GIS YouTube Channels¶
Visual learners, this is your shortcut. The channels below cover ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Python, careers, cartography, and more — all free.
Top picks¶
1. Esri¶
The official Esri channel. Conference recordings, product demos, DevSummit sessions. Long videos but high quality.
2. Esri Events¶
Where Esri posts UC and DevSummit talks. Search for "[topic] UC" — gold for advanced workflows.
3. GIS Tutorial (Aji Susanto)¶
Hundreds of short, focused ArcGIS Pro / QGIS tutorials. Great for "how do I do X right now."
4. Land Information Bureau¶
Friendly, visual ArcGIS Pro tutorials. Excellent pacing for beginners.
5. Klas Karlsson — ArcGIS Pro Tutorials¶
Strong intermediate ArcGIS Pro material — automation, ModelBuilder, real workflows.
6. GeoDelta Labs¶
Mixed ArcGIS, QGIS, Python — particularly good for QGIS.
7. Mapping the Path¶
Career-focused: how to land GIS jobs, build portfolios, navigate the industry. Less software-heavy.
8. Spatial Thoughts¶
Excellent open-source GIS content (Python, QGIS, Earth Engine). Run by Ujaval Gandhi.
9. Open Source Options¶
Python + QGIS focused. Great for analysts moving toward code.
10. Hans van der Kwast¶
International / development GIS, water resources, hydrology. Strong QGIS content.
Honorable mentions¶
| Channel | Strength |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange | Q&A walkthroughs |
| QGIS | Official QGIS releases & demos |
| GeoNet (Esri community) | Community talks |
| Mapbox | Web mapping with Mapbox |
| Felt | Modern collaborative mapping |
| Anita Graser | Movement data, QGIS |
| Joseph Kerski | GIS education + lessons |
| Brian Bossard | RS / NDVI / Landsat tutorials |
Suggested viewing path¶
If you're starting out, watch these in order:
- "What is GIS?" — pick any 5-min explainer.
- Esri "ArcGIS Pro: Getting Started" — official intro.
- Land Information Bureau "Your First Map in ArcGIS Pro".
- GIS Tutorial — Choropleth Map in ArcGIS Pro.
- Klas Karlsson — Geoprocessing tools.
- Spatial Thoughts — geopandas crash course.
- Mapping the Path — building a GIS portfolio.
→ Pair with our written walkthrough: Your First Map in ArcGIS Pro.
How to "watch" effectively¶
Don't just watch — replicate
Pause every step and do it on your own data in ArcGIS Pro. A 30-minute video becomes 2 hours, and your retention is 10× higher.
Speed it up
Most tutorials are 1.25–1.5× watchable. Use that.
→ Next: Books & Courses.