Top 10 Free Apps to Get Reference 3D Map Coordinates

Goal: Capture 3D coordinates on a map to set control points in the Veezer app and prepare your scouting photos for future outings.

(post updated on 09/23/2026)

Planning a ski couloir project? Need to find a tricky passage between rock bars? Preparing scouting photos will make it easy and confident to use photo geolocation when you’re in the field.

Taking control points involves marking notable points on the photo and indicating their 3D map coordinates—the principle is simple, but it’s a real art 🙂

Control points in the Veezer app

Any cartographic reference is useful: a summit on a panorama app, a trail junction or building on a topo map, a distinctive tree on an aerial image, or a relief detail on a precise 3D model…

This article lists mapping applications suitable for capturing 3D coordinates for Veezer.
Here, we focus on apps that can be used for free at home (with a good internet connection, and possibly from a computer).

PeakFinder: For Summits

PeakFinder is a paid mobile app, but a free web app is also available for use with an internet connection from a phone or computer.

PeakFinder on mobile (web)

What We Like

Perfect for identifying summits in a photo
User-friendly interface
Shortcut in Veezer (when the photo position is known)
Easy coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)
The web app works on both computer and phone

Drawbacks to Know

Relief accuracy can be approximate
Only for summits
Cannot precisely capture coordinates outside labeled summits

How to Capture Coordinates
Click on a summit, then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude.

Relief Maps: A Very Precise 3D Model but…

Relief Maps is a promising 3D mapping app on mobile and proposing a web app with free features that are potentially very useful for capturing 3D coordinates. Unfortunately, annoying bugs prevent coordinates from being recorded reliably.

Relief Maps on computer (web)

What We Like

3D visualization with very precise relief in some areas, aerial imagery, and map available in the free version
Works on both computer and phone (mobile app can be used for free)
Easy coordinate capture on desktop (copy/paste + altitude)
Shortcut in Veezer (when the photo position is known)

Drawbacks to Know

Annoying bugs with coordinate capture (the captured coordinates do not match the selected point)
On mobile: blocking bugs in copying/pasting coordinates (prefer the desktop web app for now)
3D navigation takes some getting used to (limited camera orientation)

How to Capture Coordinates
Double-click on the map and select Info, then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude.

RealityMaps on Desktop: A Precise and User-Friendly 3D Model with Aerial Imagery

RealityMaps is a powerful and user-friendly 3D mapping app. Only the web app on desktop is free for capturing coordinates.

RealityMaps on computer (web)

What We Like

3D visualization with aerial imagery and precise relief
User-friendly interface and experience, no bugs
Easy coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)

Drawbacks to Know

Desktop web app only (free), the mobile app is not usable for capturing coordinates
3D navigation still needs improvement (cannot tilt the camera upwards)

How to Capture Coordinates

Right-click on the map, then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude.

Cartes IGN: The IGN Mobile App, 2D and 3D

In France, and with an internet connection, the Cartes IGN app provides access to precise and reliable cartographic data on mobile. Designed for 2D mapping, it offers an experimental but already precise and useful 3D rendering.

Cartes IGN mobile app

What We Like

Access to essential IGN data: IGN map, aerial imagery
Experimental but usable 3D
Full experience in the free version
Accurate altitude
Easy 3D coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)

Drawbacks to Know

OSM data not available
Experimental 3D (navigation needs improvement, loading bugs)
France only

How to Access the 3D Model

From the layers panel, select “3D Relief“

How to Capture Coordinates

Close any open panels (layers)

Long press on the map, then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude

cartes.gouv.fr: The IGN Web Portal

On desktop, cartes.gouv.fr (successor to Geoportail) provides free access to all IGN data.

cartes.gouv.fr on desktop (web)

What We Like

All IGN data
Access to other data (OSM, ESRI, etc.)
Accurate altitude
Easy 3D coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)
Full experience in the free version

Drawbacks to Know

Outside France, data is limited and altitude is not available

How to Capture Coordinates

Right-click on the map, then “Address/Coordinates”, copy/paste the coordinates, and note the displayed altitude

Whympr: Topo Map Only

Whympr is a comprehensive 2D and 3D mapping app available on mobile and web, but in its free version, only the mobile app is usable with very limited features (2D only, topo map only).

