QGIS vs Trimble RealWorks Comparison
Compare QGIS vs Trimble RealWorks 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.
Trimble RealWorks
5.3/10
Windows desktop software from Trimble for registering, analyzing, modeling and inspecting 3D laser scan point clouds, aimed at surveying and scanning professionals.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7/10 | 5.3/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 4/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 10/10 | 4/10 |
| Analytics | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| 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 | ||
| Engineering Design | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Automation | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | Not listed | |
QGIS vs Trimble RealWorks cost by team size
| Team size | QGIS | Trimble RealWorks |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Trimble RealWorks does not)
- Higher Cost score (10/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Trimble RealWorks
- Higher Support score (6/10 vs 5/10)
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.
Trimble RealWorks
Pros
- Covers the full office workflow from automatic registration, with or without targets, to modeling and deliverables in one application.
- Inspection and comparison tools produce deviation reports from point clouds, which reviewers highlight.
- A dedicated Storage Tank edition automates tank inspection and calibration, which few general point cloud tools offer.
- Fits well with Trimble scanners and GNSS survey workflows.
Cons
- No public pricing. Dealer listings suggest perpetual licenses cost thousands of dollars.
- Windows desktop only, with no web or mobile app.
- Third-party listings show few integrations and no public API.
- Reviewers note dependence on the Trimble ecosystem and a learning curve.
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 5.3/10 for Trimble RealWorks. The largest gap is in Cost: 10/10 for QGIS and 4/10 for Trimble RealWorks.
QGIS has a free plan; Trimble RealWorks does not list one.
