GIS Plugins

Home › QGIS 4 readiness › Built into QGIS › Freehand Editing 3

Freehand Editing 3 Built into QGIS 3.20 as Stream digitizing

QGIS 3.20 and later do the main job of Freehand Editing 3 natively, with Stream digitizing. You can use that instead of installing the plugin. Streaming mode adds vertices as you move the mouse, for freehand lines and polygons. Press R while digitizing to switch it on or off.

Native featureStream digitizing
First releaseQGIS 3.20
Where to find itDigitizing toolbar › Stream Digitizing (or press R while digitizing)
PluginFreehand Editing 3, last released 2019-11-25
Plugin on QGIS 4Not QGIS 4 ready

How to use Stream digitizing

  1. Select a line or polygon layer, toggle editing and pick Add Line Feature or Add Polygon Feature.
  2. Switch on Stream Digitizing on the Digitizing toolbar, or press R.
  3. Click once to start, move the mouse to draw, and right-click to finish.
  4. Adjust Streaming Tolerance (in pixels) to control the spacing between vertices.
  5. Press R again to go back to straight segments. You can mix both in one feature.

Sources: QGIS 3.20 changelog entry QGIS User Manual

A native feature can differ from the plugin in details. If you rely on a specific option, read the linked entry before you uninstall.

QGIS plugin news, once a week

GIS Plugins Weekly: new plugins, useful updates and QGIS 4 readiness changes. Free, unsubscribe anytime. See a sample issue.

All plugins built into QGIS Plugin page for Freehand Editing 3