Geocadra vs ArcGIS Field Maps
Enterprise-grade field collection without enterprise complexity or pricing
TL;DR
Choose Geocadra if you need field data collection without expensive ArcGIS licenses, complex configuration, or GIS expertise. Choose ArcGIS if you're already invested in the Esri ecosystem and need advanced GIS analysis.
ArcGIS Field Maps is powerful—there's no denying that. But that power comes with significant costs: expensive named user licenses (€500+/user/year) and setup complexity requiring GIS expertise. For many contractors, it's overkill. Geocadra delivers the field collection capabilities you actually need, with a learning curve measured in minutes rather than days.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Geocadra | ArcGIS Field Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-client management | ||
| Unlimited users | ||
| GPS mapping | ||
| Custom forms | ||
| Photo attachments | ||
| Offline mode | ||
| Data export | ||
| No GIS expertise needed | ||
| Quick setup | ||
| GDPR compliant | ||
| EU data hosting | Optional |
Why Teams Switch to Geocadra
Fraction of the Cost
The math on ArcGIS licensing is sobering. A Creator license runs €500+/user/year, and that's before you add Field Worker licenses for your collection team. A 10-person field team can easily cost €3,000-5,000+ annually in licensing alone—and that's assuming you already have ArcGIS Online infrastructure. Many contractors discover this only after getting deep into sales conversations. Geocadra starts at €49/seat/month, with client viewers included free. A team of 4 collectors + 6 viewers costs €196/month on Starter (€49 × 4) or €396/month on Pro with more features. That's €2,352-4,752/year vs €5,000+ for ArcGIS—significant savings that goes straight to your bottom line.
Minutes to First Data Collection
Getting productive with ArcGIS Field Maps requires understanding the Esri ecosystem. You need to configure ArcGIS Online, set up feature services, design web maps, configure offline areas, manage user roles, and deploy to devices. While experienced GIS professionals can work through this efficiently, contractors without GIS staff face a steeper learning curve—often requiring training or consulting. Geocadra gets you collecting data in minutes. Sign up, create a form, invite your team. No web maps to configure, no feature services to manage, no offline areas to define. Your field workers download the app and start collecting. We've seen teams go from signup to first real data collection in under an hour.
No GIS Expertise Required
ArcGIS Field Maps assumes users understand GIS concepts: coordinate systems, feature classes, symbology, attribute domains, geodatabases. For GIS professionals, this is second nature. For field workers who just need to record inspections? It's an unnecessary barrier. Training a field team on ArcGIS concepts takes days to weeks, and you'll still field support calls about projection issues and sync conflicts. Geocadra's interface is designed for people who do field work, not GIS work. Tap to add a point, fill out the form, take photos, submit. No GIS concepts required. Most field workers are productive within their first hour, often without any formal training.
Export to ArcGIS When Needed
Choosing Geocadra doesn't mean abandoning ArcGIS entirely. Many teams use both: Geocadra for efficient field collection, ArcGIS for advanced analysis and cartography. Export your Geocadra data to Shapefile or GeoJSON and import directly into ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online. You get the simplicity of Geocadra in the field and the analytical power of ArcGIS in the office—without paying for ArcGIS licenses for every field worker.
Common Frustrations
Based on user reviews and community feedback
Expensive per-user licensing
Named user licenses at €500+/year per user quickly become prohibitive. A team of 15 field workers plus 3 office staff could cost €9,000+/year in licensing before you've collected a single record.
Requires GIS expertise to set up
Configuring web maps, feature services, offline areas, and user permissions requires significant GIS knowledge. Organizations without GIS staff often need to hire consultants just for initial setup.
Configuration complexity
Getting from purchase to productive field collection requires learning the Esri ecosystem. Without existing GIS expertise, the setup process can take significant time—and you're paying for licenses during that learning curve.
Overpowered for simple collection
If you need to collect inspection data with GPS and photos, you're paying for sophisticated GIS capabilities you'll never use. It's like buying a surveying-grade GPS to track your daily walk.
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Geocadra if you...
- Need affordable field collection for your whole team
- Want to start collecting data in minutes, not weeks
- Don't have GIS specialists on staff
- Need simple data collection, not full GIS analysis
Choose ArcGIS Field Maps if you...
- Already heavily invested in ArcGIS ecosystem
- Need advanced GIS analysis and cartography
- Have dedicated GIS staff for setup and maintenance
Pricing Comparison
ArcGIS licensing is complex and expensive. Here's a simplified comparison.
Geocadra
From €49/seat/month
- Free viewers included
- 20% annual discount
- All features included
ArcGIS Field Maps
€500+/user/year
- Named user licenses required for each field worker
- Additional costs for offline capabilities
- ArcGIS Online subscription required
Switching is Easy
Geocadra complements ArcGIS rather than replacing it entirely. Many organizations use Geocadra for field collection and ArcGIS for analysis. Collect data in Geocadra's simple mobile interface, export to Shapefile or GeoJSON, then import into ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online for advanced analysis and cartography. This hybrid approach gives you affordable, simple field collection while maintaining ArcGIS capabilities for work that actually requires them. If you have existing ArcGIS data, we can help import it into Geocadra for ongoing collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Geocadra replace ArcGIS Field Maps?
For field data collection—GPS mapping, custom forms, photo attachments, offline work, team coordination—yes, Geocadra handles all of this at a fraction of the cost and complexity. For advanced GIS analysis, spatial queries, complex cartography, and enterprise geodatabase management, ArcGIS remains the better tool. Many organizations use both: Geocadra for collection, ArcGIS for analysis. This hybrid approach often costs less than ArcGIS-only while being simpler for field teams.
Does Geocadra integrate with ArcGIS?
Geocadra exports to Shapefile, GeoJSON, and GeoPackage formats—all of which import directly into ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise. This means you can collect data affordably with Geocadra and perform advanced analysis in ArcGIS when needed. The export process takes seconds, and your data maintains full spatial accuracy and attribute integrity.
Does Geocadra work offline like Field Maps?
Yes, and it's simpler to set up. Geocadra's mobile app works fully offline with automatic sync when connectivity returns. Unlike Field Maps, there's no need to pre-configure offline areas, manage tile packages, or worry about feature service settings. Download the app, log in, and offline mode just works. Data syncs automatically when you're back online.
Can I create complex forms like in ArcGIS?
Geocadra supports custom forms with multiple field types (text, numbers, dropdowns, checkboxes, dates), required field validation, conditional logic (show/hide fields based on responses), photo and file attachments, GPS coordinate capture, and repeating sections. For extremely complex Survey123-style forms with advanced XLSForm expressions, some features may differ. Contact us with your specific form requirements for an honest comparison.
Can Geocadra match ArcGIS GPS accuracy?
Geocadra uses your device's GPS and supports external GNSS receivers for high-accuracy collection. If your device or external receiver provides sub-meter or centimeter accuracy, Geocadra captures and stores that precision. For most inspection and asset collection work, standard device GPS (3-5 meter accuracy) is sufficient. For survey-grade requirements, pair with an external receiver.
How long does it take to train staff on Geocadra vs ArcGIS?
Most field workers are productive with Geocadra within an hour, often without formal training—the interface is that intuitive. ArcGIS Field Maps training typically takes 1-2 days for basic operation, longer if staff need to understand underlying GIS concepts. For administrators, Geocadra setup takes an afternoon; ArcGIS configuration requires understanding the Esri ecosystem and may require GIS expertise or consulting.
Also Comparing?
Ready to upgrade from ArcGIS Field Maps?
Get in touch—no commitment required. See how Geocadra can streamline your field data collection.