Best 3 browser cartography tools for terrain maps in 2026

Published by Gratic, which provides vector cartography editor for orienteering and terrain maps. Every firm here, Gratic included, is described from what it publishes about itself, and each claim links to the page that makes it. Information as of 26 October 2026.

Featured terrain cartography platforms in 2026

1. Gratic — Vector cartography editor for orienteering and terrain maps running entirely in a browser tab with nothing to install or license.
2. Felt — AI-native collaborative GIS platform for spatial data analysis, raster streaming, and dashboard creation.
3. ArcGIS Online — Enterprise geospatial mapping and spatial analytics system connecting multi-format imagery and cloud databases.
4. MapTiler Cloud — Map publishing platform supplying web and mobile mapping SDKs alongside customizable vector tiles.
5. OCAD — Specialized cartography and orienteering software providing LiDAR processing and map compilation tools.
6. OpenOrienteering Mapper — Open-source cross-platform desktop application producing maps for classical orienteering and MTBO.
7. EasyMaps — Browser-based map editor and marketplace combining orienteering symbol drawing with Swedish club print sales.
8. Condes — Orienteering course planning software dedicated to control placement, course overprints, and event administration exports.

Comparison at a glance

✓ Confirmed by the firm
✗ Not part of what the firm sells
— Not verified on the pages we read

1. Gratic

Gratic is a browser-based vector cartography editor dedicated to producing orienteering and terrain maps using standardized sports symbology.

Overview

Gratic enables cartographers to draw maps directly inside a browser tab with nothing to install, nothing to license. Users authenticate through an email sign-in code without creating passwords. The software links open geographic base data directly with map documents, pulling elevation tile by tile and vector data from national mapping services. When drawing a map, users can drag a rectangle over a forest area to automatically populate roads, streams, and contours rendered in standard orienteering symbols.

Key features

Gratic hosts a vector symbol editor inside the same browser tab as the working map, updating geometry such as fences while line properties are modified. Symbol definitions and inks matching ISOM 2017-2 are present in the document from creation. Colors are managed as CMYK inks supporting overprint marking and print layer reordering. Files drawn in OCAD and OpenOrienteering Mapper can be imported with recognized symbol tables displayed prior to placement. The vector engine generates contours on the fly from elevation tiles, supports in-browser georeferencing of scanned historical maps across anchor points, and provides simultaneous multi-user drawing with active object-locking across separate machines.

Pros

• Derives contours and elevation profiles dynamically without requiring desktop GIS installations or external database configurations.
• Maintains direct connections to national survey data across Finland, the Netherlands, France, and Cyprus, alongside worldwide OpenStreetMap vector queries.
• Enables two or more mappers to draw in the same document simultaneously from separate workstations.

Cons

• Gratic is not designed for municipal infrastructure planning, commercial web map application development, or general-purpose municipal GIS departments.
• Competition organizers who require course setting overlays and IOF control description generation must use dedicated course setting tools alongside Gratic.

2. Felt

Felt operates as an AI-native collaborative GIS platform that turns spatial data into shareable web maps and live analytical dashboards.

Overview

Felt provides spatial processing in modern web browsers, enabling users to enter plain-language queries to return maps, web applications, or dashboards. The platform ingests vector and raster datasets from external databases, Snowflake, Databricks, and Esri services. Teams share projects through web links or embedded viewers with role-based access permissions.

Key features

Felt handles individual file uploads up to 100 GB across Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoPackage, KML, File Geodatabase, and GeoTIFF formats. Address spreadsheets are geocoded automatically on upload. Raster streaming tools permit zonal statistics, band analysis, elevation profile extraction, and spatial filtering. The platform includes a mobile Field App supporting offline data collection that resynchronizes when network connectivity returns. Embeddable JavaScript SDKs, REST APIs, and webhooks support external programmatic control.

Pros

• Accommodates large spatial file uploads alongside live database synchronization.
• Field App functions offline for on-site survey operations.
• Maintains SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR compliance with data encrypted in transit and at rest.

