Historical Satellite Imagery Software for Roofers (2026)
The best historical satellite imagery software for roofing contractors in 2026 is QuoteIQ, and yes, I co-founded it, so weigh that. Its MapMeasure Pro screen keeps a dated imagery timeline next to the roof measurements and the estimate, so you can check an older photo without opening a second tool. If you only need an occasional free look back, Google Earth Pro does it, and if you want a sales-quoted archive, Nearmap and EagleView sell one. Here are all eight and where each one fits.
TL;DR
QuoteIQ: imagery timeline inside MapMeasure Pro, on the Beginner plan at $99.99 a month.
Nearmap: archive with more than a decade of dated content, quote only.
EagleView: Vault library of 25-plus years of imagery, quote only.
GAF QuickMeasure: $18 to $20 a report with past views, and $10 adds 10 years of hail and wind history.
Google Earth Pro: free time slider, but the download ends June 25, 2027.
The rest: Historic Aerials for pre-2000 photos, Esri Wayback for basemap versions, HailTrace for storm dates.
How I Picked These
I run All American Pressure Cleaning in Savannah and co-founded QuoteIQ, and I use QuoteIQ to quote and run my own jobs, including roof washes. I'm not a roofer, and I haven't used most of these competitors day to day, so every competitor claim here comes from the vendor's own published pages, checked October 2026. I weighed four things: whether the tool shows dated photos of a specific roof, whether it fits a roofer's quote-to-invoice workflow, how far back it reaches, and whether the price is public. Hail is why this matters. State Farm paid over $5.6 billion in hail claims in 2025, and NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 5,432 hail events that year, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The ranking is aimed at roofing contractors in a trade the BLS counts at about 166,900 jobs. It's my position, stated openly.
Quick Comparison
Software | Starting Price | Best For |
$99.99/mo | Old photos inside the quote | |
Quote only | Dated archive by address | |
Quote only | Large imagery libraries | |
$18-$20/report | Reports with past views | |
Free | Quick free look back | |
$5/image | Pre-2000 property history | |
No price listed | Comparing basemap versions | |
Free tier, then quote | Storm dates for claims |
1. QuoteIQ — Best Historical Satellite Imagery Software for Roofing Contractors
What it is
MapMeasure Pro is QuoteIQ's satellite measurement tool, and its imagery timeline lists the archive dates on file for a property, so you click a date and the map switches to that photo (QuoteIQ). Roof segments, pitch and area come from the same screen, and the screenshot attaches to the estimate.
Pricing
MapMeasure Pro is included on Beginner and above. Beginner is $99.99 a month for two users and 1,500 IQ Credits, Pro is $199.99, Elite is $299.99 and Max is $699.99, with extra users at $25 a month (QuoteIQ pricing, checked October 2026). Essentials is $29.99 but doesn't include MapMeasure Pro. There's a 14-day trial, and you can see it in a demo.
Where it fits
Roofing contractors who want to check an older photo of a roof for patches, tarps or a past replacement while they build the estimate. It pairs with my roofing estimating software roundup if you're still choosing the quoting side.
Tradeoffs
The dates on file vary by address, so I can't promise how far back a given roof goes. Roof pitch only appears after an AI AutoMeasure trace, which costs 100 IQ Credits per surface. It shows what's on file, not storm swaths, so pair it with weather records.
"QuoteIQ keeps me organized, on time, and professional; Customers love the clean quotes, and I love the easy job scheduling." — PatelJonellc (App Store review)
2. Nearmap — Best for a Dated Aerial Archive
What it is
Nearmap sells aerial imagery with an archive, and its MapBrowser page describes more than a decade of archived content you can go back through. Its imagery page advertises historical views of what changed and when.
Pricing
Not published. Nearmap sends pricing questions to a contact-sales form for a demo, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Larger roofing operations that sell a lot of storm work and can justify a sales-led subscription to browse dated imagery by address.
Tradeoffs
There's no public price, the homepage names insurance, AECO and government as its industries rather than roofing, and the pages I read don't state how often surveys are flown.
3. EagleView — Best for a Large Imagery Library
What it is
EagleView sells ordered roof reports like Bid Perfect, Premium Roof and Full House, listed on its roofing page, plus Vault, an imagery library its page describes as more than 25 years of orthogonal and oblique imagery covering 96 percent of the US population.
Pricing
No prices appear on the product pages I read, checked October 2026. Reports are bought through EagleView's Buy link, and Vault access is by image, parcel or square mile through sales.
