# Cesium

> WebGL 3D globes and maps.

- Category: [JavaScript map & geospatial visualization libraries](https://awesomedataviz.com/categories/javascript-maps/)
- Website: https://cesium.com/cesiumjs/
- Repository: https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium
- License: Apache-2.0
- Language: JavaScript
- Status: Active (commits in the last 90 days)
- GitHub stars: 15,798
- Commits in the last 12 months: 3,159
- Contributors: 311
- Last commit: Oct 2, 2026
- Latest release: 1.146 (Oct 1, 2026)
- Install (npm): `npm install cesium`, 570.1K downloads per week
- Topics: Maps & geospatial visualization, GPU-accelerated & WebGL visualization

## Overview

Cesium is an open-source JavaScript mapping library released under the Apache-2.0 license. Its GitHub repository has 15,798 stars, 3,882 forks, and 311 contributors. It is actively developed with 3,159 commits in the last 12 months. The latest release, 1.146, was published on Oct 1, 2026. On npm it is downloaded about 570.1K times per week.

## Alternatives

- [Leaflet](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/leaflet/): JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. (45.7K stars)
- [Deck.gl](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/deck-gl/): WebGL framework for visual exploratory data analysis of large datasets. (14.6K stars)
- [OpenLayers](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/openlayers/): Library for interactive web maps with support for many data sources, formats and projections. (12.6K stars)
- [MapLibre GL JS](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/maplibre-gl-js/): WebGL-based interactive vector tile maps in the browser; community fork of Mapbox GL JS. (11.8K stars)
- [react-map-gl](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/react-map-gl/): React components for MapLibre GL JS and Mapbox GL JS, maintained by vis.gl. (8.5K stars)
- [Potree](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/potree/): WebGL point cloud viewer for large datasets such as LiDAR scans. (5.6K stars)

## Comparisons

- [Cesium vs Leaflet](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/cesium-vs-leaflet/)
- [Cesium vs Deck.gl](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/cesium-vs-deck-gl/)
- [Cesium vs OpenLayers](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/cesium-vs-openlayers/)
- [Cesium vs MapLibre GL JS](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/cesium-vs-maplibre-gl-js/)

Source: https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/cesium/ · Data updated 2026-10-04 · Content: CC BY 4.0, Awesome Dataviz (https://awesomedataviz.com).