Equator
5/10Browser-based mapping software from Equator Studios that lets civil engineers, architects and builders pull LiDAR, contours, DEMs and parcel data for a site and export CAD-ready base plans.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Equator, made by Equator Studios of Waterloo, Canada, is a web-based mapping tool built on a searchable library of public LiDAR point clouds, topographic data, elevation models and parcel data, mostly covering the United States and Canada. A user draws a site, clips elevation data to it, generates contours, hillshades or DEMs, adds markups and measurements, and exports the result as DWG, DXF, GeoJSON or other GIS and CAD formats for Civil 3D, AutoCAD, ArcGIS or QGIS. The company says engineers founded it to cut the time spent hunting for topographic data at the start of drainage, land development and site design projects. Its best fit is small and mid-sized civil consulting, architecture and construction firms that need quick early-stage base maps rather than full survey processing. Pricing is a subscription capped by sites per month: Basic is 67 USD a month for one user and 5 sites, Plus is 109 USD for three users and 8 sites, and Pro is 169 USD for five users and 15 sites with premium formats and reports. Annual billing takes about 10 percent off, and there is also a 30 USD pay-per-site option. A newer product, Equator LDI, uses AI to draft proposals and reports and is priced by quote. The main limitation is that output depends on whatever public LiDAR exists for an area, and that data can vary from about 5 to 30 cm in vertical accuracy. The company is also small, about seven staff by its incubator's count, and there are almost no independent reviews.
Our Rating
Who Equator is best for
Good fit
Built by civil engineers to give consultants quick site topography and Civil 3D-ready contours.
Construction teams are a named audience, and they can use the elevation and parcel base maps for early site planning.
Low entry pricing, a single-user Basic plan and a pay-per-site option suit small firms.
Less suited
The largest public plan allows five users, and there is little evidence of enterprise controls.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A built-in library of public LiDAR, DEM and contour data for the US and Canada saves engineers from hunting across government data portals.
- Contours export directly as DWG, DXF or GeoJSON formatted for Civil 3D and AutoCAD.
- Entry pricing is low: 67 USD a month, or 30 USD for a single site with no subscription.
- Runs in the browser, and a free trial lets users build a site with contours, point clouds or DEMs before paying.
Cons
- Plans are capped by sites per month, and the top public plan allows only five users.
- Accuracy depends on the public LiDAR available for an area, which can range from about 5 to 30 cm vertically.
- Very few independent reviews or user discussions exist to confirm the vendor's claims.
- Small company, reported at about seven staff, and the vendor publishes no security or compliance documentation that we could find.
Key Features
Equator Pricing
Basic
or $744/year (save 7%)
- 1 user
- Elevation data
- Basic file formats
- Support Monday to Friday
- 5 sites per month, or 60 per year on annual billing
Plus
or $1,176/year (save 10%)
- Up to 3 users
- Basic file formats
- Support Monday to Friday
- Elevation and parcel data
- 8 sites per month, or 96 per year on annual billing
Pro
or $1,824/year (save 10%)
- Up to 5 users
- Premium file formats
- Reports and assessments
- Support Monday to Friday
- Elevation and parcel data
- 15 sites per month, or 180 per year on annual billing
Equator LDI
- Contact sales for pricing
- AI-assisted proposals and reports built from the customer's own content library
Pay Per Use
- 30 USD per site
- Elevation and parcel data
- No subscription commitment
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The vendor offers a free trial in which you can create a site and add contours, point clouds or DEMs. Some third-party listings mention an older free Community tier, but the current pricing page does not show one.
Yes. Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time. Annual billing saves about 10 percent and comes with a yearly site allowance.
Contours and LiDAR layers export in formats such as DWG, DXF and GeoJSON for use in Civil 3D, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, QGIS and Google Earth. The Pro plan adds premium file formats.
Coverage is strongest in the United States and Canada. The vendor also indexes open data portals worldwide, such as New Zealand LINZ LiDAR.
Plans are limited by the number of sites created each month: 5 on Basic, 8 on Plus and 15 on Pro. Annual plans get 12 times those figures as a yearly allowance.
Every plan includes support Monday to Friday, and you can reach the team at support@equatorstudios.com.
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