Where it fits
Roofers who already order EagleView reports and want the older imagery from the same vendor.
Tradeoffs
Vault's page names governments, insurers, utilities and AEC firms rather than roofing contractors, and the Reveal page points to Vault for historical imagery, so you'd be buying two products.
4. GAF QuickMeasure — Best for Past Views in a Report
What it is
QuickMeasure is GAF's ordered aerial roof report, and its pricing table lists past views and multiple angles, a bill of materials and a 3D rendering alongside the measurements (GAF).
Pricing
$18 per single-family parcel for GAF Master Elite contractors and $20 for everyone else, $54 or $60 per multi-family building, and a $10 add-on that includes local building codes and up to 10 years of hail and wind history (GAF pricing, checked October 2026). GAF posts a sample add-on report so you can see what that adds.
Where it fits
Roofers who want one dated report on a specific roof and don't need to browse an archive.
Tradeoffs
You get past views inside the report, not a timeline you can scrub, GAF's page doesn't say how far back they reach, and per-report fees add up on volume.
5. Google Earth Pro — Best Free Option
What it is
A desktop app with a historical imagery slider: click the clock icon and drag, and each image shows its day, month and year (Google's tutorial). Google's versions page says Pro can go back in time with historical imagery.
Pricing
Free, as Harvard's GIS group lists the download.
Where it fits
A one-off look at a roof before you bid, with no team workflow involved.
Tradeoffs
Google's installer page says that as of June 25, 2027, Earth Pro for desktop will no longer be available for download. It's a standalone desktop app, so the images don't attach to your estimates.
6. Historic Aerials — Best for Pre-2000 Property History
What it is
Historic Aerials, run by NETRonline, bills itself as the largest online collection of historical aerial imagery for the US, back to the 1920s, with a viewer that switches between years.
Pricing
Single downloads start at $5 for a JPG of aerials from 2000 on and $10 for earlier aerials (pricing). Monthly plans run $39 for Individual with 100 credits, $98 for Small Business with 400 and $156 for Business with 1,200 (subscriptions, checked October 2026).
Where it fits
Older commercial buildings where you need to see additions or footprint changes, not last year's storm.
Tradeoffs
Coverage varies by location and year, subscriber perks include an ad-free viewer and lighter watermarks so free viewing has both, and its terms require written authorization to redistribute or resell images.
7. Esri Wayback — Best for Comparing Basemap Versions
What it is
Wayback is Esri's archive of past versions of its World Imagery basemap, going back to February 20, 2014, with more than 150 versions in Esri's write-up. A metadata popup shows the capture date for individual images.
Pricing
The Esri pages I read list no price, and saving a web map requires signing in, checked October 2026.
Where it fits
Estimators comfortable with GIS-style map tools who want to flip through basemap versions and read capture dates.
Tradeoffs
Version dates are publication dates, not capture dates, so you have to click for the real one. It isn't built for roofing and isn't tied to any estimate.
8. HailTrace — Best for Storm Dates
What it is
HailTrace is a hail and wind service for roofers with interactive hail maps, storm alerts, meteorologist-verified reports and integrations including JobNimbus. Weather History Reports appear on its Maps Only plan.
Pricing
No prices are published. The plans page sends Enterprise to a demo request and the Maps & Data and Maps Only plans to Contact us, and a Free plan has limited maps and data access (checked October 2026).
Where it fits
Beside an imagery tool, when you need to line up a storm date with before-and-after photos.
Tradeoffs
It isn't imagery software, its pages don't mention aerial imagery, and I couldn't confirm that history reports can be searched by address and date. It earns a slot because date of loss needs both halves.
What Operators Say
"It’s essential for running my roofing business smoothly and professional" — Jarvis_Merties (App Store review)
"My roofing business runs smoother and faster thanks to this software." — Brunilda_Rigbym (App Store review)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best historical satellite imagery software for roofing contractors in 2026?
For most roofing contractors, QuoteIQ is my pick because MapMeasure Pro keeps the dated imagery timeline in the same screen where you measure the roof and build the estimate. It's the only tool on this list where the old photos sit inside the quote itself, so you don't copy anything between apps. It starts on the Beginner plan at $99.99 a month, per its pricing page. If you only need an occasional look back, Google Earth Pro is a free time slider on your desktop. If you run a larger operation, ask Nearmap and EagleView for demos, since neither publishes prices. I'm QuoteIQ's co-founder, so compare the pricing pages yourself.
How do I see old satellite images of a roof?
