Published on 5 September 2025

FAQ free basic geodata (OGD)

We regularly receive questions about the free access to swisstopo's geodata. Here we answer the most frequently asked questions.

General questions

• What does «free of charge» mean mean for geodata? Are there any additional processing fees?

  Free means without costs or fees for the standard digital products. These can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet by users without additional processing.

  For geodata:
  Free of charge means that no fee is charged for the use of the data. It is also free if the user downloads the data from the Internet him or herself. However, if the data must be prepared and sent by a swisstopo employee, a fee is charged for the preparation of the data.

  For geoservices:
  swisstopo geodata are integrated into the various geoservices of the Federal Geoinformation Infrastructure. These services can be used free of charge and without registration. For the use of service-based data via the geoservices, a maximum number of requests per time unit is set as a usage limit. Within this limit, the use of the data services is free of charge. The usage limit is to be observed as far as possible ("fair use").
  If the specified number of requests per time unit is repeatedly exceeded, swisstopo may conclude a contract with the data user for a higher number of requests. This use is then subject to a charge.

• Are digital products which cannot be independently downloaded subject to a fee?

  For the purchase of products in a form which is not made available for independent downloading, provision fees will continue to be charged. For more information: conditions for geodata.

• Can I also obtain a previous version of the data, e.g. for an aerial photograph or a national map?

  The latest data from swisstopo is available for download. For several data sets, all data produced since the introduction of OGD in 2021 can be downloaded (e.g. Swiss Map Raster national maps or SWISSIMAGE orthophotos). Older aerial images can be downloaded from the map.geo.admin.ch application, under aerial images.

  For geodata that cannot be downloaded directly, swisstopo can deliver it. A fee is charged for this service. For more information, see: conditions for geodata.

  The WMTS service provides older versions of the national map (from the Dufour map to the present day), as well as older versions of orthophotos (SWISSIMAGE). This data can also be viewed directly in map.geo.admin.ch via the layers journey through time - maps and journey through time – aerial images.

• Which geoservices does swisstopo provide free of cost?

  • Many of swisstopo's geodata can be freely accessed via the geoservices of the Federal Spatial Data Infrastructure (FSDI).
    Main portrayal services:
  • WMS-GDI
  • WMTS-DGI
  • Vector Tiles Service-IFDG
  • Further services: api3.admin.ch

• Is it now possible to order paper maps free of charge from swisstopo?

  No, all printed products and commercial products and services will continue to be subject to a charge. This also includes paper maps.

• Is the swisstopo app for mobile devices free?

  The swisstopo app is free charge available at the Apple App Store for iOS devices or from the Google Play Store for Android ones. All functions of the app and offline use of the maps are included.

• May the free basic geodata obtained be published and used commercially?

  Yes. The aim is the widest and most versatile usage of the available data.

• Is authorisation necessary to use swisstopo geodata?

  No, no authorisation is required. However, the source must be indicated upon use as «Source: Federal Office of Topography swisstopo» or «© swisstopo».

• Do I need an OGD license to use the data? And if so, which one?

  The use of Creative Commons licences, as they are commonly and widely used today, is not compatible with the legal basis (GeoIG, GeoIV). swisstopo geodata is supplied with terms of use which comply with the legal basis. The conditions of use allow free use for all purposes and oblige the user to indicate the source as «Source: Federal Office of Topography swisstopo» or «© swisstopo».

• What is the added value for swisstopo of providing its digital geodata free of charge?

  swisstopo is not creating any added value for itself. However, it does create added value for the economy. The free and unrestricted provision of digital geodata creates a potential for social benefits and can lay the foundations for operational and economic growth. Innovative private individuals, companies and organisations can use it to develop new applications and information services. swisstopo has no legal mandate for such applications.

• Why is swisstopo competing with the private sector by providing tax-financed data free of charge?

  Data from public authorities is created or collected in the course of administrative activities. It is therefore financed through tax money and is a public good. The legal mandate of a public authority, the processing stage of the data and the cost of any publication influence which data is published and how. The private sector can, in turn, develop new business models with this raw material by further processing/refining it. According to various studies, the economic potential of this further processing of data is considerable.

• Must the source be indicated when using swisstopo geodata?

  Yes. The Terms and Conditions provide free use for all purposes. However, they oblige the user to indicate the source as «Source: Federal Office of Topography swisstopo» or «© swisstopo».

How to indicate the source according to the type of publication ?

The terms of use for swisstopo's free geodata and geoservices require that the source be indicated when publishing or distributing to third parties. swisstopo regularly receives enquiries about this requirement. To assist you, we have outlined the procedure for the most common usage cases.

• Representation of data in a dynamic map application or service.

  Ideal: Each time swisstopo data is featured, the source is indicated next to the swisstopo data.
  

  Acceptable: The source is mentioned in a central location on a web page listing all sources used in the map application or service. A link (URL or hyperlink) to the web page of the sources can be found in the map application or in the description of the web service. 

• Static representation of data via an analogue or digital medium (static image).

  The source is indicated next to the representation. If several representations are used, a single, central reference is permitted.

• Representation of data in a video or video game

  Ideal: Each time swisstopo geodata appears, the source is indicated next to the swisstopo geodata.

  Acceptable: The source is mentioned in a central place at the end of the video or, in the case of video games, when listing the various source references. 

• Publication of geodata without direct visual representation (e.g. in an elevation service, as a table based on geodata analysis).

  The source is indicated in the documentation accompanying the publication. In the case of online publication, the documentation is available online.

• Publication of derived data based on swisstopo geodata (e.g. digitised elements from a swisstopo aerial photograph).

  The requirements are the same as for direct use of swisstopo geodata.  Points 1 to 4 apply with any alterations as necessary. The indication of the source may be preceded by the additional statement “derived from ...”.  

• Publication of swisstopo data stored in a database with many different sources.

  If swisstopo geodata or data based on swisstopo geodata is contained in a database with many different sources, it is sufficient to mention swisstopo in the list of sources of this database. Explicit mention of swisstopo in every use of the data is then no longer required, not even by the licensee of the relevant database. In this case, an indirect reference to the publisher of the database,  itself mentioning swisstopo, is sufficient.