline use, which is useful in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Easily integrates with other Google services like Google Calendar, making it convenient to plan trips and appointments.

Possible disadvantages of Google Maps

  • Privacy Concerns
    The service collects extensive user data, raising privacy issues regarding how this information is used and shared.
  • Battery Consumption
    Real-time features and GPS usage can significantly drain the battery life of mobile devices.
  • Inaccuracies
    Despite frequent updates, some information may be outdated or inaccurate, such as business hours or road conditions.
  • Data Usage
    Uses a considerable amount of data, which can be problematic for users with limited data plans.
  • Overreliance
    Users may become overly dependent on the service for navigation, potentially reducing their ability to navigate without digital assistance.
  • Ad Integration
    Contains sponsored content and ads, which can sometimes disrupt the user experience.
  • Complexity
    Additional features and layers of information can make it overwhelming for users who just need basic navigation.

NASA World Wind features and specs

  • Open Source
    NASA World Wind is open source, allowing developers to modify and enhance the software to suit specific needs.
  • Comprehensive Data
    Provides access to various data sets including satellite imagery, terrain data, and more, useful for educational and research purposes.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, enabling a wider range of users to utilize the tool.
  • Developer Support
    Has an active community that continuously contributes to its development, offering support through forums and communities.
  • 3D Visualization
    Offers impressive visualization of Earth in 3D, allowing users to explore geographic and atmospheric phenomena.

Possible disadvantages of NASA World Wind

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software can be complex to learn and use effectively, especially for beginners or those not familiar with GIS software.
  • Limited Real-time Data
    While offering comprehensive historical data, the tool is limited in providing real-time data updates which could be a limitation for certain applications.
  • Performance Issues
    High computational requirements may lead to performance issues on less powerful computers.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and installing the software could be cumbersome, requiring a degree of technical knowledge.
  • Inactive Development
    Development activity has decreased over the years, potentially affecting long-term support and updates.

Analysis of Google Maps

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Google Maps is widely regarded as a good and effective tool for navigation and location-based services.

Why this product is good

  • Google Maps is considered to be a highly reliable and comprehensive mapping service due to its extensive database, regular updates, user-friendly interface, and integration with other Google services. It offers real-time traffic updates, various map views, and detailed directions for driving, walking, biking, and public transportation.

Recommended for

  • Individuals seeking reliable directions and navigation.
  • Users needing real-time traffic and transit updates.
  • Travelers looking for local business information and reviews.
  • Anyone requiring integration with other Google services like Calendar or Contacts.

Google Maps videos

New Apple Maps Features That Beat Google Maps!

More videos:

  • Review - Unhelpful Google Maps Reviews - Sub Safari
  • Review - Epic Google Maps Reviews by Local Guides | The Review Review Episode 3

NASA World Wind videos

Using NASA World Wind

More videos:

  • Review - Flight Around Iceland Using NASA World Wind

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Maps and NASA World Wind)
Maps
98 98%
2% 2
Web Mapping
97 97%
3% 3
Mapping And GIS
96 96%
4% 4
Travel & Location
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Maps and NASA World Wind

Google Maps Reviews

Best Tools for Planning a Vacation to Ireland in 2025
Google Maps has been a popular navigation assistant for many years and offers not just driving directions but help finding local restaurants, accommodation and more.
8 Best Alternatives to Google Travel Trip Summaries
If you appreciated the ability to sync Google Trip Summaries with Google Maps, the closing of Trip Summaries doesn’t mean you can no longer sync itineraries to Google Maps. Wanderlog allows you to export any itinerary you create within the app to Google Maps, allowing you to see the location of every attraction you want to visit and gain information on how to travel between...
Source: wanderlog.com
The 8 Best Bike Navigation Apps Ridden & Rated
UX-wise, we’ve given Google Maps a near-perfect nine. The clutter-free layout and recognisable graphics. How would they score a ten? We’d love Google Maps to expand its immersive view (a flyby 3D model of a given route) beyond major cities like London.
Source: loop.cc
The Best Travel Apps for 2025
My number one go-to travel app is Google Maps. On the ground, it shows you where you are and how to get to where you need to go, whether by foot, public transit, car, or bicycle. Google Maps is equally helpful when you want to explore what's around, including hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. Often, the listing for sites and businesses include hours of operation,...
Source: www.pcmag.com
7 Alternatives to Google Maps for Navigation
Google Maps is often the go-to navigation app for many of us. But what if you’re looking for something a little different? There are many alternatives to Google Maps that provide similar features and functions.

NASA World Wind Reviews

We have no reviews of NASA World Wind yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NASA World Wind seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Maps mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Maps yet. Tracking of Google Maps recommendations started around Mar 2021.

NASA World Wind mentions (2)

  • Antarctica According to NASA
    According to this 2010 article from NASA on Antarctica, the perimeter of Antarctica's ice is 33,312 miles. This is 33.78% larger than the entire circumference of the Earth which is 24,901 miles. A overhead globe view using NASA's Worldwind shows the following:. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Neighbor built a deck many years ago which we recently discovered encroaches into my backyard by a few feet.
    Also https://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Maps and NASA World Wind, you can also consider the following products

Mapbox - An open source mapping platform for custom designed maps. Our APIs and SDKs are the building blocks to integrate location into any mobile or web app.

Google Earth Pro - Google Earth Pro allows you fly anywhere around the earth to view satellite imagery, maps, 3D building, and terrain, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean.

OSGeo - QGIS is a desktop geographic information system, or GIS.

SAS.Planet - SASGIS - Качаем карты и спутниковые снимки высокого разрешения из различных источников (google, яндекс.карт, kosmosnimki.ru, digitalglobe).

OpenStreetMap - OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

Marble - Marble is a Virtual Globe and World Atlas that you can use to learn more about Earth: You can pan...