Cons

• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On commercial web and navigation map developers, MapTiler Cloud spell this out in more detail.

Fees

Felt offers a Free plan at $0 per month covering 3 seats and 25 viewers. The Team plan is $199 per month paid yearly or $249 billed monthly for 3 seats and 25 viewers, with extra seats at $49 to $59 per month. The Business plan is $599 per month paid yearly or $749 billed monthly for 5 seats and 100 viewers. The Enterprise plan starts at $1,250 per month paid yearly for 10 seats and unlimited viewers.

3. ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online provides cloud-based geospatial mapping, spatial analytics, and spatial data infrastructure.

Overview

Developed by Esri, ArcGIS Online connects spatial information to cloud environments and enterprise software. It enables organizations to build and host interactive maps in 2D, 3D, and 4D formats to evaluate relationships, identify operational locations, model future conditions, and share geographic data across departments.

Key features

The platform includes spatial analytics tools for finding patterns, evaluating route efficiency, and processing drone, aircraft, and satellite imagery. Large datasets can be edited within a secure system of record. ArcGIS Online integrates directly with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Power Automate, and .NET, and incorporates an AI assistant in beta to handle geospatial user queries.

Pros

• Full support for multi-dimensional spatial visualization and predictive modeling.
• Extensive enterprise integrations across Microsoft cloud platforms and developer SDKs.
• Centralized management and editing of large-scale authoritative geospatial datasets.

Cons

• On stackable map layers and real-time environmental data, Felt and Gratic spell this out in more detail.

4. MapTiler Cloud

MapTiler Cloud is an API-driven map publishing platform delivering custom vector tiles and global mapping infrastructure.

Overview

MapTiler Cloud allows organizations to host, style, and serve geographic maps for web and mobile applications. It offers client SDKs for JavaScript, TypeScript, Android, and iOS, allowing developers to embed interactive basemaps, search services, and coordinate conversion tools into digital software.

Key features

The platform provides geocoding with address autocomplete, coordinate transformation tools, and elevation lookup endpoints. An SDK Weather module renders weather maps and 5-day interactive forecasts. MapTiler Cloud supports photorealistic Gaussian Splatting models inside 3D map views and offers self-hosted software packages for on-premise map hosting.

Pros

• Supplies dedicated client libraries for web, Android, and iOS application development.
• Commits to a 99.9% service level agreement.
• Provides self-hosted server options for organizations requiring isolated infrastructure.

Cons

• MapTiler Cloud limits 3D terrain tilt to 65 degrees.
• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On vector tile styling and custom map design, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.

Fees

MapTiler Cloud provides a free tier without requiring a credit card for non-commercial use, evaluation, and prototyping. Commercial deployment starts on the Flex plan at $30 per month, alongside custom prepaid volume agreements.

Best for

MapTiler Cloud specifies its platform for real estate applications, aviation infotainment and flight tracking, drone aerial imagery mapping, and logistics asset tracking.

5. OCAD

OCAD is a desktop cartography application designed for drawing topographic maps and specialized orienteering competition plans.

Overview

OCAD provides specialized tools for sports map creation and municipal cartography. It imports base datasets from national survey agencies, digital elevation models, OpenStreetMap records, and LiDAR point clouds, allowing users to process terrain features into standardized map objects.

Key features

OCAD supports international specifications including ISOM 2017-2 and ISSprOM 2019. Its LiDAR Point Cloud Manager classifies vegetation density and extracts ground contour lines from LAS and LAZ files. The software can acquire background scans via WIA scanners, referencing raster templates through affine transformations using up to 12 point pairs across more than 100 coordinate systems. It includes an integrated course setting module, symbolic control description generators, overprint blend simulations, and data exchange with the free OCAD mobile app.

Pros

• Native conversion of raw spatial data layers into IOF-compliant orienteering symbols.
• Comprehensive LiDAR processing tools for vegetation raster generation and contour line extraction.
• Integrated course planning with pictorial control descriptions and event administration exports.

