7 Best Free Open Source Graphing Software For Windows

Here is a list of best free open source graphing software for Windows. These software are similar to standard graphing software through which you can draw various types of 2D and 3D graphs. The main difference is that these are open source which means you can download and make modifications to their source codes.

Using these graphing software, you can plot graphs of various types such as Line graph, Scatter Graph, Vertical Bar Graph, etc. You can also use various types of equations, functions, coordinates, etc. to draw graphs. In most software, the process of creating a graph is straightforward as you just need to provide the right equation, coordinate, etc. to get the respective graph. However, some of these are quite complex as they need multiple equations and commands to draw the right graph. In these software, you also get various analyzing tools to analyze graphs and output values. Plus, fully-fledged scientific calculators to perform complex calculations are also present in some software. Plus, various common but essential tools like Zoom in/out, Pan, Graph lines, etc. are also available. After plotting the graph, you can save it in formats like PDF, EMF, PNG, SWF, etc.

My Favorite Open Source Graphing Software For Windows:

GraphCalc is my favorite software because it can plot both 2D and 3D graphs using various mathematical equations. Plus, its ability to draw graphs of multiple equations on the same plane is also impressive. Plotting graphs using it is also comparatively easier than other similar software.

You can also check out lists of best free Line Graph Maker, Linear Equation Grapher, and Scientific Graph software for Windows.

GraphCalc

GraphCalc is a free open source graphing software for Windows. Using it, you can draw both 2D and 3D graphs of Linear, Cubic, Trigonometric, Quadratic, etc. equations. Additionally, it also provides a scientific calculator to help you solve entered equations.

This software comes with dedicated 2D and 3D graph sections. To draw a 2D graph, go to the Graph 1 tab and enter equations on available y(t) fields to immediately get the respective graph on the XY-plane. Each y(t) function is coded with a different color, to help you quickly identify the graph of a specific equation. At any time, you can change the color of a function from the Graph options. The output graph doesn’t have any markings, so to know coordinate of a point, you need to place the cursor at that place.

Similar to the 2D graph, you can also draw 3D graphs using the 3D graph tab. In this tab, you can enter equations by accessing the 3D Graph menu > Options. At maximum, you can plot graphs of 6 different equations. Some other settings like the selection of colors, range, and axis can also be changed. After the setup, press OK button to view the 3D graphs. You can easily rotate and pan the graph through mouse to view it from all angles. After obtaining the final graph, you can save it in a PDF document.

SciDAVis

SciDAVis is a free open source graphing software for Windows. Using it, you can easily plot graphs of various types like Line graph, Scatter Graph, Vertical Bar Graph, Horizontal Bar Graph, etc. Along with standard 2D graphs, it can also plot 3D graphs of four types namely Trajectory, Bars, Scatter, and Ribbons.

In order to plot graphs, first, you need to enter the coordinates in the X and Y fields of the table. In the table, you also get a Type menu from where you can change the coordinate format to Automatic (E) or Scientific (e) values. A Formula Menu is also present in the Table to enter formulas. Now, to get the graph, just go to the Plot menu and select a graph type from various available ones to get the desired graph. To get a proper look at the graph, you can use Zoom In/Out and Best-Fit tools. After viewing the graph, you can save the graph as BMP, EPS, GIF, PDF, JPG, etc. formats.

In this software, you also get various analysis tools like Interpolate, FFT, Differentiate Integrate, etc. Plus, for 3D graphs, it provides various additional tools to change the orientation of the 3D graph such as front grid, back grid, floor grid, reset rotation, etc.

Veusz

Veusz is a free open source graphing software for Windows. In it, you can plot graphs of both 2D and 3D types. It uses coordinate files as input of CSV, TXT, HDF5, and FITS formats to plot graphs. However, if you want to plot a graph based on equation, then you can directly specify your equation along with values of its variables to plot graphs.

