QGIS vs TerraScan Comparison
Compare QGIS vs TerraScan features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
QGIS
7/10
QGIS is a free, open source desktop GIS. Organisations use it to view, edit, analyse and map spatial data, including vector, raster, mesh and point cloud layers.
TerraScan
5.8/10
Desktop LiDAR point cloud software from Terrasolid that classifies laser scans and extracts vector models for surveying, mapping, and power line corridor projects.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | T TerraScan |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 10/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free QGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Power Line Inspection | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | ||
QGIS vs TerraScan cost by team size
| Team size | QGIS | TerraScan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeQGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
| 5 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
| 10 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | Contact for pricing |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose QGIS
- Has a free plan (TerraScan does not)
- Higher Cost score (10/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for government (9/10 vs 6/10)
TWhy choose TerraScan
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
QGIS
Pros
- No licence fees on any number of seats, under the GPLv2+ open source licence.
- Python and C++ plugins let teams add custom tools and database connectors such as PostGIS.
- It reads many data formats and standard web services, which makes it easy to connect to existing data.
- Its print layout, atlas and report tools suit organisations that produce a lot of maps.
- It loads LAS, LAZ and virtual point cloud datasets with classification-based rendering.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers report slow performance, freezes and crashes on heavy workloads.
- Newcomers describe a steep learning curve and say installation can be difficult.
- There is no vendor-backed support contract; help comes from the community or third-party providers.
- It cannot edit point clouds and has no asset maintenance features such as work orders.
- Some reviewers say it lacks tools that ArcGIS Pro offers.
TTerraScan
Pros
- It offers deep automatic classification that users can chain into macros and run in batch across LAN workstations.
- Specialized power line tools cover wire vectorization, tower models, and danger object analysis.
- Euro prices for every edition and licence length are published openly, including short 2-month subscriptions.
- It reads many formats, including LAS, LAZ, E57, and PLY, and recent builds added gaussian splat editing.
- Cheaper UAV and Lite editions lower the entry cost for drone LiDAR work.
Cons
- It needs a CAD host (MicroStation or Spatix) and runs on Windows only.
- Strip alignment and surface modeling need extra modules such as TerraMatch, which raise the total cost.
- Processing is local and needs a strong workstation, and the software offers no cloud sharing of deliverables.
- Few public user reviews exist on G2-style sites, and the software has a steep learning curve for newcomers.
Not sold on either?
Air Inspection Automation (AiA)Our product
Plans DJI drone inspection missions for power line towers from LiDAR scans: it finds the towers, places photo stops, checks clearance, and splits the route into battery flights.
Made by the team behind b stack radar. Shown here because it fits this topic. It is not part of our rankings. How we rank tools
Frequently Asked Questions
QGIS scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 7/10 against 5.8/10 for TerraScan. The largest gap is in Cost: 10/10 for QGIS and 4/10 for TerraScan.
QGIS has a free plan; TerraScan does not list one.
QGIS is the better fit for government: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 6/10 for TerraScan.
