Matplot++ vs PlotJuggler
A data-driven comparison of two C++ visualization libraries & applications: popularity, development activity, licensing and installation. Updated .
Matplot++C++ graphics library for data visualization with a MATLAB-like API.
PlotJugglerOpen-source Qt5 application to plot charts (based on Qwt).
Key differences
- PlotJuggler has 1.3× as many GitHub stars as Matplot++ (6.2K vs 4.9K).
- PlotJuggler had more development activity over the last 12 months: 615 commits vs 3.
- Matplot++ is licensed under MIT; PlotJuggler under MPL-2.0.
- PlotJuggler is the older project: its repository was created in 2016, Matplot++'s in 2020.
By the numbers
- Matplot++
- PlotJuggler
Show data as a table
| Metric | Matplot++ | PlotJuggler |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 4,937 | 6,230 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 3 | 615 |
| Contributors | 50 | 5 |
| Forks | 389 | 826 |
Development activity
Commits per month to each default branch, last 12 complete months.
- Matplot++
- PlotJuggler
Show data as a table
| Month | Matplot++ | PlotJuggler |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 38 |
| May 2026 | 0 | 57 |
| Jun 2026 | 0 | 177 |
| Jul 2026 | 0 | 203 |
| Aug 2026 | 0 | 70 |
| Sep 2026 | 0 | 70 |
Side by side
| Attribute | Matplot++ | PlotJuggler |
|---|---|---|
| Description | C++ graphics library for data visualization with a MATLAB-like API. | Open-source Qt5 application to plot charts (based on Qwt). |
| Category | C++ visualization libraries & applications | C++ visualization libraries & applications |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Status | Maintained | Active |
| Latest release | v1.2.2 () | 4.0.0 () |
| Last commit | ||
| Repository created | ||
| Open issues | 81 | 43 |
| Install | – | – |
Which should you choose?
Popularity and activity are only part of the story. Consider which ecosystem you work in, the chart types and interactions you need, how much data you render, and whether the license fits your project. Both tool pages list alternatives if neither is quite right.
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Matplot++
C++ graphics library for data visualization with a MATLAB-like API.
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PlotJuggler
Open-source Qt5 application to plot charts (based on Qwt).