Learn key details about the imagery and terrain providers supported in Plex-Earth 2026.
With Plex-Earth, you gain access to top-notch imagery and terrain from several providers. You can use their images to either create detailed Mosaics to see every aspect of your project area, quickly create Timelines from the providers that offer historical datasets to see how your projects evolve through time, and import elevation data to see the morphology of your project site.
The current list of the providers Plex-Earth offers is the following:
Base map providers:
Premium Providers
Explanation of the Zoom Levels
Terms of Use of Imagery Providers
Provider Feature List
You can see below a list of the most important features of each provider that Plex-Earth offers. Find a short description of these characteristics below:
Coverage: Which areas or countries does a specific provider cover
Type of Imagery: This indicates the way the imagery was captured and the datasets offered.
Color Type: Available colors of the imagery provided. It can be colorful, grayscale, or both
Maximum Zoom Level: Each Zoom Level corresponds to specific inches or centimeters per pixel, that indicate the resolution of an image. The Maximum Zoom Level is the maximum resolution a provider can offer. Keep in mind that the availability of the Maximum Zoom Level depends on the area of your project. You can see a detailed table at the end of this article explaining the resolution of each Zoom Level as well as the approximate area covered by each tile of a specific Zoom Level.
Vertical Datum Surface: Serves as reference points from which elevation (positive altitudes and negative depressions) can be determined. Some providers use geoid or ellipsoidal models as vertical datum surfaces.
Available Models: Shows what type of terrain products are offered (DEM/DTM/DSM)Â
Available for Mosaics: Explains if you can create Mosaics with this provider. Click here to find more information on how to import mosaics.Â
Available for Timelines: Explains if you can create Timelines with this provider, so practically the information if the provider offers datasets of a known date. Click here to find more information on how to create timelines.
Requires Credits: Mosaics created from premium providers require extra credit purchases. The cost per tile and provider varies. More information about this feature can be found here.
Can be converted to raster: Regarding their terms of use, each provider allows you to convert the Mosaic image you have created with Plex-Earth to raster and save it locally to your hard drive. Click here for information on how to create your imagery into a raster image.
How to Access (Terrain): Shows how to obtain data from the provider. Custom orders for elevation data from premium providers are optional add-ons and not included in any plan including the Premium tier.
Base map providers
Imagery
Known to most, Google Maps will help you take a quick look at your area of interest through the Import Image feature.
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Type of Imagery: | Satellite/Aerial, Roads, Hybrid Satellite, Terrain |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 21 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (requires Pro & Premium) |
| Available for Timelines: | No (manually from Google Earth here) |
Terrain
Google Elevations is one of the world's most well-known and most comprehensive 3D maps over the internet to represent the Earth as a three-dimensional globe.
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Vertical Datum Surface: | Geoid (EGM) |
| Terrain Resolution: |
Varies between 1 m (3 ft) and 30 m (100 ft) More information can be found here. Custom resolution available in Pro/Premium |
| Available Models: | DEM |
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Azure Maps (Bing)
One of the most noted web mapping services, Bing, gives high-quality aerial, street, and other imagery.
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Type of Imagery: | Aerial, Satellite |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 20 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (requires Pro/Premium) |
| Available for Timeline: | No |
| Requires Premium Mosaic Images: | No |
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OpenStreetMaps
A worldwide coverage road map for more plain results.
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Type of Imagery: | Road |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 20 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (requires Pro/Premium) |
| Available for Timeline: | No |
| Requires Premium Mosaic Images: | No |
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Custom Maps
You can use Plex Earth's Map Explorer to add any WMS, WMTS, or Tile Server to access its imagery datasets and easily download them georeferenced into your AutoCAD drawing. Check how to create your own custom maps and our list of tested map services.
| Logo: | Varies |
| Coverage: | Varies |
| Type of Imagery: | Varies |
| Color Type: | Varies |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | Varies |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (requires Pro/Premium) |
| Available for Timeline: | No |
| Requires Premium Mosaic Images: | No |
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Custom Terrain Providers
You can use Plex Earth's terrain features to create surfaces from different providers to access their data and easily visualize them georeferenced in your AutoCAD/BricsCAD drawing. Several tools available for this are Terrain from GeoTIFF, Terrain from File (.txt, .csv), Terrain from Existing Objects (own contours or points), and Terrain from Mesh.
| Coverage: | Varies |
| Vertical Datum Surface: | varies |
| Terrain Resolution: | Varies |
| Available Models: | Varies |
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Premium Providers
Vantor (formerly Maxar)
One of the most recognizable satellite imagery providers, Vantor (formerly Maxar), offers plenty of datasets on various dates to monitor your project.