Open the address in a tool that keeps dated captures, then step back through the dates. In Google Earth Pro, click the clock icon and drag the time slider left, and each image shows its day, month and year. In QuoteIQ's MapMeasure Pro, the imagery timeline lists the dates on file for the property, and clicking a date switches the map to that photo. Esri Wayback lets you flip between past versions of its basemap, and Historic Aerials goes back to the 1920s in places. Coverage differs by address, so check a few dates before you promise a customer anything. Free tools work for a quick look, but only the ones tied to your estimate keep the result with the job.
How far back does historical aerial imagery go?
It depends on the tool and the address. Google says its Earth archive reaches back to 1984 for satellite imagery and the 1930s for aerial photos in some cities (Google Maps Platform). Historic Aerials says its collection goes back to the 1920s, with coverage varying by place and year. EagleView describes more than 25 years in Vault, and Nearmap cites more than a decade of archived content. Esri Wayback begins in February 2014. For roof condition, the recent decade is what you'll use. Dates are patchy in smaller towns, so open the address in two tools and compare what each has before you quote a job that depends on the history.
Is Google Earth Pro free for roofing estimates?
Yes, the Pro desktop download is free, as Harvard's GIS group lists it, and Google's own tutorial covers the historical slider. Two catches: Google's installer page says that as of June 25, 2027, Earth Pro for desktop will no longer be available for download, and it's a standalone app that doesn't attach images to your estimates. Google's versions page describes Pro for advanced feature needs. If you want the imagery attached to the job, use a tool tied to your quoting software, such as the MapMeasure Pro timeline. For a quick look at a roof before a bid it's hard to beat free, and it works well for a solo estimator checking one address at a time.
How much does historical aerial imagery software cost?
It ranges from free to sales-quoted. Google Earth Pro costs nothing. GAF QuickMeasure reports run $18 per single-family parcel for Master Elite contractors and $20 for others, plus $10 for up to 10 years of hail and wind history. Historic Aerials charges $5 and up per image, with plans from $39 a month. QuoteIQ's MapMeasure Pro starts on the $99.99 Beginner plan, and extra users are $25 a month. Nearmap and EagleView don't publish prices. Keep in mind that per-report fees grow with every roof you order, while a plan price stays flat no matter how many addresses you check. I checked these pages in October 2026, so confirm before you budget.
Can historical imagery prove the date of loss on a roof claim?
Not by itself. Imagery shows what a roof looked like on the dates a photo was captured, so it can show a roof was intact before a storm or already patched, but it doesn't tell you when hail hit. Pair it with weather records, such as NOAA's Severe Weather Data Inventory, which lets you search hail data by location and time frame, or HailTrace's weather history reports. Then back it with your own dated job photos. GAF's $10 add-on adds up to 10 years of hail and wind history to a report. Your insurer decides what counts as proof, so never promise a customer an outcome. Save the date, the address and the source of every image you use so the file holds up if the claim is reviewed.
How can historical imagery help estimate roof age and prior repairs?
Scroll through the dates and look for a change in roof color or texture, which can flag a past replacement, patch or addition. The newest image before a change and the oldest image after it bracket the year it happened. Treat that as a clue, not a certificate: Esri notes that a version's publication date doesn't show the vintage of individual images, and the capture date sits in a metadata popup. Confirm with permits, the homeowner's records and an inspection, and keep your own dated photos with job photo software. Photos taken in different seasons or light can mislead, so compare at least three dates before you decide.
What is the difference between historical imagery and a roof measurement report?
Historical imagery is a set of dated photos of one location that you browse. A measurement report is an ordered, one-time document with roof dimensions, pitch and a bill of materials. GAF QuickMeasure and EagleView's roof reports are the second kind, priced per report, though GAF's includes past views. QuoteIQ, Nearmap and Google Earth Pro are closer to the first kind. If you're pricing a job, you usually want measurements, and if you're checking condition or age, you want the timeline. The two often work together: measure first, then scroll the timeline to check condition before you send the proposal. For measurement-only options, see my aerial measurement software roundup.
Bottom Line
Historical imagery only helps if it's at hand while you build the estimate, which is why I put QuoteIQ first: the timeline lives where I already measure and quote. Use Google Earth Pro for free one-off checks, GAF QuickMeasure when you want a report with past views, and ask Nearmap or EagleView for a demo if you need an archive at scale. Pair any of them with weather records and your own dated photos before you argue date of loss. I'm biased as the co-founder, so compare the pricing pages above, then see MapMeasure Pro in a demo. For the rest of the stack, my roofing CRM roundup covers it.
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