OpenGL Alternative & Similar Software – (Top 10 Best)
OpenGL is an acronym of the Open Graphics Library. It serves as an application programming interface (API). Through this, you can easily render 3D as well as 2D graphics. It was first released in the year 1992. Also, this is developed and distributed by the Khronos Group.
The main feature of the software is that it is specifically used to interact Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). It will help you in achieving hardware-accelerated rendering. So, it will surely increase the speed of rendering in your system. Plus, it will define output as well as the layout of each function. Also, it has continuously ongoing development. So, the newer versions are released regularly. Because of this, there won’t be any problem for you. Moreover, you will have new features and the latest technology pretty soon. It is also one of the most efficient and productive software available over the web.
Along with the above features, OpenGL is available for Windows devices only. But, it has support to almost any GPU (General Processing Unit). There is another great feature in the software that it has support to different languages which makes it a cross-language software. Plus, it has support for extensions. Although it is a feature-rich software you can also install extensions in it from a wide range as per your requirement. So, you can expand the feature list or have any specific feature for your purpose.
OpenGL
List Of Best OpenGL Alternative Software.
DirectX is a software that serves as a collection of application programming interfaces (API). It helps to handle several different tasks related to video, multimedia, and especially games. It was first released in the year 1995. Also, this software is developed and distributed by Microsoft. It is used in a lot of video games as well as Xbox console development. The main feature is that it is best for graphics and visualization. Because of this feature, it is also heavily used in CAD/CAM engineering. It offers you a simple development kit (SDK). And, it consists of documentation, headers, and runtime libraries which are specifically used in coding. Plus, this SDK is available for free to download for the users. Moreover, it also provides you with a code of a lot of SDK examples. Other than that, it has also changed the logo once since its first release.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Offers Collection of API to Handle Different Tasks.
- Provides Free SDK with Support to Directly Manage Resources.
CONS:
- Not Available for Multiple Platforms.
Vulkan is a software that offers services as well as features of 3D Graphics and Computing API. It is efficient in handling the high-performance 3D graphics. It was first released in the year 2016. But, soon it became one of the user's favorite. It is only because of the features and functions which are available in it. Also, this software is developed and distributed by the Khronos Group. The main feature of the software is that it will offer you higher performance as well as balanced CPU or GPU usage of your system. Moreover, it has support to parallel tasking in it which is a pretty rare feature to find. Other than 3D graphics, it can even enable you to render 2D graphics as well. It solely depends upon your requirements. Plus, it also allows you to give work among the different multiple CPU cores efficiently and easily.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Cross-Platform Availability with High-Quality Performance.
- Support for Rendering of Both 2D & 3D Graphics.
CONS:
- Slows Down System a Bit.
WebGL is a utility tool that is made up of Javascript API. It is specifically designed to render 3D as well as 2D graphics. It was first released in the year 2011. Also, this software is developed and distributed by the Khronos WebGL Working Group. The main feature of the software is that it enables you to render graphics within any compatible browser with the use of just plugins. Moreover, it is also wholly integrated with the web standards that are used by the industry or professionals. It also allows using GPU accelerated use of image processing that will increase the speed of software. Other than that, the elements which are available in the software can easily be mixed with the other elements of HTML. And, it can be composited with the page background or page itself. This software is based upon OpenGLÂ ES 2.0 with an API for 3D graphics.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility and Based on OpenGL ES 2.0.
- Support to 2D and 3D Graphics Rendering with Simple Workflow.
CONS:
- Doesn't Offer Desktop Software.
SDL is a library that is specially designed for software development. It is a cross-platform tool that is specially used by software developers. It was first released in the year 1998. Also, this software was originally developed by Sam Latinga. But, nowadays it is developed by the SDL community. The main feature of the tools is that it will provide you with a hardware abstraction layer for the multimedia hardware components in your device. It is also used to write high quality & performance computer games and multimedia applications. These applications can run on different operating systems which are mostly used by the users. Moreover, it will manage input devices, videos, CD ROM, audio, timers, shared object loading, threads, and networking. So, you don't have to worry about those things at all. Other than that, it provides specific functions that games need to access the operating system.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Free and Open-Source with Cross-Platform Compatibility.
- Support for High-Performance Multimedia Apps and Games.
CONS:
- Doesn't Support Rendering of Graphics.
