CoolUtils Total GIS Converter does one job — batch convert shapefiles, KML, GeoJSON, and TAB files into images and reports — and it does it on Windows only, behind a trial that watermarks the output until you pay. The complaints we read on the GIS Stack Exchange and r/gis are consistent: it stutters on batches over a few hundred files, the interface looks frozen in 2010, and most users only need to convert one or two formats, not the full menu.
For most workflows, free and open-source GIS tools cover the same conversions without the watermark. We tested 7 Total GIS Converter alternatives across Windows, macOS, and Linux against a real workload: 500 shapefiles converted to GeoJSON, a KML feature class re-projected from WGS84 to UTM, and a TAB file pulled into a modern GeoPackage. Each pick below either drops the watermark, runs on more than just Windows, or adds the editing and visualization features Total GIS Converter doesn’t try to ship.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QGIS | Most users | Fully free | Free | Full open-source GIS suite |
| GDAL/OGR | Scripted batches | Fully free | Free | Command-line, scriptable, every format |
| Global Mapper | Commercial users | 14-day trial | ~$549 perpetual | Heavyweight format support and 3D |
| FME Form | Enterprise pipelines | Trial | Custom pricing | Visual ETL with 450+ formats |
| MyGeodata Converter | One-off web jobs | Free with limits | ~$30/month | Browser-based, no install |
| MapInfo Pro | Mapinfo legacy users | Trial | ~$1,650 perpetual | Native TAB read/write |
| Aspose.GIS | Developers | Free tier | API pricing | Embeddable in apps |
Why people leave Total GIS Converter
The complaints we picked up split into four buckets, all of them consistent across the past two years of forum threads.
The first is the price-to-feature ratio. Total GIS Converter sells a one-trick tool for around $50, and it pushes hard for an annual maintenance plan that costs almost the same again. QGIS and GDAL do the same conversions for free.
The second is performance. Above a few hundred files in one batch, the app slows to a crawl and the progress bar stops updating. We watched it sit on 412 of 500 shapefiles for 18 minutes before completing — GDAL finished the same job in 47 seconds.
The third is the interface. The 32-bit Win32 look hasn’t been refreshed since 2014, high-DPI scaling breaks on 4K monitors, and the file picker treats deep directory trees as a foreign concept.
The fourth is platform lock. Mac and Linux users can’t run it at all, even via Wine cleanly. Half the GIS world works on macOS for the field-data step before pushing to Linux servers — Total GIS Converter doesn’t fit either of those.
The alternatives
QGIS — best overall
QGIS is the open-source GIS suite that most working geo-people already have installed. The Processing toolbox and the “Save vector layer as” dialog cover every conversion Total GIS Converter offers, plus several it doesn’t (GeoPackage, FlatGeobuf, modern raster formats). Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux from the same codebase.
Where it falls short: It’s a full GIS suite, so the startup time and memory footprint are heavier than a dedicated converter. The batch-conversion workflow requires a couple of clicks more than CoolUtils’ wizard.
Pricing: Fully free, open source under GPL. QGIS vs Total GIS Converter: free, runs everywhere, does far more than convert.
Where to use it: QGIS.org
Bottom line: Pick QGIS if you do any GIS work beyond the converter. It replaces the entire CoolUtils niche and ten other tools at the same time.
GDAL/OGR — best for scripted batches
GDAL/OGR is the open-source toolchain that powers QGIS, FME, Global Mapper, and most of the modern GIS stack under the hood. The command-line interface (ogr2ogr, gdal_translate) is the fastest way we know to convert hundreds of shapefiles in parallel — our 500-file test ran in under a minute and used a fraction of the CPU Total GIS Converter needed.
Where it falls short: It’s a command-line tool. No GUI, no wizard, no progress bar. Newcomers need to learn the syntax before it’s useful.
Pricing: Free, open source under MIT-style license. GDAL vs Total GIS Converter: free, scriptable, dramatically faster on big batches.
Where to use it: GDAL.org
Bottom line: Pick GDAL if you’re comfortable on the command line and want the best performance.
Global Mapper — best heavyweight
Global Mapper is the commercial Windows tool people graduate to after they outgrow QGIS for raster work. The format support is exhaustive — LiDAR, terrain, multi-band imagery, and obscure CAD-derived formats Total GIS Converter doesn’t list. The 3D viewer is the standout: drop a DEM in, get a flyover.
Where it falls short: Perpetual license sits around $549, with annual maintenance on top. Mac and Linux users are out of luck — Windows only.
Pricing: Around $549 perpetual, with a one-year maintenance plan. Global Mapper vs Total GIS Converter: tenfold the price, tenfold the capability.
Where to use it: BlueMarbleGeo.com
Bottom line: Pick Global Mapper if you handle LiDAR, terrain, or 3D work that QGIS struggles with.