Vantor Imagery
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Type of Imagery: | Satellite |
| Color Type: | Colored, Grayscale |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 19 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro*/Premium, requires credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | Yes (requires Pro*/Premium) |
| Can be printed: | Yes (requires mosaic) |
| Can be converted to raster: | No |
Vantor Terrain
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Vertical Datum Surface: | Geoid: EGM96 & EGM2008 (default), or Ellipsoid |
| Terrain Resolution: |
0.5 m (50 cm); 3 m absolute accuracy in all dimensions (available at different post spacings as deliverables) More information can be found here. |
| Available Models: | DTM, DSM |
| How to Access: | Custom order only (contact support@plexscape.com) |
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Airbus
A high-quality satellite imagery supplier worldwide that offers plenty of datasets to choose from
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| Coverage: | Global |
| Type of Imagery: | Satellite |
| Color Type: | Colored, Grayscale |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 19 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro*/Premium, requires credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | Yes (for Pro*/Premium) |
| Can be printed: | No |
| Can be converted to raster: | No |
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Nearmap
Nearmap is a very high-quality imagery provider, offering up to sub-3'' ultra-high resolution imagery, mostly in urban areas.
Nearmap Imagery
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| Coverage: | Urban areas of the US, Canada, Australia & New Zealand (exact coverage for the US and Canada is shown here and for Australia and New Zealand is shown here). |
| Type of Imagery: | Aerial |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 21 |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro/Premium, requires credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | No (historical imagery available as datasets in mosaic creation) |
| Can be printed: | Yes |
| Can be converted to raster: | Yes |
Nearmap Terrain
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| Coverage: | Urban areas of the US, Canada, Australia & New Zealand (exact coverage for the US and Canada is shown here and for Australia and New Zealand is shown here). |
| Vertical Datum Surface: | Geoid: NAVD88, AHD/AusGeoid09, EGM2008, CGVD2013 (varies by region) |
| Terrain Resolution: |
15 cm (6 in) source GSD; export options at 30 cm (1'), 60 cm (2'), and 90 cm (3') More information can be found here. |
| Available Models: | DSM, DEM/DTM |
| How to Access: | Custom order only (contact support@plexscape.com) |
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Hexagon
Hexagon provides high-quality aerial imagery all over the US, offering more detailed captures in urban areas.
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| Coverage: | Country-wide US coverage and Europe (to see the exact coverage, click here. UK and Switzerland are excluded) |
| Type of Imagery: | Aerial |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 20 for urban centers in the US, 19 for all other areas in the US |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro/Premium, requires credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | No (historical imagery available as datasets in mosaic creation) |
| Can be printed: | Yes |
| Can be converted to raster: | Yes |
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Vexcel
Vexcel provides high-quality aerial imagery over 46+ countries, offering more detailed captures in urban areas.
Vexcel Imagery
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| Coverage: | More than 46+ countries, including USA, Europe, Australia, and more (see full coverage here) |
| Type of Imagery: | Aerial |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | Max offered 21 in urban areas, Zoom level 20 offered in all the covered areas |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro/Premium, requires credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | No (historical imagery available as datasets in mosaic creation) |
| Can be printed: | Yes |
| Can be converted to raster: | Yes |
Vexcel Terrain
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| Coverage: | More than 46+ countries, including USA, Europe, Australia, and more (see full coverage here) |
| Vertical Datum Surface: | Geoid (EGM2008) |
| Terrain Resolution: |
7.5 cm (2.9") for DSM; 15-20 cm (5.9"-7.8") for DTM More information can be found here. |
| Available Models: | DSM, DTM |
| How to Access: | Custom order only (contact support@plexscape.com) |
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Germany Orthoimagery
This provider is a curated collection of high-quality, publicly available orthophotos from official German state geospatial agencies. The imagery is delivered through a unified WMS endpoint in Plex-Earth, providing seamless access to detailed aerial data across all 16 federal states. More information about this collection can be found in this article: Germany Orthoimagery: Coverage and Resolution by Federal State
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| Coverage: | Country-wide Germany coverage |
| Type of Imagery: | Aerial |
| Color Type: | Colored |
| Maximum Zoom Level: | 20 (resolution for each state varies, more info here) |
| Available for Mosaics: | Yes (for Pro/Premium, does NOT require credits) |
| Available for Timeline: | No |
| Can be printed: | Yes |
| Can be converted to raster: | Yes |
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Explanation of the Zoom Levels
The table below gives a rough outline of what each Zoom Level corresponds to in terms of image quality:
| Zoom Level | Approximate Resolution per pixel | Approximate Area Covered by an Image in Meters | Approximate Area Covered by an Image in Feet |
| 21 | 7,5 cm/pixel or 3 in/pixel | 95 m x 95 m | 312 ft x 312 ft |
| 20 | 15 cm/pixel or 6 in/pixel | 190 m x 190 m | 625 ft x 625 ft |
| 19 | 30cm/pixel or 1 ft/pixel | 375 m x 375 m | 1,250 ft x 1,250 ft |
| 18 | 60 cm/pixel or 2 ft/pixel | 750 m x 750 m | 2,500 ft x 2,500 ft |
| 17 | 120 cm/pixel or 4 ft/pixel | 1,500 m x 1,500 m | 5,000 ft x 5,000 ft |
For lower Zoom Levels, the respective values are calculated proportionally.
