Seeing the world from above has always sparked people's curiosity, and today that experience is within reach of any smartphone thanks to satellite imagery apps. These resources allow you to observe cities, forests, oceans, deserts, and even weather phenomena in real time or in high-resolution static views. Whether for studying geography, monitoring environmental changes, planning trips, analyzing terrain, or simply exploring the planet out of curiosity, satellite apps offer a privileged view of the Earth. Many of them allow you to download maps, view them in 3D, access additional information layers, and receive frequent updates. Below, you will find the best apps for viewing satellite images, all available globally and widely used by professionals and ordinary users alike.
Google Earth
Google Earth is one of the most iconic applications when it comes to viewing satellite imagery. Available worldwide, it uses a combination of aerial photos, satellite imagery, geographic data, and 3D modeling to create a detailed reproduction of the planet. The application allows the user to navigate seamlessly between continents, cities, and even streets, with high-precision zoom and interactive features.
With Google Earth, it's possible to explore mountains, canyons, islands, forests, and oceans in rich detail. One of the most impressive tools is the 3D mode, which allows you to view buildings, natural formations, and terrain with surprising realism. For those who want to study transformations over time, the "Historical Imagery" feature makes it possible to see what a region looked like years ago, tracking climate change, urban expansion, and deforestation.
Although downloading complete images isn't directly available offline like with regular maps, the app allows you to temporarily store visited regions, making later viewing easier. Furthermore, Google Earth is constantly updated, bringing recent images captured by partner satellites. It works on mobile phones, tablets, and computers, offering an immersive and global experience for those who want to explore the planet in a unique way.
NASA EarthData / Worldview
NASA's globally accessible Worldview app and platform is one of the most advanced tools for viewing satellite imagery in near real-time. Developed primarily for climate, environmental, and scientific studies, it utilizes data from Earth observation satellites operated by NASA and international partners. This ensures images are updated daily and, in some cases, hourly.
Worldview allows you to track wildfires, storms, air pollution, cloud cover, surface temperatures, and various other natural phenomena. The application offers customizable layers, allowing the user to enable or disable different types of information to analyze the planet with precision. Although it is a rather technical tool, anyone can use it to observe changes on Earth in detail.
Even though it's a platform focused on scientific studies, it's free to download and the app works anywhere in the world without restrictions. It also allows you to save specific images, facilitating later analysis. For researchers, students, or curious individuals who want to track the planet in real time with official NASA data, Worldview is one of the best apps available.
Sentinel Hub (EO Browser)
Sentinel Hub, especially the EO Browser, is a powerful application and platform that allows you to view images captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel satellites. These satellites provide extremely detailed data, widely used by specialists in agriculture, environmental monitoring, land management, and climate analysis. Although many functions are geared towards professionals, any user can access high-quality satellite imagery worldwide.
The EO Browser allows you to select specific dates to observe environmental changes, such as deforestation, droughts, floods, and changes in vegetation. In addition, the application has visualization modes such as infrared, NDVI analysis, and spectral combinations, which help identify natural conditions invisible to the human eye. These features make Sentinel Hub one of the most complete Earth observation tools.
The images can be downloaded directly from the platform, allowing users to save records for studies and analyses. The application works globally and is accessible via both web browsers and compatible apps. For those seeking scientific precision and detailed images, Sentinel Hub is an extraordinary choice.
Zoom Earth
Zoom Earth is a lightweight, fast, and extremely useful application for viewing satellite images in near real-time. It uses data from various meteorological and Earth observation satellites to display up-to-date maps, especially geared towards climate monitoring. The application is quite popular among users who want to track storms, hurricanes, cold fronts, heat waves, and atmospheric movements in a simple and visual way.
One of Zoom Earth's greatest advantages is its intuitive interface. With just a few taps, users can view clouds, fires, air quality, and even track the movement of storms with future projections. The images are updated frequently, allowing for a near-instantaneous view of natural phenomena around the planet.
The app is available worldwide, works on any browser or mobile device, and offers options to download images for later use. Furthermore, it's lighter than professional platforms, making it accessible to anyone who wants to follow the planet without difficulty. For those looking for a fast, practical, and global app to view satellite images, Zoom Earth is an excellent alternative.