Google stops offering the desktop app for download on June 25, 2027. What to use instead depends on what you did with it
— here is the honest list.
In Google Earth Pro you flew the route by hand while the tour recorder captured your screen. Here the camera flies it for you. Set the angle, the pitch and the speed per segment, or turn on the dynamic camera and let it follow the track.
The export is a proper video file, not a screen capture.
Google announced it on July 8, 2026. Until June 25, 2027, Google Earth Pro for Windows, macOS and Linux stays downloadable. If you depend on it, keep a copy of the installer.
After that date the installed copies keep running, but there will be no updates, no bug fixes and no security patches. Google's own suggestion is to move saved projects to Google Earth on the web and on phones, which both continue.
If you used the measuring, import and analysis tools for work, look at ArcGIS Earth (free desktop globe with GIS integration) or QGIS (free, open source, steeper learning curve). AvoMap is not a GIS tool and won't pretend to be one.
Google Earth on the web keeps the exploring part alive in the browser, historical imagery included. Zoom Earth is worth a look for weather and near-real-time satellite views.
If you used Record a Tour to fly over routes and share them as videos, this is where AvoMap fits. Upload the same KML files and render a 3D flyover in the browser, in up to 4K. The rest of this page is about that.
Upload the KML you made in Google Earth Pro and the route lands on 3D terrain in the AvoMap editor. Placemarks come along as markers.
KMZ needs unzipping first. The free KMZ to KML converter does that in the browser, and the KML viewer shows you what's in a file before you start. If the route is headed for a Garmin or a phone app instead, the KML to GPX converter turns the same file into a GPX.
See what some of them have to say about AvoMap
“With AvoMap, we’ve added stunning 3D previews of our race courses — not just helpful for runners prepping before race day, but also a game-changer for our live briefings on-site. If you're a race organizer looking to give participants a clearer, more immersive course overview, we highly recommend it.”
“I run a YouTube channel focused on trail running. For our Live Race Briefings, AvoMap helps me present race maps exactly how I want. It’s the perfect tool to bring my ideas to life as a content creator.”
“Avomap is a fantastic tool with an incredible range of options for preparing a route in a unique and exciting way. This makes cross-country runs truly enjoyable!”
“I discovered AvoMap by chance when searching for a way to create a professional route map for a local 10K and Half Marathon event. Not only was I able to display the route in a polished video, but I was also able to add notable markers, and display the elevation on screen. My client is delighted, and I'll definitely use the service again in the future.”
“I have searched through a number of tools on the Internet to be able to visualize the routes of my road trips and vacations. None of the tools are as good as AvoMap, and it is improved almost weekly. You can really see the attention to detail in every feature.”
“An extremely user-friendly and intuitive tool, and of highest quality mapping and imaging I've seen! I use it regularly to visualise my hikes and treks in many videos I produce for my YouTube channel. It is a tool that meets all of my YouTube channel's needs.”
“Work has taken me all over the world and ignited my interest in documenting my travels. AvoMap provides me a beautiful way to see my journey and remind me of the many beautiful places I have seen.”
“AvoMap was incredibly easy to use — the learning curve was almost non-existent. Within minutes, I understood how everything worked, and just a bit later, I had a beautiful map video ready to go.”
“AvoMap is the perfect tool for promoting our trail races in Tây Giang, in the highlands of Vietnam. The videos bring our routes to life and help attract more runners to the region. Super easy to use and effective!”
“I’ve always enjoyed using tools like Felt.com to plan and mark up my trips — but I wanted something more immersive. AvoMap delivers exactly that, with stunning 3D maps and smooth animations that bring my journeys to life.”
“AvoMap has been a game-changer for my YouTube channel! It's easy to use, delivers high-quality videos fast, and offers great customization. Whether uploading GPS files or creating routes from scratch, it's the perfect tool for content creators — no tech skills needed.”
“I’ve been using AvoMap since 2024 to document my bikepacking journeys and create YouTube videos. The editing tools are the best I’ve found for customizing the fly-throughs I want to share, and the 4K render quality is beautiful. Plus, the AvoMap team is incredibly responsive to support questions and open to new ideas.”
KML files from Google Earth usually carry altitude. AvoMap keeps it, so a mountain road climbs on screen, and it can draw an animated elevation chart from the same data with one click.
We have added full 3D course previews with AvoMap, which are useful not only for runners before our races but also for our live race briefings at the event. We recommend AvoMap to fellow race organizers who want to provide better course information to their participants.
AvoMap works seamlessly with all your favorite platforms. Just export your adventures and bring them to life with stunning animations in seconds.
The desktop app stops being available for download on June 25, 2027, and Google stops updating it. Copies already installed keep running. Google Earth on the web and on phones continues.
For GIS work, ArcGIS Earth or QGIS, both free. For looking around, Google Earth on the web. For turning KML routes into videos, the AvoMap editor is free and you pay per export.
KML, yes, straight into the editor. KMZ goes through the free KMZ to KML converter on this site first. Routes, placemarks and altitude come across.
Yes. Upload the KML, let the camera fly it and export an MP4 in 1080p or 4K. No screen recording involved.
No. It makes videos of routes. If you need GIS tools, use one of the GIS options above.
If you depend on it, yes. Keep the installer somewhere safe. It keeps working after June 2027, just without updates.
Explore the full range of AvoMap features in action with these videos, all created using the easy-to-use editor.
The Splügen Pass connects Switzerland and Italy, linking Splügen with Chiavenna. At 2,113 meters (6,929 feet), it provides a direct route through the Alps, offering impressive views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Taking a motorcycle trip through the Chilean desert, starting from Combarbala and heading to La Serena on the coast.
With a distance of 101 km and an elevation gain of 6,700 meters, the Eiger Ultra 101 is a tough challenge for even the most seasoned trail runners. The route includes stunning viewpoints such as Grosse Scheidegg, First, Bachalpsee, Berghotel Faulhorn, Schynige Platte, Wengen, Männlichen, and the base of the legendary Eiger North Face.
The Otter Trail is a five-day hiking route in South Africa, starting at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp and finishing at the small resort village of Natures Valley in the de Vasselot section of the park.
The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and varied landscapes. It's a 60-kilometer (37-mile) circular hiking trail located in Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. The track typically takes around 3 to 4 days to complete and passes through diverse terrain, including beech forests, alpine meadows, and alongside pristine lakes and rivers.
The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 170-mile long hiking path encircling the Lake Tahoe Basin in the Sierra Nevada, traversing parts of Nevada and California in the United States. It spans elevations from 6,223 feet at Lake Tahoe's outlet to 10,338 feet at Nevada's Relay Peak.
The Grand Raid de la Réunion, known as La diagonale des fous, is an ultramarathon held annually in October on Réunion island, a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mauritius.
As a break from my usual routine, I decided to embark on an epic journey by motorbike from Frankfurt to Dubai. It took me 62 days to complete the trip, and along the way I crossed through 11 different countries including France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Iran.
The Zugspitz Ultratrail stands as Germany's premier trail running event. Drawing over 4400 participants, it features six distinct routes spanning from 16 to 106 kilometers in length.
The San Francisco Marathon is a renowned race featuring a full marathon, half marathon, and 5K. Held in late July, it navigates iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf. The hilly terrain presents a challenge, but the stunning views and community support make it memorable.
