# Matplotlib

> 2D plotting library.

- Category: [Python data visualization libraries](https://awesomedataviz.com/categories/python/)
- Website: https://matplotlib.org/
- Repository: https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib
- License: PSF-2.0
- Language: Python
- Status: Active (commits in the last 90 days)
- GitHub stars: 23,323
- Commits in the last 12 months: 2,023
- Contributors: 438
- Last commit: Oct 4, 2026
- Latest release: v3.11.2 (Sep 11, 2026)
- Install (PyPI): `pip install matplotlib`, 39.5M downloads per week

## Overview

Matplotlib is an open-source Python visualization library released under the PSF-2.0 license. Its GitHub repository has 23,323 stars, 8,503 forks, and 438 contributors. It is actively developed with 2,023 commits in the last 12 months. The latest release, v3.11.2, was published on Sep 11, 2026. On PyPI it is downloaded about 39.5M times per week.

## Alternatives

- [Streamlit](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/streamlit/): Framework for turning Python scripts into interactive data apps. (45.9K stars)
- [Dash](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/dash/): Framework for building data apps and dashboards in Python, built on Plotly.js and React. (24.4K stars)
- [Bokeh](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/bokeh/): Interactive Web Plotting for Python. (20.5K stars)
- [Taipy](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/taipy/): Python framework for building data and AI web applications with interactive charts and dashboards. (19.4K stars)
- [Plotly (Python)](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/plotly-python/): Interactive web based visualization built on top of plotly.js (18.8K stars)
- [PyGWalker](https://awesomedataviz.com/tools/pygwalker/): Turns dataframes into a drag-and-drop visual analysis UI in Jupyter, based on Graphic Walker. (16K stars)

## Comparisons

- [Matplotlib vs Streamlit](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/matplotlib-vs-streamlit/)
- [Dash vs Matplotlib](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/dash-vs-matplotlib/)
- [Bokeh vs Matplotlib](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/bokeh-vs-matplotlib/)
- [Matplotlib vs Taipy](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/matplotlib-vs-taipy/)
- [ggplot2 vs Matplotlib](https://awesomedataviz.com/compare/ggplot2-vs-matplotlib/)

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