What 3Liz does

3Liz is a French open-source GIS software services firm founded in 2007 in Montpellier, structured as a SARL with approximately 9 employees. The company is the primary developer and maintainer of Lizmap, an open-source web mapping application launched in 2011 that publishes QGIS Desktop projects as interactive web GIS applications with editing, dataviz, and collaborative features. The technology stack centers on the open-source GIS ecosystem — QGIS Server as the cartographic rendering engine, PostgreSQL/PostGIS as the geospatial data store, PHP via the proprietary Jelix framework on the server side, and JavaScript via OpenLayers on the client side — supplemented by Py-QGIS-Server and Py-QGIS-WPS, Python alternatives that 3Liz developed after participating in the December 2016 QGIS developer meeting in Lyon. Beyond the core platform, the company maintains a portfolio of domain modules for French-specific use cases including Cadastre (cadastral data), Naturaliz (biodiversity observations), Adresse and NetADS (address management), PgRouting, PgMetadata, and WPS.

Revenue is generated primarily through four streams: managed hosting of Lizmap instances via the Lizmap Cloud service, custom software development for Lizmap, QGIS, and QGIS Server, training courses for Lizmap, QGIS, PostGIS, and PyQGIS, and broader GIS implementation services including data modeling and consulting. Pricing is quote-based across all service lines with no public price disclosures. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on open-source contributions, GitHub repositories, FOSS4G conference participation, OSGeo mailing lists, and a company blog, combined with direct sales of professional services to French public-sector buyers. Customer logos span 14+ named entities concentrated in French local government (Avignon, Caen, Grand Narbonne, multiple Départements), supplemented by environmental organizations (Biotope, Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges), research institutions (INRA, IFREMER, CIRAD), transport (Keolis Rennes), energy (WPD), and water utilities. Lizmap's inclusion on the French Interministerial Open Source Software Database (SILL) by Etalab/DINUM in June 2022 signals formal government endorsement for French public administration procurement.

Name

3Liz

Legal name

3Liz

Website

https://3liz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

3Liz is a Montpellier-based open-source GIS software firm that develops and maintains Lizmap, the leading web publishing platform for QGIS projects, serving French public administration, environmental organizations, and research institutions through managed hosting, custom development, training, and GIS implementation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lizmap Cloud Hosting: Managed hosting service providing Lizmap instances with PostGIS on monitored and maintained infrastructure.
2. Software Development Services: Custom development, module development, plugin development, bug fixes, and feature development for Lizmap, QGIS Server, and QGIS.
3. Training Services: Training courses for Lizmap, QGIS, PostGIS, and PyQGIS.
4. GIS Implementation Services: Data modeling, data integration, consulting, and support for GIS implementations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

3Liz develops, maintains, and supports Lizmap, an open-source web GIS client that publishes QGIS Desktop projects as interactive web mapping applications without programming. The company also provides companion QGIS Desktop and QGIS Server plugins, domain-specific modules (Cadastre, Naturaliz, PgRouting, MapBuilder, etc.), Python-based server implementations (Py-QGIS-Server, Py-QGIS-WPS), a CLI tool (qgis-plugin-manager), and a managed cloud hosting service (Lizmap Cloud) running on PostgreSQL/PostGIS.

Product overview

3Liz operates a platform-plus-modules architecture built around Lizmap, an open-source web GIS platform. The core offering consists of Lizmap Web Client (the main web mapping application server), paired with two companion QGIS plugins (the Lizmap plugin for QGIS Desktop for project configuration and the Lizmap plugin for QGIS Server for extended server-side services). On top of this foundation, 3Liz offers a rich ecosystem of domain-specific modules including Cadastre, Naturaliz, MapBuilder, PgRouting, PgMetadata, WPS, Adresse, NetADS, OpenADS, and SAML authentication. Supporting tools include Py-QGIS-Server and Py-QGIS-WPS (Python-based server alternatives), the qgis-plugin-manager CLI tool, and QGIS Server plugins such as AtlasPrint and WfsOutputExtension. 3Liz also provides a managed hosting service called Lizmap Cloud.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lizmap: Open-source web mapping application developed by 3Liz to facilitate publishing web cartographic applications with QGIS
• Lizmap Cloud
• Py-QGIS-Server
• Py-QGIS-WPS