Learn more about zoom levels in this article.
Terms of Use of Imagery Providers
We are not able to distribute the content of some of the Imagery Providers in specific countries or locations with respect to their Terms of Use. When using imagery or terrain services, custom map or terrain sources (such as WMS, WMTS, ArcGIS, or TMS), or data files like GeoTIFFs from public or private sources, users should always refer to and comply with the applicable terms of use of the provider.
For imagery with full usage right options and more information, you can contact us at support@plexscape.com.
FAQs
A premium provider like Nearmap, Hexagon, or Vexcel is not showing up for my area — why?
Premium providers only appear when your project area falls within their coverage zone. Nearmap covers urban areas of the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Hexagon covers the US and most of Europe (excluding the UK and Switzerland). Vexcel covers 46+ countries including the US, Europe, and Australia. If your area is outside these regions, the provider will not appear in your provider list. For exact coverage maps, see the links in the provider tables in this article.
What is the resolution or quality of the imagery and terrain data available?
Imagery resolution depends on the zoom level you select and the provider. Not every provider offers the maximum zoom level for every region — availability varies by location. The full zoom level reference table is in this article. For terrain data, resolution also varies by provider — for example Vantor offers 0.5m resolution, Nearmap DSM at 15cm source GSD, and Vexcel DSM at 7.5cm. Terrain data from premium providers is available as a custom order only.
What are credits, and do all premium providers require them?
Credits are Plex-Earth's consumption unit for premium imagery. Credits are not needed when fetching imagery from base providers like Google Maps. Each mosaic tile you fetch from a premium provider costs a set number of credits, which varies by provider. Vantor (formerly Maxar), Airbus, Nearmap, Hexagon, and Vexcel all require credits for mosaic creation. Germany Orthoimagery is a notable exception and does not require credits. For more information on purchasing credits, visit plexearth.com/premium-providers-faq or contact us at support@plexscape.com.
Can I save, download, or print all imagery types?
It depends on the provider. Most providers can be printed and converted to raster, but some cannot. Airbus imagery can only be viewed — it cannot be printed or converted to raster. Vantor (formerly Maxar) can be printed but not converted to raster or downloaded. Always check the provider table in this article before planning your deliverable workflow, as restrictions vary.
Can I get high-resolution terrain data from premium providers like Vantor, Nearmap, or Vexcel?
Yes. Vantor, Nearmap, and Vexcel all offer high-resolution terrain products (DSM and/or DTM) that can be imported into Plex-Earth. Unlike imagery, premium terrain data is not available directly through the standard workflow — it must be acquired as a custom order. Contact us at support@plexscape.com for pricing and availability for your area. For standard terrain without a custom order, use Google Elevations (available on all plans) or bring your own data via GeoTIFF, CSV, or existing drawing objects.
Can I legally use the imagery from Plex-Earth in my projects?
Usage rights depend on each provider's terms of use. Plex-Earth acts as an intermediary to access and import the data, but does not grant additional usage rights beyond what each provider permits. Some providers restrict distribution in certain countries or locations. If you need imagery with full usage rights for commercial deliverables, contact us at support@plexscape.com for options.
Will more providers be added in the future? Can I suggest one?
Yes. We are continuously working to expand our provider offering by partnering with the best local and global data sources. New content from existing providers is also updated as their services evolve. If there is a specific provider or dataset you would like to see in Plex-Earth, feel free to suggest it at support@plexscape.com. If you are a data provider interested in partnering with us, reach out at partners@plexscape.com.
In the meantime, you can also connect to publicly available mapping services and elevation datasets yourself using our Custom Maps and Custom Terrain tools. We maintain tested and documented sources in two dedicated sections: Custom Maps for Imagery (WMS, Tile Servers, etc.) and Custom Terrain Data Sources (GeoTIFF, Elevation Datasets).
Related Questions
This article provides an overview of all imagery and terrain providers available in Plex-Earth, including coverage, resolution, and usage restrictions. You may have searched for:
- What satellite or aerial imagery providers does Plex-Earth offer
- What is the resolution or quality of imagery in Plex-Earth
- Why is Nearmap, Hexagon, or Vexcel not showing up in my provider list
- Which providers require credits in Plex-Earth
- Can I download or save imagery from Plex-Earth to use elsewhere
- How to get high-accuracy terrain or elevation data from Vantor, Nearmap, or Vexcel
- What is the resolution of the terrain data offered by Plex-Earth
- What does zoom level mean and how does it affect image quality