Best Site Map Tools for Architects in 2026 (Cadmapper Alternatives)
For free CAD context, Cadmapper (1 km² in DXF) and TopoExport (DWG, 2 free exports a day) are the standard starting points. For the highest-fidelity 3D context, Cityweft; for SketchUp, PlaceMaker or SketchUp's own Add Location; for ready-made city plans, Schwarzplan; for free and full control, QGIS. UrbanEyes Maps exports 14 formats, including DWG, for any address, free within 350 m.
We make UrbanEyes Maps, so we have kept this fair: every competitor fact comes from the vendor's own pages, read on 21 October 2026, and we say where each tool beats ours.
Last checked: October 2026. Prices change; check before you buy.
How do the site map tools compare?
| Tool | DWG | Other formats | Free option | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadmapper | No | DXF, SKP, 3DM, Illustrator | 1 km², account needed | Larger areas "for a small fee" (price at checkout) |
| TopoExport | Yes | DXF, SKP, 3DM, PDF, SVG; 3D OBJ, glTF, STL; IFC and RVT on Pro+ | 2 exports a day, 1 km² | US$39/month |
| Cityweft | No | 3DM, SKP, RVT, DXF, GLB, FBX, IFC, OBJ, STL, GeoJSON and more | Live preview only | €99/month, or from €30/km² |
| Schwarzplan.eu | Yes, on many plans | PDF, DXF, SVG | 53 free plans with email | €10 per city plan; €99 all access |
| PlaceMaker | No (imports into SketchUp and Revit) | Native SketchUp and Revit geometry | Free extension; OSM imports on subscription | US$149/year, or credits |
| SketchUp Add Location | No | Native SketchUp | Included for subscribers | SketchUp subscription |
| BlenderGIS | No | Native Blender | Free, open source | - |
| QGIS + QuickOSM | Via DXF | DXF, SVG, PDF, GeoJSON, glTF | Free, open source | - |
| UrbanEyes Maps | Yes | DXF, 3DM, SKP, GLB, glTF, OBJ, STL, PLY, KMZ, GeoJSON, PDF, SVG, PNG | Unlimited within 350 m | €2 per site on monthly plans; €5 pay as you go |
The tools in detail
Cadmapper
The best-known free context tool. Free files up to 1 km² include all available data (buildings, roads, water, topography where available) from OpenStreetMap, NASA and USGS. "Whole city" road DXFs for metro areas are free without an account.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: whole-city road files for free.
- Limits: no DWG; the paid price per area is shown only at checkout.
TopoExport
2D maps, 3D terrain and context models and sections, with cadastral parcels in some countries, AI-generated roofs and trees, and contours.
- Free: 2 exports a day up to 1 km² at 5 m precision.
- Paid: Pro US$39 a month (5 Pro exports, 10 km², 0.1 m precision where data allows); Pro+ US$99 a month adds IFC, RVT and API credits.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: cadastral parcels and section exports, and RVT on Pro+.
- Limits: cadastre and high precision only in some countries; LoD2 roofs in Germany and Switzerland.
Cityweft
High-fidelity 3D context from government, LiDAR and its own building data, with very fine terrain in some countries (25 cm in Switzerland, 40 cm in Denmark, 1 m in France and the UK). Rhino and SketchUp plugins, cloud RVT, an API and a Forma integration.
- Paid: €99 a month (20 km²), €199 (50 km², 3 seats), €499 (200 km²), or pay per use from €30 per km². 70% off for students.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: fidelity where LiDAR data exists, and native Revit files.
- Limits: no free export; costly for occasional use.
Schwarzplan.eu
Hand-cleaned figure-ground and site plans for a catalogue of cities in 48 countries. Most plans €10, country bundles from €29, all access €99 once. Commercial use allowed.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: cheap, drawing-ready plans of whole cities.
- Limits: catalogue cities only; it cannot make a plan for an arbitrary site.
PlaceMaker
A SketchUp and Revit extension that imports OpenStreetMap buildings, roads and trees, Google 3D tiles, Nearmap imagery, terrain and point clouds.
- Price: US$149 a year, or pay-as-you-go credits from US$25 per 100.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: Google 3D and Nearmap imagery inside SketchUp.
- Limits: credit costs are hard to predict before an import.
SketchUp Add Location
Built into SketchUp (an extension since SketchUp 2024): satellite or street imagery, a terrain mesh and, since 2025, simple 3D buildings for subscribers.
- Better than UrbanEyes at: nothing to install for SketchUp users.
- Limits: simple massing; no CAD linework or DWG.
BlenderGIS and QGIS
The free, open-source routes. BlenderGIS brings OpenStreetMap buildings and SRTM terrain into Blender; QGIS with QuickOSM downloads any OpenStreetMap layer and exports DXF, SVG or GeoJSON. Full control, at the cost of learning time.
UrbanEyes Maps
Our tool. Figure-ground, land use, building use and height, roads, green, water and terrain for any place on Earth, from OpenStreetMap and Overture data, in 14 formats.
- Free: unlimited exports within a 350 m radius.
- Paid: €2 per site on monthly plans (from €10 a month for 5 sites), €5 per site pay as you go, 70% off monthly plans for students.
- Limits: uses open data, so it does not match Cityweft's LiDAR fidelity where that exists; no cadastral parcels; no RVT.
Which site map tool should you choose?
- One free 1 km² DXF: Cadmapper.
- Free DWG today: TopoExport's free plan, or UrbanEyes Maps within 350 m.
- Analysis-grade 3D context in Europe or the US: Cityweft.
- SketchUp with Google 3D: PlaceMaker.
- A city you draw often: Schwarzplan.
- Any address, many formats, paid per site: UrbanEyes Maps.
- Free and full control: QGIS.
For which map to make and which format to export, read site maps for architects: types and formats. For DWG specifically, see how to get a DWG site plan for any address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Cadmapper?
It depends on what you need from it: TopoExport for DWG and cadastre, Cityweft for high-fidelity 3D, Schwarzplan for ready-made city plans, QGIS for free control, and UrbanEyes Maps for 14 formats for any address.
Is Cadmapper free?
Up to 1 km² with an account, including all available data. Larger areas up to 100 km² are paid, at a price shown at checkout.
Which site map tool exports DWG?
TopoExport, Schwarzplan (on many plans) and UrbanEyes Maps export DWG. Cadmapper and Cityweft export DXF, which DWG programs open.
Which tool gives 3D site context for Rhino?
Cadmapper, TopoExport, Cityweft and UrbanEyes Maps all export Rhino 3DM files. Cityweft and UrbanEyes' Urbanaut also work as plugins inside Rhino.
Are site maps from OpenStreetMap free to use commercially?
Yes, under the ODbL licence, provided you credit "© OpenStreetMap contributors". Check each tool's own terms for the files it produces.
Vinayak Tiwari
Founder, UrbanEyes
Computational designer trained at IAAC Barcelona. Vinayak built every UrbanEyes product, from Site Analysis to Maps and Boards, after years of doing site studies by hand.
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