Rawgraphs
Rawgraphs is an open-source data visualization tool that operates as a web application and a GitHub repository (rawgraphs/rawgraphs-app).
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Rawgraphs is a free, open-source web tool that lets users create custom data visualizations by dragging and dropping data into chart templates, without needing to code.
Rawgraphs is an open-source data visualization tool that operates as a web application and a GitHub repository (rawgraphs/rawgraphs-app). It allows users to create custom vector-based charts from tabular data without writing code. The project was initiated by a group of researchers and designers, including Giorgio Caviglia, Michele Mauri, and others, originally at the DensityDesign Lab at Politecnico di Milano.
The tool is designed to bridge the gap between spreadsheet software and complex visualization libraries like D3.js. As of June 2026, Rawgraphs has 9,000 stars and 1,800 forks on GitHub, with the last commit to the main repository occurring on January 28, 2025. The project is maintained by a small core team and relies on community contributions and sponsorship.
No venture capital funding has been publicly disclosed; the project is supported through GitHub Sponsors. The tool's primary product is the free, browser-based Rawgraphs application, which outputs SVG or PNG files. There is no disclosed revenue, headcount, or formal corporate structure.
The project's development pace has slowed, with no new releases since late 2023. This has led to a growing backlog of issues and feature requests on GitHub. The project's future direction is uncertain, with the maintainers focusing on stability rather than new features.
The tool is used by journalists, designers, and data analysts for quick, exploratory visualization. Its market position is as a niche, free alternative to commercial tools like Tableau or Flourish. The interesting aspect now is the project's sustainability and whether it can attract new contributors to revive development.
Who buys this
- Journalists and newsroom data teams needing quick, publication-ready charts
- Graphic designers and information designers creating visual content for clients
- Data analysts and researchers exploring small-to-medium datasets
- Educators teaching data visualization fundamentals
- Non-profit organizations and advocacy groups producing data-driven reports
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Fully open-source with a permissive license, allowing free use, modification, and self-hosting
- Produces clean, scalable vector graphics (SVG) suitable for print and web publication
- Low barrier to entry: no registration, no coding, and works entirely in the browser
Watch for
- Project maintenance has slowed significantly; the last commit was January 2025 and the last release was November 2023, raising concerns about long-term viability
- No disclosed revenue, funding, or formal organizational structure, making the project's sustainability dependent on volunteer effort
- Limited scalability for large datasets or complex data transformations, which may push power users toward commercial alternatives
Key Information
- Industry
- Open Source Infra - Visualizations
- Founded
- 1986
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rawgraphs and what does it do?
Rawgraphs is a free, open-source web tool that lets users create custom data visualizations by dragging and dropping data into chart templates. It outputs SVG or PNG files and requires no coding, making it accessible for quick exploratory charting.
Is Rawgraphs free to use and open source?
Yes, Rawgraphs is completely free and open source with a permissive license. It operates as a browser-based web application and is hosted on GitHub. The project is supported through GitHub Sponsors and community contributions, with no venture capital funding.
Who typically uses Rawgraphs for data visualization?
Rawgraphs is used by journalists, graphic designers, data analysts, educators, and non-profit organizations. These users need quick, publication-ready charts from small-to-medium datasets without writing code, making it ideal for exploratory visualization and client work.
What are the main strengths of Rawgraphs?
Rawgraphs is fully open source, produces clean scalable SVG graphics suitable for print and web, and has a low barrier to entry. It requires no registration or coding and works entirely in the browser, allowing free use, modification, and self-hosting.
Is Rawgraphs still being maintained and updated?
Rawgraphs maintenance has slowed significantly. The last commit to the main GitHub repository was January 28, 2025, and the last release was November 2023. The project has a growing backlog of issues, and the future direction is uncertain.
How does Rawgraphs compare to tools like Tableau or Flourish?
Rawgraphs is a niche, free alternative to commercial tools like Tableau or Flourish. It excels at creating custom vector charts without coding but has limited scalability for large datasets and complex transformations. Its sustainability is uncertain due to slowed development.
Sources
- github.com — Repository details: 9k stars, 1.8k forks, last commit Jan 28 2025, last release Nov 2023, project structure and license
- github.com — Last commit to README.md on Jan 28 2025
- github.com — Last changelog entry dated Nov 8 2023
- github.com — GitHub Sponsors page indicating funding model