Google Earth
by Google LLC · Travel & Navigation · Navigation & Maps
Explore the world from above with satellite imagery, 3D terrain, and immersive Voyager stories.
Quick Answer: Google Earth has a verified Real Score of 4.1/5 based on 22,250 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.5/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 22,250 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Google Earth's App Store rating is 0.4 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Stunning satellite imagery
- 3D building and terrain views
- Educational Voyager content
- Time-lapse historical imagery
Common Complaints
- Very data and storage heavy
- Can be slow on older devices
- Not practical for navigation
- Some areas have outdated imagery
Verified Reviews (20)
Mind-blowing technology
Flying from space down to street level anywhere on Earth never gets old. The 3D terrain and buildings are incredibly detailed. This is the future we were promised.
Great for trip planning visualization
Before any trip I fly through my destinations on Google Earth. Seeing the terrain, coastlines, and city layouts helps me plan better. Virtual scouting at its finest.
Voyager stories are educational
The guided Voyager tours are like interactive documentaries. Learned about climate change, ancient civilizations, and natural wonders. Great educational content.
Needs a powerful phone
The 3D rendering is demanding. On my older phone it was laggy and crashed. On my new phone its smooth. Not everyones device can handle the full experience.
Timelapse feature is incredible
Watching cities grow, forests shrink, and glaciers recede over decades through the Timelapse feature is powerful and sobering. Technology at its most impactful.
Real estate research tool
Use Google Earth to check neighborhoods before buying. See the area from above, check nearby amenities, look at terrain. More useful than Street View for big picture research.
Fun for exploring with kids
My kids love "flying" around the world. Weve visited the pyramids, Mount Everest, and the Amazon rainforest from our couch. Educational entertainment at its best.
Data usage is extreme
Do NOT use this on mobile data. A 10-minute exploring session used 500MB. WiFi only unless you have unlimited data. The imagery quality demands bandwidth.
Measurement tools are precise
The distance and area measurement tools are surprisingly accurate. Used them for property assessment and hiking trail planning. Professional-grade tools for free.
KML import for custom maps
Being able to import custom KML files and view them overlaid on the satellite imagery is powerful for work and personal projects. Great for data visualization.
Not for navigation but for wonder
This isnt a replacement for Google Maps - its a different thing entirely. Its for exploring, wondering, and appreciating our planet. A technology marvel.
Climate change visualization
The environmental layers showing deforestation, sea level changes, and ice cap retreat are powerful. Makes abstract climate data concrete and visible.
Some areas still blurry
While major cities are incredibly detailed, rural areas in developing countries are still quite blurry. Coverage is improving but unevenly distributed.
VR mode on Cardboard is amazing
Using Google Earth in VR with a simple Cardboard headset is an incredible experience. Flying over the Grand Canyon in VR is breathtaking even on a budget headset.
Projects feature is creative
Creating custom Earth projects with placemarks, routes, and descriptions is great for presentations and sharing travel stories. The storytelling potential is huge.
Best free app on any phone
The fact that this level of satellite imagery and 3D modeling is free is mind-boggling. This technology was science fiction 20 years ago.
Storage hog
The app itself is big and cached data adds up fast. Uses over 2GB on my phone. For something I use occasionally, thats a lot of storage to give up.
Great for hiking planning
The 3D terrain view is perfect for planning hiking routes. See the elevation changes, steep sections, and surrounding landscape before hitting the trail.
Historical imagery is fascinating
Being able to see how a location has changed over the past 20+ years is fascinating. Watched my neighborhood transform from farmland to suburbs. Time travel through imagery.
Educational masterpiece
This should be in every classroom. The ability to virtually visit any place on Earth makes geography come alive. My students are more engaged when we use Google Earth.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026