Google makes Earth Pro available to virtual travelers for free

Google is making their geospatial software Google Earth Pro completely free. The Pro version of the software used to cost $399 per year and features a ton of neat extras that the normal version doesn’t have.

Google Earth Pro allows users to print high-resolution screenshots, view demographic and traffic information from cities all over the planet, and lets you geolocate information.

According to Google:

“Google Earth Pro is a 3D interactive globe that can be used to aid planning, analysis and decision making. Businesses, governments and professional users from around the world use Google Earth Pro data visualization, site planning and information sharing tools.”

“Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists, and hobbyists from all over the world have been using Google Earth Pro for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops,” said Google Earth Pro product manager Stafford Marquardt.

He continues, “Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world.”

He added, “starting today, even more people will be able to access Google Earth Pro: we’re making it available for free. To see what Earth Pro can do for you—or to just have fun flying around the world—grab a free key and download Earth Pro today. If you’re an existing user, your key will continue to work with no changes required.”

In order to use the software, it’s necessary to sign up for a license and ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements required.

Windows users should be running XP or higher and have at least 500MB of free storage and 512MB of RAM. Mac users need to run OS 10.6 or higher and have the same storage and memory requirements (500 MB of storage available and 512 MB of RAM).