QGIS is a free and open-source geographic information system (GIS) software. QGIS supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports viewing, editing, printing, and analysis of geospatial data in a range of data formats. Its name comes from an abbreviation of its previous name, Quantum GIS.
QGIS functions as geographic information system (GIS) software, allowing users to analyze and edit spatial information, in addition to composing and exporting graphical maps. QGIS supports raster, vector, mesh, and point cloud layers. Vector data is stored as either point, line, or polygon features. Multiple formats of raster images are supported, and the software can georeference images.
QGIS supports shapefiles, personal geodatabases, dxf, MapInfo, PostGIS, and other industry-standard formats. Web services, including Web Map Service and Web Feature Service, are also supported to allow use of data from external sources.
What is QGIS?
QGIS is an open-source maps & gi program for Windows from QGIS.org (developed by QGIS Development Team). It ranks 3rd by popularity among maps & gis in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 2002. It is written in C++ and Python. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux, macOS, BSD, Android and iOS. Its interface is available in 36 languages.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as MSI. Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 4.2.3, released on September 25, 2026. 23 versions are listed since November 30, 2023, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 8.2 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (qgis/QGIS) has 14,680 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 39 of our languages. On Windows it registers 5 file types, including .qpt, .qml, .qgs, .qgz and .qlr. Similar programs include GeoDa, Google Earth Pro and OpenOrienteering Mapper.
Project description on GitHub: “QGIS is a free, open source, cross platform (lin/win/mac) geographical information system (GIS)”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 8.2 a year)
- Also runs on Linux, macOS and BSD
- Large user base
- Mature project (since 2002)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: QGIS is an open-source maps & gi tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is QGIS safe to download?
- The file is served by qgis.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C9B4B837350D00EECB77AE5C965219B3F74776E1921F7460B3859C898F38B1CF· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 23 versions ›23 versions over 3 years · about 8.2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2.3Latest | September 25, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.2.2 | August 28, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.2.1 | July 31, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.2.0 | July 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.0.3 | May 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.0.2 | May 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.0.1 | April 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 4.0.0 | March 6, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id OSGeo.QGIS -emsiexec /i QGIS-OSGeo4W-4.2.3-2.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {4F4B34D4-F82F-1014-AE3E-B2146432C84E} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask qgisInformation
- Publisher
- QGIS.org
- Developer
- QGIS Development Team
- Category
- Maps & GIS
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/qgis/QGIS
- Written in
- C++ and Python
- Interface languages
- English, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Serbo-Croatian, Bulgarian, and Spanish +30 more
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Other platforms
- Linux, macOS, BSD, Android, iOS
- Version
- 4.2.3
- Released
- September 25, 2026
- First release
- 2002
- Added to the catalogue
- November 30, 2023
- Versions listed
- 23
- Updates / year
- 8.2
- Downloads on ExeAtlas
- 3
- GitHub stars
- 14,680
- GitHub forks
- 3,580
- Website
- qgis.org
- winget ID
- OSGeo.QGIS
- MSI product code
- {4F4B34D4-F82F-1014-AE3E-B2146432C84E}
File types it opens (5)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to QGIS
See all ›-
Open source17.7K ↓ -
Free2.5M ↓ -
Open source2.3K ↓ -
Garmin BaseCamp4.7.5.0Make the most of your next outdoor activity, or relive the trips you’ve taken. BaseCamp lets you plan outdoor activities, organize your data and share your adventures with others.Proprietary6.8K ↓ -
Open source2K ↓ -
TomTom MyDrive Connect5.3.5.5140Manage all your TomTom device updates with MyDrive Connect on a Mac or PCProprietary48.8K ↓ -
GeoLibre Desktop3.4.0Lightweight, cloud-native GIS platform for visualizing and analyzing geospatial dataOpen source★ 8.1K -
Open source★ 1.4K
Frequently asked questions
Is QGIS free?
Yes. QGIS is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is QGIS safe to download?
The download comes from qgis.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install QGIS with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can QGIS be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does QGIS run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of QGIS?
The versions page lists all 23 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 30, 2023.
What are alternatives to QGIS?
GeoDa, Google Earth Pro, OpenOrienteering Mapper, Garmin BaseCamp and Marble. The alternatives page compares them.