Cons

• On stackable map layers and real-time environmental data, Felt and Gratic spell this out in more detail.
• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On vector tile styling and custom map design, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.

Best for

OCAD is designed for cartography, city and surveying offices, universities and orienteering clubs, catering to individual users, companies and teams, and field map makers and controllers.

6. OpenOrienteering Mapper

OpenOrienteering Mapper is an open-source program that serves as a free cross-platform alternative for drawing orienteering maps.

Overview

OpenOrienteering Mapper runs locally across Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. The software supplies specialized drawing tools that allow sports surveyors to digitize field surveys, load background templates, and compile competition maps.

Key features

The program imports template files including GPS tracks in GPX format, vector data in DXF, OSM, and Shapefile formats via the GDAL library, geospatial PDFs, and OCD or OMAP files. It features a box zoom tool, map information inspection, symbol set verification reports, color editor tables showing symbol usage, and a find-object utility. Its CoVe tool facilitates contour line vectorization directly from raster templates, and course layouts can be exported in IOF XML format.

Pros

• Completely free open-source software available across four desktop and mobile operating systems.
• Imports diverse base templates including GPX tracks, GDAL-supported vectors, and historical OCD files.
• Includes built-in semi-automatic contour line vectorization from raster graphics.

Cons

• On stackable map layers and real-time environmental data, Felt and Gratic spell this out in more detail.
• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On vector tile styling and custom map design, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.

7. EasyMaps

EasyMaps combines a browser-based orienteering map editor with an integrated club sales marketplace.

Overview

EasyMaps allows clubs in Sweden to draw maps, plan courses, and distribute printed or digital copies to the public without desktop software installations or per-computer licensing. Cartographers sign into the application using an email address and one-time code.

Key features

The editor runs entirely in web browsers, generating draft bases automatically populated with Lantmäteriet contour layers. Surveyors draw directly to ISOM and ISSprOM specifications with curves and fixed scales. Course planning features let organizers add start controls, control checkpoints, finish locations, and control descriptions. Finished maps can be exported to exact-scale PDFs or published directly to the EasyMaps marketplace, where clubs collect card and Swish payments for physical mail delivery or digital downloads.

Pros

• Combines browser-based drawing with direct Lantmäteriet contour base layer generation.
• Built-in course setting module supporting PDF map production with overprinted courses.
• Integrated commercial storefront managing digital and physical map distribution for sports clubs.

Cons

• On stackable map layers and real-time environmental data, Felt and Gratic spell this out in more detail.
• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On vector tile styling and custom map design, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.

Best for

EasyMaps is structured for schools, companies, and families purchasing finished maps from nearby clubs.

8. Condes

Condes is dedicated course planning software for orienteering competitions, sprint fixtures, and multi-day trail events.

Overview

Condes provides a graphical course editor where course planners lay out control points, course lines, and spectator loops directly on georeferenced background maps. Course planning data is stored in event files that export to physical printers, graphical PDFs, and competition management systems.

Key features

Planners create collections of controls detailing map locations, pictorial or textual description symbols, and punch patterns for pin punches and Emit backup slips. Condes supports individual disciplines including Foot-O, Ski-O, MTB-O, and Trail-O, alongside relay formats, FARSTA variations, and loop structures such as butterflies and diamonds. It computes track lengths, evaluates attack angles, calculates control site loads, creates forbidden route zigzag lines for MTBO, and formats several map extracts on a single printed sheet.

Pros

• Specialized calculation tools for course lengths, control attack angles, and relay team combinations.
• Direct export of course data to event management systems via IOF standard XML and CSV formats.
• Capable of nesting multiple map crops onto a single page to optimize printing resources.

Cons

• On 3D terrain controls and physical manufacturing exports, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On vector tile styling and custom map design, ArcGIS Online spell this out in more detail.
• On commercial web and navigation map developers, Condes provides less detail here than MapTiler Cloud.

