ArcGIS is overkill for retail brokers.
Esri's ArcGIS is the gold standard for GIS professionals. But CRE brokers don't need shapefiles, geodatabases, or Python scripting - they need a tenant logo on a map and a branded PDF. CRE Retail Maps gives you that in 10 minutes for $39/mo.
- No GIS training required - drop logos, draw lines, export
- 1,000+ retail brand logos built in (no need to source your own)
- Auto-find nearby businesses by category in one click
- Branded PDF templates pre-built for OMs and lease proposals
- $39/mo flat - vs ArcGIS Pro at $700/yr per user before any data
Free tier works fully. No credit card. No GIS experience needed.
Esri ArcGIS vs CRE Retail Maps
Side-by-side on the things brokers actually care about.
| Feature | CRE Retail Maps | Esri ArcGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Retail CRE brokers | GIS professionals |
| Starting price | $39/mo | $700/yr (ArcGIS Pro) |
| Brand logo library | 1,000+ included | None - source your own |
| Auto-find nearby tenants | Yes | Requires custom scripting |
| Learning curve | Under 15 min | Days to weeks |
| Branded PDF templates | Yes | Build your own layouts |
| GIS / shapefile support | No | Yes |
| Spatial analysis (clustering, regression) | No | Yes |
| Cancel anytime | Yes | Annual contracts |
Comparison based on publicly available information about ArcGIS Pro single-user pricing as of 2026. ArcGIS Online and enterprise pricing may differ. Verify on esri.com.
Different tools for different jobs
ArcGIS is for analysts
If you're doing site selection modeling, traffic analysis, demographic clustering, or building a custom GIS portal for a Fortune 500 retailer, Esri is the right tool. Our tool isn't trying to compete there.
We're for brokers shipping deals
If you're a CRE broker who needs to drop tenant logos on a map and ship a PDF for an OM by 5pm, ArcGIS is the long way around. CRE Retail Maps is built for that exact workflow.
Use both if you need both
Many brokerages use ArcGIS for their analyst team's modeling work and CRE Retail Maps for their brokers' day-to-day deal maps. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
When you should pick ArcGIS instead
Esri ArcGIS is the right tool when you need true geospatial analysis: drive-time isochrones layered against household income deciles, custom shapefile imports, predictive site-selection models, or integration with retailer point-of-sale data for trade area analysis.
If your job title is 'GIS analyst' or 'site selection manager' at a national retailer or REIT, you probably already use ArcGIS and you should keep using it.
If your job title is 'broker' and your day involves writing OMs, taking listing pitches, and getting maps into Photoshop or PowerPoint, CRE Retail Maps is built for that exact workflow at a fraction of the cost.
ArcGIS vs CRE Retail Maps FAQs
Can CRE Retail Maps do drive-time analysis?+
We support radius circles and basic drive-time circles for visual reference. We do not do polygon-based isochrone analysis with traffic patterns - that's an ArcGIS strength.
Can I import my own GIS data?+
Not currently. CRE Retail Maps is built for fast retail map output, not for working with shapefiles or GeoJSON. If you need that, ArcGIS is the right tool.
Does CRE Retail Maps integrate with ArcGIS Online?+
Not directly. You can export maps as PNG or PDF from CRE Retail Maps and embed those images in ArcGIS layouts if needed.
What about Esri Business Analyst?+
Business Analyst is great for demographic and trade area analysis. CRE Retail Maps is for visualizing tenant landscape and producing broker marketing materials. Different jobs, different tools.
Could I just use ArcGIS Online's free tier?+
ArcGIS Online's free tier requires you to source brand logos, build map symbology, and learn the platform. Most brokers find that takes longer than the actual mapping work.
Skip the GIS learning curve
Build your first retail map in 10 minutes. No training, no shapefiles, no Python.
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