Differences between ARCGIS and QGIS

Since I started doing GIS I have mainly used ARCGIS for most of my work. However, a few months later I was introduced to QGIS. One thing I realized is that if you combined these two softwares or used a combination if other different mapping softwares you could probably get better results.
Here I am going to share various differences between ARCGIS and QGIS since if you considered what both of them are good at, and take advantage of that, you could be more efficient and advanced.

1.QGIS uses all types of data
ARCGIS was my favorite software, and it is for most people, until I realized that it doesn't consume all types of data. On the other hand, QGIS is more versatile as it consumes a wide range of data formats. QGIS makes use of GDAL/OGR libraries to read and write GIS data formats. More than 65 data formats are supported in QGIS.
QGIS was developed so that it could work with POSTGIS, but it also works with ENC, Shapefiles geodatabase, MapInfo formats, MicroStation file formats, AutoCAD DXF, Spatialitr, Oracle, Spatial, MSSQL, Spatial Databases, Well Known Text.
QGIS is the software I would prefer if you have different data formats to work with.

2.User Interface

In ARCGIS we have the add data function. It's really easy to use because you can add all types of data from this button. Be it spreadsheets or any other GIS data formats, this function in ARCGIS recognises all data formats that are supported.
On the other hand, QGIs has different buttons, if you want to add a spreadsheet, you use the 'Add Vecto' button. It has the 'Add vector', raster and a couple of other buttons which, though tolerable, can be a little confusing.
Also, when using ARCGIS, every time you start ARCMAP it shows you your previous jobs that you were working in. You can continue where you left off if you had some unfinished business. In QGIS it's not that straight forward. You have to go to; projects-open recent
ARCGIS has a betteruser interface and is easier to use in mist occasions compared to QGIS.

3. Managing data with Arcatalog and QGIS browser

Arccatalog and QGIS browser are data management applications in the respective softwares. With these applications you can handle GIS, raster and vector data. They give an organized data access and organization.
They also create metadata which has evolved over time. ( ISO, FGDC, INSPIRE and NAP) Both of these apply make it easy to navigate through data and manage it.

4. Joining tables in ARCGIS and QGIS

Tables in Spatial data appear as rows on the map. It's not complicated to join tables in ARCGIS. You just right click a layer and select join. It's all possible to join via the layer properties.
Same case applies to QGIS and you even have the option to rename the prefix. This comes in handy when doing multiple joins.

5. Coordinate Systems

The first data set you add to ARCGIS determines your Coordinate System. When you add other data sets ARCGIS projects the data 'On the fly'. This means that every time you load a mapmto arcmap you always get an 'unknown spatial reference' message which may cause a data conflict. You should define projection as soon as possible.
Coordinate systems in both mapping softwares are handled in a use friendly way.

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