localthings as an alternative to ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS is a serious GIS platform, and for spatial analysis nothing here competes with it. But plenty of teams open ArcGIS only to publish a public map of their locations — and for that it is a lot of platform, a lot of licence and a lot of learning curve.
- ArcGIS Online is full GIS software: powerful, but complex and costly.
- If you do not need analysis but do want a good-looking, shareable map, localthings is quicker and cheaper.
- You import existing data from CSV or JSON and publish without GIS knowledge.
- Free to start; a custom domain and removing our branding are in the paid plans.
localthings vs. ArcGIS Online
A factual comparison on the points that matter to most people.
| Feature | localthings | ArcGIS Online |
|---|---|---|
| Free to start | Trial | |
| Live in an afternoon | Steeper learning curve | |
| No GIS knowledge needed | ||
| Your own colours and logo | Possible, more work | |
| Rich location cards with photos | Configurable | |
| Spatial analysis and geoprocessing | ||
| Authoritative data layers and coordinate systems | ||
| Bulk import from CSV / Excel | ||
| White-label on your own domain | On Premium | Depends on licence |
When ArcGIS Online is the right call
When you genuinely do GIS work: spatial analysis, authoritative data layers, coordinate systems, integration with a wider Esri stack, or a professional GIS team already using it. Nothing here replaces that.
When localthings fits better
When the goal is one clear public map — locations, categories, filters, your branding, embedded on your site — and you want it live this week without a licence negotiation or a training course.
Build this yourself in Studio
Studio opens straight in your browser. You only need an account once you want to save or publish your map.
Frequently asked questions
Is localthings a GIS?
No, and it does not claim to be. There is no spatial analysis, no geoprocessing and no coordinate-system management. It is a builder for publishing a branded, interactive map of your locations.
We already have ArcGIS. Is there a reason to add this?
Sometimes: teams keep the analysis in ArcGIS and use localthings for the public-facing map, because it is faster to brand and cheaper to publish. Both import from the same spreadsheet.
Can I import a shapefile?
Not directly. Export the attributes to CSV with an address or coordinates per row and import that. Areas are drawn in the builder instead of imported.
What does localthings cost?
Free to start with one map and up to 100 locations; paid plans are per map.