All 39 annual global mosaics behind Google Earth Timelapse, covering 1984 to 2022, are now open data in the Earth Engine Data Catalog. The full methodology is available too.
Explore the world with high-res satellite imagery, 3D terrain, Street View, and historical timelapses — right in your browser.
About Google Earth
Google Earth is a free interactive globe with high-resolution satellite imagery, 3D terrain and buildings, and Street View, all running in the browser. Use it to scout locations, grab reference for designs and B-roll, build geo-tagged stories with custom projects, or watch a place change over decades with Timelapse and historical imagery. It's a go-to tool for creators, marketers, educators, and journalists who need real-world visual context fast.
Pricing model: Free
Features
- High-resolution satellite imagery worldwide
- 3D terrain and buildings in hundreds of cities
- Street View 360° perspectives
- Timelapse and historical imagery
- Build, save, and share custom map projects
FAQs
Common questions about Google Earth
Is Google Earth free?
Do I need to install anything?
Can I see how a place has changed over time?
Shapefile + 3D Model Imports
Google Earth now imports shapefiles, so you can bring geographic data such as tax lots, infrastructure, or topography onto the globe. Upload a .zip of shapefiles to see the features and their attributes as data layers.
You can also upload, place, and share custom 3D models in GLB format, with controls for position, scale, and rotation. The measure tool adds an elevation profile: draw a line to see an elevation graph in the inspector panel.…
Alternatives to Google Earth
Other products to explore and follow.
Team
The people behind Google Earth
Larry Page
Google co-founder
Sergey Brin
Google co-founder