Google Earth Pro is being discontinued. Here is what replaces it.

Google announced on July 8, 2026 that Google Earth Pro desktop - the free 3D viewer surveyors, geologists and planners have built workflows around for two decades - is discontinued. New downloads stop on June 25, 2027; copies you already have keep working after that date but never receive another update. The right replacement depends entirely on which job you actually used it for.

--days until Google Earth Pro downloads end

Key dates

Oct 2004Google acquires Keyhole, the company behind the underlying technology
Jun 2005Google Earth launches
Jan 2015Google Earth Pro, previously $399/year, becomes free
Jul 8, 2026Google announces Google Earth Pro desktop is discontinued
Jun 25, 2027New downloads stop - installed copies keep running but get no further updates

Why it happened: Google did not publish a press release or blog post - the notice went out through a support-forum post. Earth Pro never got a native Apple Silicon build (it still runs under Rosetta 2), and Google is steering users toward the web and mobile versions of Google Earth instead of maintaining a separate desktop app.

What to switch to

QGIS

Free, open-source GIS that opens KML/KMZ natively with no size limit and runs natively on every platform, including Apple Silicon.

Free / open-sourceBest if you want a true desktop successor for drawing, measuring and GIS layers

Google Earth (Web & Mobile)

Google's own recommended migration path, but users report a roughly 250,000-vertex cap on KML imports and weaker attribute-data display than the desktop app.

FreeBest if quick browsing and presentations with zero setup

ArcGIS Earth

Esri's free 3D globe viewer - the closest polished match to Earth Pro's feel, especially if you already touch the Esri ecosystem.

Free (Esri account)Best if you are already in the ArcGIS/Esri stack

NASA WorldWind

An open-source virtual-globe engine backed by NASA - more of a developer platform than a ready-made viewer out of the box.

Free / open-sourceBest if you want to build a custom globe app, not just view one

Marble (KDE)

A lightweight, open-source cross-platform virtual globe from the KDE project that reads KML and works offline.

Free / open-sourceBest if a simple no-account desktop globe on Linux, Windows or Mac

Copernicus Browser (Sentinel-2)

Free imagery that refreshes roughly every 5 days at 10m resolution - fresher than Google's multi-year basemap mosaic, though lower resolution.

FreeBest if you need current imagery, not just a nicer viewer

Options listed alphabetically by fit, not ranked - pick by your constraint (price, stack, control). No winner is declared.

How to migrate

Back up every saved Place, project and KML/KMZ file from Google Earth Pro now - KML is an open format, so nothing is locked in, but the desktop export tools disappear with the app.
For quick browsing and presentations with no setup, move to Google Earth on web or mobile - check the roughly 250,000-vertex import cap first if you have large KML datasets.
For real GIS work - measuring, layering, editing KML - install QGIS; it opens KML/KMZ directly with no size limit, though budget a weekend to learn the interface.
If imagery freshness (not just a viewer) is the real requirement, remember Google's basemap is a multi-year mosaic - free Sentinel-2 data or paid commercial satellite imagery is the actual fix, not another free globe.

FAQ

Is Google Earth Pro being discontinued?

Yes. Google announced on July 8, 2026 that Google Earth Pro desktop (Windows, macOS and Linux) is discontinued. New downloads stop on June 25, 2027, and Google's suggested replacement is Google Earth on web and mobile.

Can I still use Google Earth Pro after June 2027?

If it is already installed, yes. Google has confirmed existing installations keep working after the download cutoff, but the app will not receive further updates, bug fixes or security patches, so expect it to slowly age.

What happens to my KML files and saved places?

Nothing is lost - KML is an open format. You can import saved places into Google Earth web (watch the roughly 250,000-vertex limit some users report) or open KML/KMZ files directly in QGIS, which has no size restriction.

What is the best Google Earth Pro alternative?

It depends on the job: Google Earth web/mobile for quick browsing, QGIS for real GIS work with KML files, ArcGIS Earth if you are in the Esri ecosystem, and Sentinel-2 imagery via Copernicus Browser or commercial satellite data if you need imagery freshness Google's mosaic cannot provide.

Sources

Geopera - Google Earth Pro Desktop Is Being Discontinued: What Now? TechRadar - Google Earth Pro for desktop is being discontinued

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Facts current as of July 2026 - dates come from official announcements (see sources). Always verify against the vendor before making migration decisions.

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