QField
Swiss mobile field app for QGIS projects, with QFieldCloud sync operated from Laax
Quick Overview
| Company | QFieldCloud GmbH (service); OPENGIS.ch (developer) |
|---|---|
| Category | GIS Software |
| Headquarters | Laax, Switzerland |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Switzerland (Europe, outside the EU) |
| Data Location | Sub-processors listed by QFieldCloud; DPA available |
| Open Source | GPL-2.0 |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - open source |
| Main Features | QGIS symbology in the field, forms with constraints and defaults, photos, video and audio capture, QR and NFC scanning, high-precision location and tracking, geofencing, plugins in QML/JavaScript, QFieldCloud sync |
| Pricing | QFieldCloud Community free (100 MB sync); Flat from €18 per user per month; Flex €28 per user per month |
| Best For | Survey teams that design their forms in QGIS and collect data on phones and tablets |
| Replaces | ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Survey123, Collector |
Detailed Review
QField is the field half of a QGIS workflow. The project is built in QGIS on the desktop, synchronised through QFieldCloud, and opened in the app, where the same symbology and forms appear.
QFieldCloud's legal page states that the SaaS is offered by QFieldCloud GmbH, a Swiss company based in Laax. The app itself is credited to OPENGIS.ch, which lists ISO 9001:2015 certification.
What the app captures
Beyond points and polygons, the app records photos, video and audio, scans QR codes and NFC tags, and tracks position with high-precision receivers. Editing tools cover snapping, reshaping, freehand drawing and vertex editing.
Plugins written in QML or JavaScript extend it.
QFieldCloud plans
The Community plan is free, with unlimited projects and 100 MB of sync space and community support. Flat adds private collaboration, advanced version history and offline PostGIS support, and the page shows €18 per user per month with a lower price for larger teams. Flex, charged only for active users, is €28.
Pay-by-invoice is mentioned for paid plans.
Public-good framing
The project calls itself a Digital Public Good, and its success stories include the National Land Survey of Finland and a German archaeological project.
Limitations to Consider
QField only makes sense if your maps live in QGIS, so it is not a standalone system and does not replace QGIS. Sync space on the free plan is tiny (100 MB), and the pricing page shows several price points per plan, so the exact cost depends on billing period and team size. Switzerland is outside the EU.
Who Should Use QField
Field teams, surveyors and NGOs that already use QGIS and need an offline-capable data collection app.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Reuses QGIS symbology and forms
- GPL-2.0 open source
- Free QFieldCloud tier
- Rich capture (photo, NFC, GNSS)
- Data processing agreement available
Cons
- Depends on QGIS workflow
- Free plan has only 100 MB
- Pricing varies by billing and size
- Non-EU (Swiss) company
Alternatives to QField
Other European gis software worth comparing before you decide:
GeoSolutions
Italy · Support and web mapping software around GeoServer and MapStore
Mapbender
Germany · MIT-licensed WebGIS that publishes maps from one installation
disy Cadenza
Germany · Reporting, analytics and map views for public-sector data
QGIS
Switzerland · Open-source desktop GIS run by a Swiss association
See all European gis software or compare them directly against ArcGIS Field Maps on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. QField opens QGIS projects; the project is designed in QGIS and synchronised, for example through QFieldCloud.
QFieldCloud has an always-free Community plan with 100 MB sync space and community support.
QFieldCloud lists a DPA and a sub-processors page among its legal documents.