Now to plot graphs using the coordinate file, first, you need to combine coordinate fields (X, Y, and Z) with the coordinate values of the coordinate file using the Properties field.  After that, select the type of graph that you want to plot from its toolbar such as Points, Bar Chart, Function To Data, Function, Vector Field, Box Plots, etc. As soon as values of coordinate column get attached with the coordinates, you can immediately view the resultant graph. The resultant graph can easily be exported as SVG, PDF, EMF, PNG, JPG, BMP, etc. formats.

In this software, you can also create fully colored graphs by specifying different colors to different areas of the graph using the Color menu. Besides this, it also lets you add 3D elements, grid, label, shapes, etc. to existing graphs.

Graph

Graph is another free open source graphing software for Windows. It is used to draw graphs of various mathematical functions and equations like Linear Equations, Trigonometric Functions, Cubic Equations, etc. In it, you can draw multiple graphs on the same XY-plane by entering two or more absolutely different equations. In case of multiple equations, you can assign a color scheme for each equation to quickly identify graph lines of a particular equation. Besides color coding, there are some other handy features in it like Shading (to shade different parts of the graph), Series (to add colored dot on the graph), Label (to add text), Relation (to add relations between equations), etc.

Now, to plot graphs using equations, go to Functions menu and select Insert function. In Insert Function, you get a Function equation field in which you can enter one equation at a time. Color coding option is also available in this menu, so select a color for the entered equation and click on OK button to view the graph on XY plane. Repeat the same process again to plot multiple graphs by entering more equations. After completion, you can save the final graph in various formats like SVG, BMP, JPG, PNG, etc.

Xcas

Xcas is a free and open source computer algebra system for Windows that can also be used as a graphing software. Using it, you can plot graphs of various mathematical expressions related to Trigonometry, Exponential, Rational Expression, Real Expression, etc. Plus, it also provides an additional Cmds menu to add logical commands to the equation. In the Cmds menu, you get multiple commands like hbitand, bitor, re, im, abs, cross, and more representing Constants, Integers, Intervales, etc. of equations. After creating an equation using the expressions and commands, go to its graph menu to plot various different types of graphs such as 3D, Curved, Surface, Sequence, etc. After plotting the graph, you can either save all the parameters along with the graph as SWF file or you can only export graph parameters as xcas text, maple, text, mupad text, etc. files.

Apart from graphs, you can also use it to create advanced interactive geometry spreadsheet and as a high-end graphics calculator. Overall, it is a complex open source graphing software for advanced users.

gnuplot

gnuplot is a completely free and open source graph plotting software for Windows. It is DOS based graphing software through which you can plot both 2D and 3D graphs using expressions, functions, and equations. In terms of expressions, you can use complex number, unary, binary, logical operator, etc. to draw graphs. If you want to draw graphs using functions, then you need to use either Elementary (absolute, integer, floor, ceiling, sqrt, etc.) or Special (inv error, gamma, igamma, lgamma, etc.) functions.

To plot graphs, you need to enter the command in this format plot [-10:10] sin(x), atan(x), cos(atan(x)). After entering the command, just press enter to get the graph. Unlike its interface, the output graph is open in a graphical interface. From its interface, you can analyze the output graph line of one variable at a time by hiding graph lines of other variables. After analyzing the graph, you can save it as EMF file and as PDF.

Functy

Functy is the next free open source graphing software for Windows. Using it you can plot 3D graphs of cartesian, spherical, and curve functions. In this software, you don’t get standard 3D graph, instead, it provides graphs in form of 3D drawings covered with various colors without showing the internal graph structure.

To create a graph, first, you need to enter a function on its Function field. After that, specify the control variables if any in it Control variables field. Now, go to the range field and specify the minimum and maximum coordinates values within which you want your graph. Lastly, click on the green tick button to view the graph. You can move and rotate the graph with ease to view all angles and sides of the graph. Besides this, a handy Visual settings section is also provided by it from where you can enable features like shaders, shadow, focus blur, spin, invert background, etc. The final graph can be saved as animation (PLY and STL) as well as in standard graph formats like PNG, VDB, PTL, etc. formats.