Matplotlib vs GnuPlot

Struggling to choose between Matplotlib and GnuPlot? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Matplotlib is a Photos & Graphics solution with tags like plotting, graphs, charts, visualization, python.

It boasts features such as 2D plotting, Publication quality output, Support for many plot types (line, bar, scatter, histogram etc), Extensive customization options, IPython/Jupyter notebook integration, Animations and interactivity, LaTeX support for mathematical typesetting and pros including Mature and feature-rich, Large user community and extensive documentation, Highly customizable, Integrates well with NumPy, Pandas and SciPy, Output can be saved to many file formats.

On the other hand, GnuPlot is a Science & Engineering product tagged with plotting, graphs, data-visualization, 2d-plots, 3d-plots.

Its standout features include 2D and 3D plotting, Supports various plot types like line, scatter, histogram, boxplot, contour, Data fitting and manipulation, Publication quality output, Scriptable using its own domain specific language, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Powerful and flexible plotting capabilities, High quality output, Cross-platform, Extensive documentation and large user community.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Matplotlib

Matplotlib

Matplotlib is a comprehensive 2D plotting library for Python that allows users to create a wide variety of publication-quality graphs, charts, and visualizations. It integrates well with NumPy and Pandas data structures.

Categories:
Photos & Graphics Data Visualization
plotting graphs charts visualization python

Matplotlib Features

  1. 2D plotting
  2. Publication quality output
  3. Support for many plot types (line, bar, scatter, histogram etc)
  4. Extensive customization options
  5. IPython/Jupyter notebook integration
  6. Animations and interactivity
  7. LaTeX support for mathematical typesetting

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Mature and feature-rich

Large user community and extensive documentation

Highly customizable

Integrates well with NumPy, Pandas and SciPy

Output can be saved to many file formats

Cons

Steep learning curve

Plotting code can be verbose

3D plotting support is limited

Cannot do web visualization (unlike Bokeh or Plotly)

GnuPlot

GnuPlot

GnuPlot is a free, open-source graphing utility that can produce publication-quality 2D and 3D plots. It supports various plot types like line, scatter, histogram, boxplot, and contour plots. GnuPlot can also fit and manipulate data.

Categories:
Science & Engineering Data Visualization
plotting graphs data-visualization 2d-plots 3d-plots

GnuPlot Features

  1. 2D and 3D plotting
  2. Supports various plot types like line, scatter, histogram, boxplot, contour
  3. Data fitting and manipulation
  4. Publication quality output
  5. Scriptable using its own domain specific language

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Powerful and flexible plotting capabilities

High quality output

Cross-platform

Extensive documentation and large user community

Cons

Steep learning curve

Command line interface may not be intuitive for beginners

Limited interactivity compared to GUI programs

Customizing plots requires learning scripting language