FAQs

To order an Existing Image, browse the map, select your entire area of interest, then choose from the images previously taken within that area.

Or, type a location into the search bar for immediate results to make your selected order. Existing Images have been previously captured and are available in our extensive image archive. For step-by-step ordering details, please click here.

To order a New Image, browse the map or use the search functionality to find your area of interest.

Next, use the Area of Interest tool to create a rectangular perimeter over the area where you want your image taken.

Once you've selected and confirmed your chosen customization options, add the New Image order to your cart. Upon checkout, you will be prompted to pay via debit or credit card.

For step-by-step ordering details, please click here.

Pricing at SkyFi is based on several variables, such as the kilometer size of a chosen area, the sensors selected, and the type of resolution chosen.

A single Existing Image starts at $20, and a single New Image starts at $175. The selected area size, sensors, and resolution options will determine the total cost.

For additional pricing details, please click here.

Satellite imagery pricing through SkyFi starts at just $1/km², making it one of the most accessible platforms for buying satellite images online. Optical satellite imagery from providers like Vantor, Planet and Satellogic is available from $5/km² for archive images and $8/km² for new tasking captures, with resolutions ranging from 15 cm to 1 m. SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite imagery, ideal for all-weather and nighttime monitoring, starts at $450/scene for archive data and $675/scene for on-demand tasking from providers like Umbra and ICEYE. 3D geospatial products including digital surface models, digital terrain models, and point clouds start at $7.50/km², while high-resolution basemap mosaics are available from just $1/km². Whether you need satellite imagery for agriculture, defense, insurance, construction, or environmental monitoring, SkyFi offers flexible order sizes and enterprise pricing through SkyFi Pro. Order satellite imagery instantly on the platform without requesting a quote or talking to sales teams.

Different sensors can capture different types of images, depending on your need.

Daytime sensors work best for capturing a standard image in daylight. Night sensors can capture lights reflected during the night but do not produce night vision results.

Please click here for our current sensors, their details, and the additional types we plan to make available soon.

A higher resolution allows you to see more granular details of the image you are viewing. The higher the resolution of an image, the smaller the pixel size in terms of centimeters. With a spatial resolution of 75 cm, each pixel corresponds to an area on the ground of 75 cm by 75 cm, but since the pixels will generally not perfectly align with the objects on the ground, an industry rule of thumb is that you can see consistently see objects that are between 30% and 50% larger than pixel size. For 75 cm imagery, that means you can typically identify anything that takes up about 1 square meter, such as outdoor tables and small cars. As the resolution improves, you are able to see more granular detail with 30-50 cm resolution allowing you to see, but not identify, things like livestock and even people. As the resolution improves, you can identify smaller images and vice versa. Google Maps, which uses aerial rather than satellite imagery, uses resolutions as low as 15 cm.

The file size of an Existing Image at high-resolution taken within a 5 sq kilometers area will be 5MB. A New Image at high-resolution taken within a 25 sq kilometers area will have a file size of about 50MB.

SkyFi has the most user-friendly licensing in the satellite industry. You are free to share purchased images on the web and social media (and we encourage you to tag us @SkyFi.App or #SkyFi). Please make sure that provider and SkyFi attribution is clearly visible on all shared images. You are also free to use the images to do analysis and sell the results of that analysis. You cannot re-sell images you purchase on the SkyFi platform, nor can you sell products you create that contain the images themselves. Please click here for more information on the SkyFi EULA (End User License Agreement).

You can download an Existing Image within 24 hours of placing your order. New Images will be available for download 48 hours after the image is captured. You'll receive an email when your order is ready for download.

When placing an order for a New Image, you'll receive a prompt to select the amount of cloud coverage acceptable for the image you want to order. If the image you receive is cloudier than specified, we will provide a full refund for your order. For Existing Images, you can see the cloudiness of the existing image you are selecting from and view a low-resolution preview of the image to confirm cloud coverage.

To help ensure satisfaction with Existing Image orders, we provide an image preview so that users can view the area of interest and the specific locations of clouds if they are present. As such, we do not provide refunds on Existing Image orders. If you receive your image and its material is different from what you ordered, or is flawed in any way, please let us know. If a New Image cannot be captured during the tasking window or is captured but has higher cloudiness than ordered, we will provide a full refund or reorder.

While Google certainly has its place here on Earth, you'll quickly find that SkyFi isn't a one-to-one Google Earth alternative. SkyFi gives users like you the power to capture satellite images from space at a chosen resolution, during a desired time frame, and in a specific place. Our satellites capture current images daily, allowing for near-real time data, whereas Google Earth typically displays images that are often outdated - sometimes by years. SkyFi offers resolutions as crisp as 50 cm consistently around the globe and a wide variety of sensors, including multispectral and video. Google Earth imagery is typically captured during the daytime in the summer, and is only displayed with optical sensors, similar to those used on your mobile device. Google Earth resolutions typically range from 30-50 cm depending on the location, and are often captured from planes, rather than satellites. For more information, visit our blog.

The primary reason to use SAR rather than optical imagery is SAR's ability to penetrate materials that may block visibility in an optical image, like clouds, vegetation, ice, snow, and even smoke. SAR images can also reveal information about the surface roughness and moisture content of the Earth's surface, which can be challenging to capture using other types of imagery. These unique characteristics open up a wide range of use cases that are difficult or impossible with standard optical imagery. It is important to have a thorough understanding of SAR imaging before purchasing a SAR image, as it will appear much different than an optical image. Click here for more information.

SkyFi Open Data gives you access to an extensive library of free Existing Images from open data sources. This ever expanding library allows users unlimited access to low resolution data through the same interface as commercial data. Simply click 'Open' when browsing Existing Image options to view available data in your Area of Interest.