Finder-native GIS preview for macOS

Open GIS files on Mac. Press Space.

Preview GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, KML, LAS, DXF, and more in Finder and Quick Look. See the map, inspect layers and attributes, and export supported formats without opening QGIS or ArcGIS.

Take a tour

Local on your Mac. No uploads. No browser viewer. No full GIS launch just to confirm one file.

Finder Preview Pane
Quick Look
Layers and attributes
Local-only workflow

Finder and Quick Look Select a file in Finder and press Space to preview it immediately.

Layers, attributes, metadata Get the details you need before you open a full GIS app.

Files stay local Review private, client, or field data on your Mac and export only when you need to.

Built for the file checks that should take seconds, not a full GIS session.

Finder-nativeOpen files where they already live.
GPU-poweredSmooth map and point-cloud previews with real interaction.
Local-onlyNothing leaves your Mac unless you choose to export it.
Built for handoffsUseful for client, survey, field, and engineering files.

How It Works

Select the file. Press Space. Decide quickly.

Receive the file

A GeoJSON, GeoPackage, LAS, DXF, KML, or dataset folder lands in Finder like any other file.

Preview it in Finder

Use Quick Look or the Preview Pane to inspect the map, layers, metadata, and geometry without leaving Finder.

Export if you need a deliverable

Use the Finder Quick Action for supported formats and keep moving without opening a full GIS project.

Why GeoPreview

For the file checks that should not become a full GIS session

Most GIS work does not start with editing. It starts with a file drop and one question: what is this, and is it the right file?

Open files where they already live

Use Finder, Quick Look, and the Preview Pane instead of importing every file into a full GIS project.

See the map and the details that matter

Inspect geometry, layers, metadata, and attributes instead of staring at a generic icon or raw text.

Export when the handoff needs it

Use the Finder Quick Action for supported formats when you need a deliverable, not a bigger workflow.

Built for real mixed-format work

GeoJSON, GeoPackage, LAS, KML, DXF, File Geodatabases, and the other files people actually send around.

Trusted across the World

Get your instance

Real GeoPreview users, mapped from App Store data

Map data: Natural Earth

Where It Helps

Four moments where GeoPreview saves time

Quick Look, attributes, File Geodatabases, and LiDAR are where the Finder workflow becomes genuinely useful.

GeoPreview showing a Texas counties dataset in Finder and Quick Look.

Quick Look for GIS

Press Space to preview a GIS file instantly

If all you need is a quick read on the file, Finder should do the job. GeoPreview turns Quick Look into a real geospatial preview instead of sending you straight into a full GIS app.

Works directly from Finder and the Preview Pane.
Useful for GeoJSON, Shapefiles, GeoPackage, KML, GPX, and more.

Feature attributes

Click any feature and inspect its attributes instantly

Seeing the map is only half the answer. GeoPreview lets you click a feature and read its fields immediately, which is often the difference between “looks right” and “is right.”

Useful for QA, handoffs, and fast validation.
Read attributes without opening a full GIS app.

GeoPreview opening an Esri File Geodatabase in Finder on macOS.

File geodatabases

Open complex Esri File Geodatabases right from Finder

File Geodatabases show up in real handoffs all the time, but opening them can feel heavier than the question you are trying to answer. GeoPreview lets you start with a fast visual check in Finder instead of building a project first.

Check what is inside before you commit further.
Better for triage than opening a full project first.

GeoPreview previewing polar projection geospatial data.

GPU rendering

Explore millions of LiDAR points with smooth, interactive rendering

LiDAR preview only helps if it stays fluid. GeoPreview uses the Mac GPU so large point clouds remain readable while you move through the scene and decide what deserves deeper work.

Made for real datasets, not just tiny demo files.
Especially useful before export, conversion, or deeper analysis.

Ready to skip the full GIS launch?

Preview geodata in Finder and keep your files local

Use GeoPreview for the quick map check, the attribute check, and the simple supported handoff.

Watch Quick Look

Preview

See the Finder workflow in motion

Open the file, inspect it locally, and move on with a clear answer.

Quick Look

Press Space and inspect the file immediately

Open a GIS file from Finder, see the map, and understand what is inside without building a project or sending data anywhere.

Animated preview of GeoPreview reviewing GIS data locally in Finder.

Review loop

Review the data fast and share the answer

Confirm the file, inspect the geometry, and hand off a clear answer without taking a detour through a bigger GIS workflow.

GeoPreview opening a complex Esri File Geodatabase from Finder.

GeoPreview previewing a POLY file in Finder.

Real file variety

From File Geodatabases to OSM support files, GeoPreview is made for mixed geospatial workflows

Export

When you need a deliverable, the Quick Action is right there

Preview stays the main workflow. Export is there for the moments when you need to send out a supported format quickly.

Export flow

Watch the export flow in action

Choose a supported target format and save it directly from Finder.

Animated preview of GeoPreview exporting geodata to another format.

Export loop

Convert the file and move on

When you need a quick handoff, export a supported format right from Finder.

Use Finder for the quick check

Open the file. Inspect it. Export if needed.

GeoPreview keeps the first minutes of a GIS workflow fast, local, and easy to trust.

See formats

Formats

Open common GIS, CAD, LiDAR, and dataset-folder formats on Mac

Coverage varies by format and by the file itself.

GIS and web vectors

Exchange and survey formats

Point clouds and tiled data

Dataset folders and practical workflows

Formats marked with an asterisk are still experimental. Feedback is welcome.

Start with GeoPreview

Use GeoPreview for the first answer

Open the file directly from Finder
Check whether the data is usable
Inspect layers, metadata, and projection
Preview maps and point clouds quickly
Keep sensitive files local while you inspect them
Export only when you are ready to hand something off

Use full GIS for deep work

Open QGIS or ArcGIS when the job is bigger

Complex editing and schema changes
Cartography and print layouts
Deep analysis pipelines
Project-based workflows with many layers and tools
Advanced modeling, processing, and plugins

FAQ

Questions people ask before opening GIS files on Mac

Start in Finder, inspect what matters, and save the full GIS stack for the work that actually needs it.

How do I open GeoJSON on Mac?

Select the file in Finder, open the Preview Pane or press Space, and GeoPreview renders the map and key metadata right on your Mac.

How do I preview a Shapefile or GeoPackage without QGIS?

Yes. GeoPreview opens supported geospatial formats in Finder and Quick Look, so you can inspect them before deciding whether a full GIS session is necessary.

Can I export geodata from Finder on Mac?

Yes. GeoPreview includes a Finder Quick Action for supported exports, which is ideal for quick conversion and delivery tasks while keeping the review workflow local and simple.

Does GeoPreview work offline?

No. GeoPreview works locally on your Mac, so you can inspect files without uploading them to a browser or cloud service.

When should I use GeoPreview instead of QGIS or ArcGIS?

Use GeoPreview when you need to open a file, confirm the data, inspect layers or attributes, or export a supported format quickly. Use QGIS or ArcGIS when the work moves into editing, analysis, or cartography.

Get GeoPreview

Open GIS files on Mac without opening a full GIS app first

Preview maps, layers, attributes, and metadata in Finder. Keep full GIS apps for the work that actually needs them.