
I have worked with Esri ArcGIS on the public (StoryMaps) and the licensed side. Once I got the basics down, it was no more or less difficult to operate than any other graphics platform. ArcGIS StoryMaps is a straightforward interface, perfect for a GIS newbie. However, StoryMaps should not be confused with Esri ArcGIS, a powerful industry tool very robust for visualizing data through maps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
When I began working with ESRI ArcGIS, I was provided a link from my institution to ESRI ArcGIS through an AWS share. It was slow, features would crash the platform, and often I could not complete a full map design that was direct from the ESRI ArcGIS sponsored textbook. However, just learning to fight my way through the challenges with the modality my institution provided gave me the foundation to operate and develop maps on the commercial platform. Based on my system and network connection, some functionality is slow, but I have no complaints overall. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.