Whympr mobile app

What We Like

Easy 3D coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)

Drawbacks to Know

Very limited in the free version (2D only, topo map only)
Occasional but annoying bug with coordinate readings: the coordinates do not always match the selected point.

How to Capture Coordinates

Long press on the map, then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude

WeTrek: IGN and OSM Data

Formerly IGNRando, WeTrek is an easy-to-use 2D mapping app that offers many features in its free version. We appreciate being able to view IGN and OSM data for free in a single app.

WeTrek mobile app

What We Like

Reference data in the free version (IGN map, IGN aerial imagery, OSM topo map)
Easy 3D coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)
Ease of use

Drawbacks to Know

Outside France, only OSM data is accessible and altitude is not available
Medium altitude precision

How to Capture Coordinates

If the altitude is not displayed: enable altitude display in settings (profile > settings > Display altitude at the center of the map)

Center the map on the desired point and tap once on the coordinates to copy/paste, and note the displayed altitude

Google Earth

No introduction needed for Google Earth, a 3D model of the entire Earth available for free.

For capturing 3D coordinates, we recommend using the web app on desktop.

Google Earth on computer (web)

What We Like

3D model with aerial/satellite imagery
Very precise 3D model in some urban or suburban areas
Shortcut in Veezer (when the photo position is known)

Drawbacks to Know

Relief accuracy is often average in mountains, but usable for background references

How to Capture Coordinates

(in the desktop web app)

Enable decimal coordinate display in preferences

Note: For altitude, use the cursor coordinates at the bottom right

Manually note the coordinates and altitude (copy/paste option: “Get Info” then copy/paste lat lon)

Outmap

Outmap offers interesting free features but is limited on mobile.

Use the web app on desktop to capture fairly precise 3D points on the topo map displayed in 3D.

Outmap on computer (web)

What We Like

Fairly precise relief depending on the area
3D visualization
Easy 3D coordinate capture (copy/paste + altitude)

Drawbacks to Know

Login required
Low-resolution aerial imagery in the free version (mobile app)
Aerial imagery not available in the free web app
Mobile app ergonomics for coordinate capture: very annoying camera changes

How to Capture Coordinates

Simple click (web app), long press or add waypoint (mobile app), then copy/paste the coordinates and note the displayed altitude

PeakVisor

A commercial alternative for displaying panoramas, PeakVisor offers a free 3D mobile solution for capturing coordinates.

PeakVisor mobile app

What We Like

A functional free 3D solution for capturing coordinates on mobile
Aerial imagery and topo map

Drawbacks to Know

Average relief precision
Desktop solution and panorama not usable for capturing coordinates
Ergonomics need improvement
Manual coordinate entry (no copy/paste)

How to Capture Coordinates

Long press (3D mobile app) to display lat/lon/alt (no copy/paste!!)

GeolLibre Desktop

GeoLibre is a free, open-source (MIT license), cross-platform, and cloud-native GIS platform designed for visualizing, exploring, and analyzing geospatial data.

Highly promising and rapidly evolving, the GeoLibre Desktop application is still experimental but already highly effective for capturing 3D coordinates.

Expert users will appreciate its many features, particularly the ability to use map data in open formats, including data from public servers.

GeoLibre Dekstop

What We Like

A free, cross-platform, open-source 3D solution for coordinate surveying
Option to use your own map data (terrain, imagery, vector)
A rich and relevant selection of basemaps
Excellent terrain accuracy depending on the basemap, and unlimited accuracy when using your own data

Drawbacks to Know

Application still experimental
Usability could be improved

How to Access the 3D Model

Enable 3D rendering: menu Controls > Terrain
Enable cursor elevation display: menu Controls > Elevation
Select basemap: Layers > Basemaps button
Select rendering engine: menu View > Rendering Engine (also affects the terrain data source)

How to Capture Coordinates

Read the cursor altitude in the status bar (“Elev” field)
Right-click on a point to display lat/long in the context menu (copy/paste option available)

Conclusion

Taking control points is an art! No app is perfect for this use, and you will switch between different free apps depending on the situation.

Our Choice:

Summits → PeakFinder web app
Topo map or aerial imagery → Cartes IGN app (alternative outside France: Whympr or Outmap)
3D model → RealityMaps and GeoLibre Desktop on desktop

This article will be updated regularly!