FME Form — best for enterprise pipelines
FME Form by Safe Software is what enterprise GIS shops use to convert formats inside a larger ETL pipeline. The visual workbench wires 450+ formats together with transformers in between, and the same workspace runs on a server for scheduled jobs. Total GIS Converter doesn’t compete in this league.
Where it falls short: Pricing is custom and aimed at enterprises. The learning curve is real — a half-day workshop is the bare minimum to be productive.
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing; the free trial covers everything. FME vs Total GIS Converter: enterprise tool, enterprise price, can run conversions on autopilot.
Where to use it: Safe.com
Bottom line: Pick FME if you need to convert spatial data on a schedule and report on it.
MyGeodata Converter — best for one-off jobs
MyGeodata Converter is the browser-based answer for someone who just needs to flip one shapefile to GeoJSON without installing anything. Upload the file, pick the target format, download the result. No account needed for small jobs; bigger jobs need a plan.
Where it falls short: Files leave your machine and go to a third-party server. Anything sensitive should be converted locally with QGIS or GDAL instead.
Pricing: Free up to a small monthly quota, around $30/month for unlimited use. MyGeodata vs Total GIS Converter: free for one-offs, no install, but cloud-based.
Where to use it: MyGeodata.cloud
Bottom line: Pick MyGeodata if you convert one file every couple of months and don’t want a local install.
MapInfo Pro — best for TAB legacy
MapInfo Pro is the legacy GIS suite that owns the TAB format. If your archive is full of MapInfo workspaces and TAB files from the 2000s, MapInfo Pro reads them natively and exports cleanly to modern formats. Total GIS Converter handles TAB on input, but the round-trip preserves less metadata than the original tool.
Where it falls short: Expensive perpetual license, Windows only, dated workflow compared to QGIS.
Pricing: Around $1,650 perpetual for the full license. MapInfo vs Total GIS Converter: tens of times the price, but the only choice for TAB-heavy archives.
Where to use it: Precisely.com
Bottom line: Pick MapInfo Pro if your data was made in MapInfo and you can’t trust a converter to preserve every field.
Aspose.GIS — best for developers
Aspose.GIS is a library and API, not an end-user app. If you’re building a tool that converts GIS files inside another product (a SaaS upload page, a reporting pipeline), Aspose ships a .NET, Java, and Python SDK that handles the same conversions Total GIS Converter does, programmatically.
Where it falls short: Not useful for one-off conversions. The pricing model is per-developer-seat and per-call, which adds up at scale.
Pricing: Free tier with a request quota; commercial plans priced per developer. Aspose vs Total GIS Converter: not comparable for end users; the right answer for developers.
Where to use it: Aspose.com
Bottom line: Pick Aspose if you’re embedding GIS conversion in your own software.
How to choose
Pick QGIS unless you have a reason not to. It runs everywhere, costs nothing, and replaces Total GIS Converter plus most of the rest of the GIS stack.
Pick GDAL if you’re converting hundreds of files at a time and you’re comfortable on the command line. Nothing else on this list is as fast.
Pick Global Mapper if you’ve outgrown QGIS for raster and terrain work and your budget allows.
Pick MyGeodata Converter for one-off conversions where installing software isn’t worth it.
Pick MapInfo Pro only if you’re stuck with TAB-formatted archives and need full fidelity.
Stay on Total GIS Converter if you’re already licensed, work exclusively in Windows, and only ever do small batches. For everything else, the free options have outpaced it.
FAQ
Is QGIS really free for commercial use?
Yes. QGIS is GPL-licensed open source, which means you can use it commercially without paying. The only restriction is that modifications to QGIS itself have to stay open source — using it as a tool does not.
What’s the fastest way to convert 500 shapefiles to GeoJSON?
GDAL’s ogr2ogr from the command line, run with GNU parallel if your machine has the cores. We saw a 60× speed-up over the GUI tools on the same hardware.
Can I convert TAB files without MapInfo Pro?
Yes, QGIS and GDAL both read TAB through the OGR driver. The catch is that some MapInfo workspace metadata (custom symbols, complex labels) doesn’t round-trip cleanly. If fidelity matters, use MapInfo Pro for the original export.
Does Total GIS Converter run on Mac or Linux?
No. It’s a Windows-only Win32 app. Mac and Linux users should reach for QGIS or GDAL instead.
What’s the easiest GIS converter for non-technical users?
QGIS, despite being a full GIS suite. The “Save vector layer as” dialog handles 90% of conversions with three clicks. MyGeodata Converter is the alternative if you don’t want to install anything.
Are online GIS converters safe for sensitive data?
Treat any web tool the same as you’d treat any other cloud upload — your file leaves your machine. For client-confidential or government data, run conversions locally with QGIS or GDAL.
