Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions people ask most about measuring, units, parcels, files, sharing, devices, plans, billing and your data.

Short answers, each with a link to the full explanation. If your question is not here, see troubleshooting or contact support.

Measuring#

How accurate are the measurements?#

Areas and lengths are calculated on the shape of the Earth (the WGS 84 ellipsoid, the same model GPS uses), not on the flat map, so they stay correct over large areas. Exports use the same calculation, so a report shows the same figures as the screen.

How close a measurement is to reality depends on where you put the corners and on the imagery under them. Zoom in before you place a corner. If the photo looks shifted or out of date, try another Map source in the Settings panel. See drawing polygons.

These figures are horizontal, as on a plan: they do not follow the slope of the ground. On a roof or a hillside, a shape's panel also shows its 3D area, 3D perimeter and Slope, worked out from the heights of its corners; trace a roof one plane at a time. The labels on the flat map, exports and estimates use the horizontal figures. See measuring along the slope.

Which units can I use?#

Metric (metres, kilometres, nautical miles, square metres, square kilometres, ares, hectares), Imperial (feet, feet and inches, yards, miles, nautical miles, square feet, square yards, square miles, acres and roofing squares of 100 square feet) and Other local units such as the ken, ri, bu, li, link and chain, the Valencian, Castilian and Colombian fanega, the tsubo, the tan, the mu and the cuerda. Choose them in a project's Settings panel, under Measurement units; they apply to all your projects. See settings.

What does "Geodesic lines" change?#

Only how lines are drawn: with Geodesic lines on, a long line follows the curve of the Earth instead of a straight line on the flat map. Areas and lengths are calculated the same way either way.

Why doesn't the parcel's official area match the measured one?#

The official area is the figure the land registry states; the measured area follows the boundary drawn on the map. They can differ, and the registry's is the legal one. See cadastral parcels.

Map and parcels#

Why can't I see any parcels?#

Parcels are a layer you turn on in Layers, and they only appear when you are zoomed in close: from zoom level 17 in most countries, 18 in Spain and the United States. They exist only in the countries the panel lists. See cadastral parcels and troubleshooting.

The satellite photo is old. Can I use another one?#

Yes. In the Settings panel, Map source offers other imagery, from Bing and Mapbox to national services. See map sources.

Files#

Which files can I import?#

Measure Map files (.mmp), Google Earth files (KML and KMZ), GPX, GeoJSON and TopoJSON, MBTiles tile sets, and PNG or JPEG images to place over the map. Shapefiles, CSV, DXF and PDF files cannot be imported: convert them to KML or GeoJSON first. See importing files.

Which formats can I export?#

A printable PDF report, a spreadsheet (CSV), Measure Map (.mmp), Google Earth (KML), GeoJSON, GPX, AutoCAD (DXF), a text file and an image of the map. See exporting.

Devices#

Can I use Measure Map Online offline?#

No. It needs an internet connection: the map imagery and parcels come from online services, and your work is saved to your account as you go. If the connection drops, your changes cannot be saved: see troubleshooting.

Can I use it on a phone or a tablet?#

Yes. Measure Map Online runs in the web browser, on computers, tablets and phones, at app.measuremaponline.com. On a touch screen, turn on Always show crosshair (for touch screens) so you can move the crosshair with your finger: see on a touch screen. On a narrow phone screen, loading and exporting files are in the Menu.

Which browsers work?#

Current versions of the common browsers, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, with JavaScript turned on. The app is built for the last two versions of each, so an old browser may not work: keep yours up to date.

Press Share in a project. There you invite people as members, who can view and edit it, and choose who else can open its link: Private, View only or Public. Only the project's owner can invite members or change this. See sharing projects. To share many projects with the same people, share a folder.

Can someone see my project without an account?#

Yes. Set the project to View only or Public and send them the link: anyone who has it can view the project, without signing in. To let visitors without an account measure, use an Open Guest link. You can also show a project on your own website: see embedding.

Plans and billing#

Is there a free trial? Do I need a card?#

Every new account gets a 30-day free trial, with no card needed. If you do not choose a plan, nothing is charged. See plans.

Why do you ask for my tax ID or passport number?#

Measure Map Online is sold by a Spanish company, and Spanish invoicing law requires every invoice to identify the buyer with a fiscal identification number and an address. See billing details.

How do I cancel, and until when can I use it?#

In Subscription, press Cancel subscription. Your plan keeps working until the end of the period you paid for, and until then you can change your mind and keep it. On Open Guest, your guest link works until then too, and that period's guest projects go on a final invoice. See cancel your subscription.

Can I get a refund?#

Refunds follow the Terms and Conditions you accept at checkout: they are limited to the first 14 days, and depend on whether you have already used Measure Map Online. Contact support to ask for one.

Why don't I see the Subscription page?#

You are a member of an organisation: its owner pays for everyone, so members have no Subscription page. Ask your organisation's owner or an Admin. See members and roles.

Your data#

Can I get my data out?#

Yes. Export each project as a Measure Map file (.mmp), KML, GeoJSON or another format, or export all your projects at once from the Projects page. To get a copy of what your account holds, use Download my data in your profile. See exporting and download your data.

What happens to my projects if I stop paying?#

They stay in your account. You need a plan again to work on them; until then, a project you shared by link opens view only. You can still export them as Measure Map files from the Projects page: see export all your projects. If you delete your account, they are erased after 14 days. See delete your account.