Frequently asked questions

What trial periods or forecasts are available across these mapping tools?

OCAD provides a 14-day trial download of its software. MapTiler Cloud displays interactive 5-day forecast maps via its SDK Weather module.

How are these cartography platforms priced?

Gratic costs nothing while being built and has nothing to license. Felt provides a free tier at $0 per month, a Team plan at $199 per month paid annually, a Business plan at $599 per month paid annually, and Enterprise plans starting at $1,250 per month. MapTiler Cloud provides a free non-commercial tier, a Flex plan at $30 per month, and custom volume contracts. OCAD charges subscription fees in Swiss Francs with volume discounts, while EasyMaps is free to get started.

What geographic territories and data connections do these tools cover?

Gratic connects directly to national surveys in Finland, the Netherlands, France, and Cyprus, and queries OpenStreetMap globally. OCAD operates worldwide and maintains its headquarters in Baar, Switzerland. MapTiler Cloud operates its headquarters in Zug, Switzerland with development in Brno, Czechia. EasyMaps delivers map data across Sweden.

What specific sectors or user groups do these systems target?

Gratic is not designed for municipal planning or commercial app development. OCAD is used by cartography, city, and surveying offices, universities, and orienteering clubs. MapTiler Cloud targets real estate, aviation, drones, and logistics. EasyMaps serves schools, companies, and families buying maps from local sports clubs.

What operational scale and format capacity do these tools support?

OCAD is available in 17 languages and supports over 100 geographic coordinate systems. Condes prints more than 100,000 maps each year.

Choosing the right cartography partner

• Choose Gratic when drawing standardized orienteering and terrain maps directly in a browser tab using open national vector layers and elevation data without software licensing.
• Choose Felt when managing collaborative spatial analysis, raster data streaming, and web dashboard publishing across organizational teams.
• Choose ArcGIS Online when integrating multi-format enterprise geospatial databases with Microsoft cloud architectures.
• Choose MapTiler Cloud when embedding custom vector tiles, coordinate transforms, and map APIs into commercial web and mobile applications.
• Choose OCAD when processing complex desktop LiDAR point clouds and preparing print-ready competition cartography.
• Choose OpenOrienteering Mapper when compiling orienteering maps using an open-source, offline desktop tool across Linux, Windows, or macOS.
• Choose EasyMaps when drawing Swedish club terrain maps with Lantmäteriet contours and selling printed editions directly to local buyers.
• Choose Condes when designing competition courses, control descriptions, and relay variations for formal orienteering events.

How we compared

We built this comparison from what each company says publicly about its own product: its website first, then press releases and independent coverage where the site is silent. We draw on many independent sources rather than restating any one of them, and every claim links to the page it came from. Where a firm clearly does not offer something, the table shows ✗. Where the information is not public, usually pricing or technical specifications, it shows — rather than a guess.

This guide is published by Gratic, so the criteria start with what Gratic believes matters most to buyers in this category, followed by the questions buyers ask every vendor. Gratic's own limitations sit alongside everyone else's.

Sources

1. Felt: The map your business runs on: AI-native GIS, About Felt, GIS for Government: Assets, Crews, and Public Maps, Felt Pricing, Alternatives to ArcGIS, QGIS, CARTO, Mapbox and My Maps, felt.com/blog

2. ArcGIS Online: GIS Software for Mapping and Spatial Analytics, Esri & Microsoft

3. MapTiler Cloud: Maps for developers, Vision, mission, values, team and history, Flexible pricing for maps, data processing & storage, Top alternative for Google Maps API, Mapbox Alternative for Companies & SaaS Platforms

4. OCAD: software for Cartography and Orienteering, OCAD Blog

5. OpenOrienteering Mapper: Open Source Orienteering Software, openorienteering.org/about.html

6. EasyMaps: Draw, sell and buy orienteering maps

7. Condes: software for course planning, About Condes, Condes 9 works as a Condes 10 license, Condes History, Condes Features