To ArcGIS Pro Through a User Type or to ArcGIS Pro Standalone? That Is the Question.

ArcGIS user types have received a lot of attention since their 2024 refresh, and rightly so. Whether provided through ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, user types give you access to a complete GIS platform.

But user types aren’t the only way to access ArcGIS Pro. There is an ArcGIS Pro Standalone option, which “does exactly what it says on the tin” as the Brits would say. That is, ArcGIS Pro can also be used as standalone desktop software without a user type, which means no access to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise sharing, collaboration, apps and dashboards. No access to Living Atlas subscriber and premium content. No access to quick and easy geocoding through the ArcGIS World Geocoding Service, network analysis using routing services, or other ready to use services.

So why, you may ask, wouldn’t an organization or individual want all of that? It’s a fair question that comes down to how your users work and what they need to accomplish. Understanding the differences helps you determine which option is right for you.

Before we dive in, a few terms:

• User type: A predefined level of access that determines what applications, features, and capabilities a person can use across ArcGIS.
• Named User: A license tied to a person with an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise organization. For example, if Kory has a Professional Plus user type assigned to him, he is the named user—or has a named user license for ArcGIS Pro.
• Standalone: Software that operates independently, without being part of a set or connected to a network.

Finding Your Licensing Fit

The right licensing approach depends on how your users work, where they operate, and what they need to accomplish. For most organizations, Named User licensing with ArcGIS user types is the default, recommended path. However, there are specific scenarios where ArcGIS Pro Standalone may be more appropriate.

Choose ArcGIS Pro with User Types (Named User) if you:

• Need access to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise
• Want to share maps, apps, dashboards, and data
• Want access to ready-to-use services, ArcGIS Living Atlas content, and premium content
• Need flexibility to work across multiple devices or locations
• Prefer centralized, role-based, and scalable administration
• Want to collaborate on shared content and maintain a common operational picture
• Want to take advantage of AI capabilities and future platform innovations

Consider ArcGIS Pro Standalone if you:

• Require continuous, long-term offline access
• Cannot connect to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise due to security or privacy requirements
• Do not need additional ArcGIS apps, content, or ready-to-use services
• Have specific budget or infrastructure constraints that make user types impractical

Key Differences at a Glance

Access ArcGIS Pro through User Types

Now that you’ve seen the key differences at a glance, let’s take a closer look at why Named User licensing is the recommended approach for most organizations.

Centralized , role-based access, and scalable administration

Named User licensing, delivered through ArcGIS user types, represents a fundamental shift in how GIS capabilities are accessed and managed. Rather than a hardware-centric model where software licenses are associated with devices, the Named User model is user-centric. Individuals are assigned an ArcGIS user type within an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise organization, and that user type determines the capabilities, applications, and content available to them. Administrators can easily add or upgrade user types as organizational needs evolve and users’ skills develop over time—without deauthorizing and redeploying standalone licenses.

This approach simplifies access and mirrors how other enterprise software works across IT systems: each user has a unique identity and a defined role within the organization. For organizations managing GIS access across teams, Named User licensing also significantly reduces administrative overhead, as ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise integrate with enterprise identity management systems using industry-standard methods.

More than just ArcGIS Pro

While ArcGIS Pro may be your primary tool, user types include access to so much more. They unlock a comprehensive ecosystem of web and mobile applications, as well as ready-to-use authoritative data, giving users everything they need to complete modern geospatial workflows. For example, with a user type you can share your maps from ArcGIS Pro to the web, add them to apps, create dashboards for internal decision-making or build StoryMaps to make a greater impact. Learn more about user types.

Access to authoritative content and ready-to-use services

A user type gives ArcGIS Pro users direct access to ArcGIS Living Atlas subscriber and premium content. Instead of sourcing and managing data independently, users can work with authoritative, ready-to-use layers such as imagery, historical maps, landscape layers, and demographic content, reducing the time and effort required to find, prepare, and maintain data.

Ready-to-use services further extend what users can accomplish through capabilities such as geocoding, routing, geoenrichment, elevation analysis, and spatial analysis. In practice, this means organizations get results faster using trusted Esri content and can scale advanced workflows through centrally managed access to services and credits. For example, users can leverage a locator service to turn addresses into map points and then use Esri’s routing service to build optimized routes, without having to source and maintain data independently.

