3D terrain map tools compared
There are several ways to turn a real place into a 3D terrain model. This page compares the main browser tools on the things that actually decide whether one fits your workflow: exports, heightmaps, print scale, price and accounts.
Side by side
Compiled from each product's public pages on 2026-11-01. Prices and features change — check the linked site before buying.
| Tool | Price | Account | 3D exports | Heightmap / game assets | Print scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Terrain | Free | No | STL, OBJ, GLB | 16-bit heightmap PNG + surface texture | Fit-bed 180 mm, 1:5,000 – 1:50,000 |
| Maps3D | Free preview; $5 per map or $20/month | Optional (subscription) | STL, 3MF, OBJ, glTF, DXF, 3DM, SKP, IFC | No dedicated heightmap | Print scale and bed size |
| 3D-Mapper | Paid plans | Yes | STL, OBJ, GLB, glTF | Heightmap + texture sets | Not stated |
| GeoFilament | Free preview; €3–€8 per model | Only to buy | 3MF, STL, OBJ | No | Fixed 1:5,000; frame sizes |
| Mini Skyline | Free | No | 3MF (multi-colour) | No | Up to 500 km² in up to 20 pieces |
| TouchTerrain | Free, open source | No | STL, OBJ | GeoTIFF elevation data | Multi-tile printing |
Free Google Earth alternatives for 3D terrain
Google Earth is the best-known way to see the planet in 3D, but it is not a model-export tool: you cannot export a watertight STL, a 16-bit heightmap or an elevation-derived poster from it, and its terms restrict reuse of the imagery. If what you need is terrain geometry rather than satellite browsing, the free alternatives split into three groups:
- Real elevation, any place, exportable — 3D Terrain (this site): hillshade, 3D relief, slope, contours, STL/OBJ/GLB/heightmap/poster.
- Data-driven 3D globes — CesiumJS with Cesium ion, or NASA WorldWind, for building custom globe visualisations.
- Print-focused generators — TouchTerrain, Maps3D, 3D-Mapper and the print shops in the table above.
For street-level imagery and 3D city buildings, Google Earth / Google Maps remains stronger. For a printable mountain, a heightmap for Unity, or a framed terrain poster, the terrain-native tools are the better fit.
What the differences mean
- Heightmaps vs. models. A heightmap is a grayscale image where brightness encodes elevation — the input Unity, Unreal, Godot and Blender expect. A terrain STL is the finished surface. A tool that exports only one of them leaves a translation step to you; 3D Terrain exports both from the same elevation grid.
- Print scale. A model is only useful if it fits a real printer bed or a frame. Fixed-scale tools are convenient for series, adjustable scales handle both a single mountain and a city.
- Colour printing. Multi-filament slicers can use 3MF files with one body per feature. 3D Terrain currently exports single-material STL/OBJ/GLB; the print shops in the table specialise in multi-colour 3MF.
- Coverage. 3D Terrain uses the global geoBoundaries dataset (232 countries) plus a free box tool anywhere on Earth; TouchTerrain is strong for US 10 m elevation; shop-based tools curate selected areas.
Questions
- Which tool is best for 3D printing a mountain?
- For a free, no-account workflow with a printable STL plus OBJ/GLB and a true 16-bit heightmap, 3D Terrain covers the whole path. Specialised print shops such as GeoFilament add curated landmarks and multi-colour 3MF, while TouchTerrain offers scientific elevation datasets and multi-tile output.
- Which tools export a heightmap or game-engine assets?
- 3D Terrain exports a 16-bit grayscale heightmap PNG and a matching surface texture. 3D-Mapper ships heightmap and texture sets, and TouchTerrain can export GeoTIFF elevation data. Most simple STL generators do not export raw elevation grids.
- Is 3D Terrain really free?
- Yes. There is no account, no trial and no paid tier — regions, overlays, all export formats and share links are included. The site is run as an independent project with open data sources.
- Can I use the exports commercially?
- Yes, subject to the open-data licences: geoBoundaries boundaries are ODbL, GeoNames place names are CC BY 4.0, Natural Earth water is public domain, and Overture Maps buildings/roads are ODbL (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Keep the credit line that ships with the exports.
- Do any of these tools need an account?
- 3D Terrain does not. Maps3D allows a single-map purchase without an account but sells an unlimited subscription; 3D-Mapper requires an account for plans; TouchTerrain runs without one, as a web app or locally.
- What is a free alternative to Google Earth for 3D terrain?
- For 3D terrain that you can export, 3D Terrain is free and browser-based: pick any place, get a hillshade/3D relief, and export PNG, STL, OBJ/GLB or a 16-bit heightmap. For a full 3D globe with imagery layers, CesiumJS is the developer option.
- Which tool is best for 3D printing terrain?
- For a free, no-account STL with print scales and a heightmap, 3D Terrain covers the whole path. TouchTerrain offers scientific datasets and multi-tile output; Maps3D and 3D-Mapper add paid multi-format pipelines; shops such as GeoFilament offer multi-colour prints.
- Which terrain tools export heightmaps?
- 3D Terrain (16-bit PNG + surface texture), 3D-Mapper (heightmap/texture sets) and TouchTerrain (GeoTIFF). Most simple STL generators do not export raw elevation grids.