GLFW is a tool that serves as a utility library that is used with OpenGL. GLFW is an acronym of the Graphics Library Framework. It is a pretty lightweight software. So, it won't slow down your PC a bit. Also, this tool is developed and distributed by The GLFW Development Team. The main feature of this tool is that it will enable the programmers to create as well as manage windows. Plus, they will also be able to handle OpenGL contexts, keyboard, mouse, and joystick input. Moreover, it follows the open-source approach which means that you can access its source code pretty easily. Also, you can customize it in your own way if you want to. It is licensed under zlib/libpng license. Other than that, it also offers you to use multiple video modes as well as monitors. It is pretty useful for OpenGL Application development.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility and Lightweight Software.
- Offers to Create and Manage Windows and OpenGL Context.
CONS:
- Missing a Few Features.
Allegro is a tool that provides you with the services and features of a software library. It especially made and used for video game development. It was first released in the year 1990. Also, this software is developed and distributed by Allegro Developers. The main feature of the software is that this library includes support for 2D graphics, text & audio output, image manipulation, MIDI music, and timers. Moreover, this library is specifically aimed at multimedia programming as well as video game development which we mentioned earlier. There are a lot of tasks that you can perform like accepting user input, drawing images, loading data, playing sounds and creating windows, much more. But, don't misunderstand it as a game engine because it's not. And, you are free to structure and design your application as per your choice. It also has an intuitive and user-friendly interface which is pretty easy to use.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- User-Friendly and Intuitive Interface with Cross-Platform Compatibility.
- Support for Image Manipulation with Audio & Text Output.
CONS:
- Occurrence of Lagging.
CrossBrowdy is a utility tool that serves as a multimedia javascript framework for users. It is free as well as open-source software. So, it means that you are allowed to access its source code. Plus, you can even customize the source code if you want to. Also, it is developed and distributed by Joan Alba Maldonado. The main feature of the software is that it follows WORA- Write Once, Run Anywhere approach. It means that you can write the program at one device then you can run it on any other device you want. Moreover, it also allows you to create a new application or improve an old one. Both of these tasks will be done efficiently. Other than that, it can also easily accept any other framework as well as the library. It is pretty simple as well as easy to use software with a lot of features.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Simple and Easy To Use and Make Cross-Platform Games.
- Support to Write Once, Run Anywhere Approach.
CONS:
- Doesn't Support Cross-Platform Availability.
PyOpenGL is a utility tool that allows you to bind Python with OpenGL as well as other related APIs. It runs on almost every version of Python language. Also, this library is developed and distributed by the Python Software Foundation. The main feature of the tool is that it uses standard ctypes library in order to create the binding. Moreover, it provides you with a liberal BSD-Style Open-Source License. Plus, it has support for different APIs. Some of them are given below:
- GLES.
- OpenGL.
- GLU.
- GLUT.
- GLE 3.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Easy To Install with Cross-Platform Support.
- Support for Different Libraries and APIs.
CONS:
- Doesn't Provide Advanced Features.
Metal is a software that allows you to obtain accelerated graphics. It will provide you with direct access to Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). So, you can maximize the graphics for a high-quality experience. Moreover, it enables you to compute and increase the potential of iOS, tvOS, and macOS applications. The main feature of the software is that it will provide you with low-overhead & approachable architecture which will come with pre-compiled GPUs. Plus, it offers you with fine resource control. So, you are able to control and manage the resources pretty effectively. Other than that, it also has support for multithreading. It means that it enables you to run different programs simultaneously. It will save a lot of your time. Plus, it has GPU-driven Compute Encoding through which you can move beyond just the rendering passes. The interface of the software is also pretty intuitive, user friendly, and easy to use.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Cross-Platform Software with Intuitive and Easy To Use Interface.
- Support for GPU-Driven Compute Encoding and Multi-Threading.
CONS:
- No Windows Version Available.
Crystal Space is a framework which is specially used to develop 3D applications. It is also mainly used as a game engine by the users but it is more than that. It was first released in the year 1997. Also, this software is developed and distributed by Jorrit Tyberghein et al. The main feature of the software is that it is free as well as open-source software. So, you can download and install without any cost. Plus, it enables you to access its source code. And, if you want to customize it then you can even do that too. Moreover, this framework can not only be used for games but it also works efficiently for any type of 3D visualizations. It is licensed under GNU General Public License. Other than that, it has support to plugins too. There are a number of plugins available for different purposes.
★★★★★
More details +PROS:
- Free and Open-Source with Intuitive and Easy To Use Interface.
- Support for Game development and 3D Visualizations.
CONS:
- Doesn't Offer a Mobile Application.
We hope you all like these OpenGL alternatives. If you believe we missed any important alternative to OpenGL software then don’t forget to share it with us. We will definitely review it and add that OpenGL alternatives software into the list.