Collaboration and content management

User types allow members to access their organization’s shared maps, apps, layers, dashboards, and data—all managed through the ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise sharing model. Authoritative content can be actively managed and shared across teams, enabling a connected living data environment that is only possible with a user type that includes ArcGIS Pro access.

Teams can collaborate on shared content, maintain a common operational picture, and contribute to a central, authoritative data environment. Viewers across the organization can securely access maps, apps, and dashboards to inform decision-making and monitor key performance indicators. The result is an organization-wide GIS platform where every member can engage with spatial information in a way that is appropriate to their responsibilities. Since user content is stored in one place, administrators can move it in bulk to other users when staff leave or a project concludes.

AI capabilities and future innovation

While perhaps not a focus for your organization today, AI capabilities are being added across ArcGIS, including within ArcGIS Pro, and require a connection to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. Organizations considering ArcGIS Pro Standalone should weigh the productivity impact of operating outside this connected ecosystem.

Additionally, Esri continues to innovate and create new features and capabilities across the ArcGIS geospatial platform. ArcGIS user types benefit more broadly from these advances, as not all new capabilities are added to ArcGIS Pro independently.

Work from anywhere

One of the most significant advantages of Named User licensing is flexibility. Because the license is tied to the user rather than a device, ArcGIS Pro can be used on any computer where it is installed. Users can work at a desktop workstation in the office, on a virtual machine, either on-premises or in the cloud, on a colleague’s machine, or on a laptop in the field, all using the same organizational credentials. There is no need to manage a license file tied to a specific device.

Offline access: more flexible than you think

Named User licenses do not require a constant internet connection. Administrators have granular control over offline access—they can allow or restrict license checkout, define its duration, and assign a custom role with the Take ArcGIS Pro license offline privilege to specific users. Once checked out, ArcGIS Pro can operate fully offline for the duration of the borrowing period.

This capability supports most disconnected workflows, including fieldwork and extended travel. When the license is checked in, the user can again sign in to ArcGIS Pro on any machine. For users who regularly move in and out of connectivity, this built-in capability typically eliminates the need for ArcGIS Pro Standalone, while preserving access to the full set of applications, content, and sharing capabilities included with a user type.

Addressing procurement and renewal concerns

Some organizations express concern about the ability of their procurement department to complete renewals on time—not whether renewal will occur, but whether it will happen on time. The worry is that a delayed renewal could cause a brief ‘outage’ or work stoppage. It is worth noting that Esri will always work with customer organizations to prevent disruption during the renewal process. Customers also have the option to choose perpetual ArcGIS Enterprise user types, and Esri now offers multi-year maintenance contracts to reduce the frequency and complexity of renewal work for busy procurement departments.

When ArcGIS Pro Standalone is the Right Fit

Even when the numerous benefits of user types are clearly understood, some organizations have requirements that make user types either impractical or altogether nonviable. In those cases, ArcGIS Pro Standalone is an option. An ArcGIS Pro Standalone license is authorized on a machine rather than being managed through an organizational portal.

Extended or permanent offline requirement

For users who require continuous, long-term offline access without the coordination involved in borrowing a Named User license, ArcGIS Pro Standalone eliminates the dependency entirely. There is no need to borrow a license or work within time limits set by an administrator as ArcGIS Pro operates independent of any network connection or organizational portal at all times. This may be appropriate for organizations with security or privacy considerations that restrict internet connectivity. As noted above, ArcGIS Enterprise user types may be a practical solution in some of these scenarios; but when they are not, ArcGIS Pro Standalone is the answer.

Unpredictable or unstable budgets

For organizations without guaranteed projected budgets that cannot afford perpetual ArcGIS Enterprise user types, ArcGIS Pro Standalone may be the best option. If you need support making the case for GIS investment within your organization, do not hesitate to reach out to your Esri representative.

Making the Right Choice

The right licensing approach depends on how your users work, where they operate, and what they need to accomplish. For most organizations, Named User licensing with ArcGIS user types offers a modern, flexible solution aligned with other enterprise software models. For others, ArcGIS Pro Standalone may be a better fit.

Choose the option that best meets your organization’s needs—either way, ArcGIS Pro supports your workflows.

Learn More

• Keep Innovating with GIS
• Download the Migration Guide
• Single Use License changes for ArcGIS Products