Products and services

• Lizmap Web Client Open-source web mapping application server that publishes QGIS Desktop projects as interactive web GIS applications with data visualization, editing, filtering, dataviz dashboards, and collaborative features; for GIS professionals and organizations using QGIS.
• Lizmap Plugin for QGIS Desktop QGIS Desktop plugin that configures and publishes QGIS projects to Lizmap Server, including layer publishing options, dataviz, forms, access control, and project validation checks; for GIS publishers using QGIS Desktop.
• Lizmap Plugin for QGIS Server QGIS Server plugin that extends QGIS Server with Lizmap-specific services including expression evaluation, access control, and API enhancements; for organizations deploying Lizmap Web Client.
• Lizmap Cloud Managed cloud hosting service providing pre-configured Lizmap instances with PostgreSQL/PostGIS on monitored and maintained infrastructure; for organizations that want Lizmap without self-hosting.
• Py-QGIS-Server Python-based implementation of QGIS Server developed by 3Liz as an open-source alternative server core, enabling flexible, demand-adaptive GIS hosting architectures.
• Py-QGIS-WPS Python-based Web Processing Service (WPS) implementation built on the QGIS core, extending Py-QGIS-Server with server-side geospatial processing capabilities.
• Cadastre Module Lizmap module and QGIS plugin for importing and managing French cadastral data, including parcels, owners, and land register information; for French municipalities and notaries.
• Naturaliz Module Lizmap web client module for naturalist observations enabling faunistic and floristic data collection and visualization; for environmental consultancies, natural parks, and biodiversity researchers.
• MapBuilder Module Lizmap module for building custom web mapping applications with advanced layout and composition features; for organizations building tailored GIS web apps.
• PgRouting Module Lizmap module enabling routing and network analysis powered by PostGIS/pgRouting, allowing computation of itineraries from data stored in PostGIS; for transport and network operators.
• PgMetadata Module QGIS plugin and Lizmap module for storing and displaying metadata of PostgreSQL layers within the database, accessible within QGIS and Lizmap.
• WPS Module Lizmap module enabling Web Processing Service (WPS) support for executing geospatial processes and workflows on the server.
• Adresse Module Lizmap module and QGIS plugin for managing French address data (BAN-based), providing address search and geocoding features; for French municipalities.
• SAML Authentication Module SAML authentication module for Lizmap enabling enterprise single sign-on (SSO) integration with identity providers via the jelix/saml-module.
• qgis-plugin-manager Python command-line tool for managing QGIS Server plugins in headless/server environments, supporting list, install, and upgrade operations from the CLI; for GIS system administrators.
• AtlasPrint Plugin QGIS Server plugin for advanced atlas printing, enabling customizable PDF output with atlas-driven layouts and current user information.
• WfsOutputExtension Plugin QGIS Server plugin extending WFS with additional export formats (GeoPackage, Shapefile, ODS, CSV) beyond standard GML output.
• Software Development Services Custom software development services including module development, plugin development, bug fixes, and feature development for Lizmap, QGIS Server, and QGIS.
• Training Services Training courses covering Lizmap, QGIS, PostGIS, and PyQGIS, delivered by 3Liz team members including René-Luc Dhont and Michaël Douchin.
• GIS Implementation Services GIS implementation services including data modeling, data integration, consulting, and support for open-source GIS deployments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 years of continuous development and maintenance of Lizmap with regular major releases (versions 3.4-3.8 released 2020-2024)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FaunaliacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2021Faunalia contributed directly to Lizmap source code, implementing single tile request functionality for all layers (Lizmap 3.8) and WebDAV support in editing forms (Lizmap 3.7). Active contributor to QGIS ecosystem.
• OVHminorOthersOVH provides server infrastructure for hosting the 3Liz company website. Servers located in Roubaix, France.
• QGIS.orgcoreTechnology or Integration3Liz is an active contributor to QGIS project including source code contributions, documentation, and translations. They maintain several QGIS plugins and participate in QGIS development governance.
• ONF InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on presentations at FOSS4G 2021 regarding open source solutions for environmental decision platforms.
• French Public Funders (Avignon, Calvados, Etra, PNR Ballons des Vosges, etc.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple French local governments and agencies fund Lizmap development through feature sponsorships. Avignon funded Lizmap features table component, Calvados funded attribute filtering, Etra funded snapping and single tile features, PNR Ballons des Vosges funded tooltip improvements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CARTO: Cloud-native location intelligence and web mapping platform built on PostGIS; overlaps in web GIS visualization and spatial data delivery though via a proprietary SaaS model.
• Sinergise (Planet): Geospatial software company delivering web GIS and cloud geospatial services to public authorities, overlapping in cartographic web applications and government clientele.

Direct peers

• North Road: Australian QGIS core development and support firm building plugins and offering geospatial consulting, closely mirroring 3Liz's QGIS-centric expertise and productized plugin approach.
• Camptocamp: Swiss/French open-source GIS integrator behind GeoMapFish/geOrchestra offering QGIS and web mapping services to public administrations, competing directly with Lizmap-based web GIS delivery.
• Kartoza: Open-source geospatial services company specializing in QGIS, GeoServer and PostGIS development, hosting and training—same technology stack and services model as 3Liz in a different region.
• Faunalia: Italian open-source GIS consultancy and QGIS/Lizmap contributor (it has contributed code to Lizmap itself), serving comparable environmental and public-sector clients with QGIS-based solutions.
• Oslandia: French open-source geospatial services firm and QGIS core contributor offering QGIS/PostGIS development, support and training—directly overlapping 3Liz's model, ecosystem and home market.
• GeoSolutions: Italian open-source geospatial firm behind GeoServer, GeoNode and MapStore offering enterprise web mapping and support, competing in the same open-source web GIS services niche.

Regional players

• Gaia3D: South Korean open-source GIS services company providing QGIS, GeoServer and PostGIS development and training, comparable in offering but serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Esri: Dominant proprietary GIS vendor (ArcGIS) whose web mapping and enterprise GIS offerings are the primary commercial alternative that 3Liz's open-source stack competes against for public-sector deployments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/3LIZ_news
• GitHubgithub.com/3liz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3liz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3Liz