The paper presents the possibilities of applying GIS tools in order to obtain elevation models for spatial planning. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) or Digital Terrain Model (DTM) can be created based on direct field measurements, vectorization of existing cartographic materials, observations from the air, or data obtained from radar systems placed on the Earth’s orbit, using radar interferometry. The research methodology was based on the use of GIS tools in the process of obtaining public (generally available) elevation data, and assessing suitability of that data, for instance, in the context of spatial planning. In the study, we have used data from airborne laser scanning, free data provided by CODGiK (Central Documentation Centre of Geodesy and Cartography) and data acquired from Google Earth software, among others. Data analysis was divided into 4 stages: the first was to estimate how large are the differences when creating a grid elevation model out of a cloud of points, using aggregation algorithms. The second stage of the analysis consisted in the comparison of the amount of the received free data, and the elevation model established based on the cloud of points – the LIDAR model. The next stage of the analysis was aimed at a mutual comparison of the elevation models created with free data. The last stage of the analysis concerned the comparison of the DSM (Digital Surface Model) with the free data acquired from the Google Earth.