GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Google Earth Pro

Google Earth Pro Desktop is free and available to download for Windows, macOS and Linux systems. Google Earth for Web is a browser-based version and Google Earth on mobile is an app. 

Although the browser-based version has a certain ease of use (since it does not have to be installed as a desktop application), there are some limitations to Earth for Web that do not exist with the Google Earth Pro desktop version. 

Google Earth provides search capabilities and the ability to pan, zoom, rotate, and tilt the view of the Earth. It also offers tools for creating new data layers. However, it's not a Geographic Information System (GIS) with the extensive analytical capabilities of ArcGIS or MapInfo, but is much easier to use than those software packages.

Additional Google Earth applications include:

• Earth Studio - an animation tool for Google Earth's satellite and 3d Imagery.
• Earth Engine - combines a multi-petabyte catalog of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets with planetary-scale analysis capabilities and makes it available for scientists, researchers, and developers to detect change, map trends, and quantify differences on the Earth's Surface. 
• Earth VR - Explore the world from totally new perspectives. Stroll the streets of Tokyo, soar over Yosemite, or teleport across the globe. 

Install & Uninstall Google Earth Pro

Getting Started with Google Earth Pro

Here are a few suggested resources on how to get started with Google Earth and Google Maps:

• Google Earth Studio - Tutorials 
• Become a Google Mapping Expert - kickstart your map-making with Google Earth & Google Maps with these step-by-step tutorials
• Google Earth - User Guide - created by Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College (SERC)