Kugelblitz – Mac-Native Google Earth Alternative

Kugelblitz is a free, Mac-native globe and atlas application for exploring Earth and other celestial bodies with open geodata. It combines aerial imagery, road and topographic maps, elevation, and 3D buildings on realistic terrain, then lets users switch to flat atlas views in five projections. Its Library searches map services and geoportals worldwide, allowing users to preview data and add it to saved places. OpenStreetMap is streamed from a dedicated tile server, so users see only the tiles needed for their current view rather than downloading a region or the whole planet. No account is required; downloaded data remains cached, and Macs on the same network can optionally share that cache.

The application is designed for smooth, low-altitude navigation using a mouse, trackpad, keyboard, or 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse, and is reported to run smoothly even on an M1 Mac. It also supports streaming the Mac’s globe view to Apple Vision Pro without installing a headset app. Beyond Earth, users can explore the Moon, Mars, and other bodies, follow rover missions, and view the Sun’s position and changing light. A time-travel feature maps events to their locations and dates, including eclipses calculated over a 5,000-year span, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and fireballs. Kugelblitz requires macOS 27 or later and Apple silicon, and is available in German and English.