Google Earth Pro
Google's satellite globe, with official Linux installer files. A web version covers the same ground.
Our verdict
Google Earth Pro is one of the rare cases where the Windows app you used has a proper Linux version from the vendor. Google publishes installer files for Debian and Ubuntu systems and for Fedora and openSUSE, and it is the same free Pro release.
Plan for it to end, though. Google's own versions page says the desktop download disappears on 25 June 2027. After that the browser version at earth.google.com is the supported route, and it already does most of what a home user wants, including flying to places and measuring distances.
Your saved places come across as .kml or .kmz files and open in either version. Export them from Windows before you wipe the machine.
What's good
- Google provides installer files for both Ubuntu-style and Fedora-style systems
- Free, where it used to cost money
- Opens your saved .kml and .kmz places files from Windows
- A browser version exists if the installed app gives trouble
What to know first
- Google will stop offering the desktop download on 25 June 2027
- The interface is dated and has had little attention for years
- Needs decent graphics support for the 3D view to run smoothly
- Not open source, and it sends your searches to Google
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- No (Proprietary)
- How you install it
- .deb installer, .rpm installer, In your browser
Windows apps it can replace
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