deck.gl vs kepler.gl
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A GPU-accelerated framework for drawing large data sets as layers on maps and 3D views.
Open source · MIT
Open-source web tool and React component for visualizing large geolocation datasets on maps.
The short answer
Choose deck.gl if you need…
- Developers building interactive maps or geospatial dashboards over large data sets
- Teams who need GPU rendering for tens of thousands of points or shapes
- Python users who want to produce deck.gl maps through pydeck
- Projects that need custom rendering by extending core classes
Choose kepler.gl if you need…
- Developers who want to add map-based data exploration to a React and Redux app
- Analysts who need to explore large location datasets visually in the browser
- Teams that already use MapLibre or Mapbox basemaps
Side-by-side
| deck.gl | kepler.gl | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.7k | 12.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
deck.gl
deck.gl is a visualization framework that uses WebGL2 and WebGPU to draw large data sets quickly in the browser. You feed it an array of data objects, choose layers such as icons, polygons or text, and view them through map, first-person or orthographic views. It is used by developers who need interactive maps and charts over big data, and it also has a Python wrapper called pydeck.
kepler.gl
Kepler.gl is a browser-based application for exploring large geographic datasets on interactive maps. It is also a React component that developers can embed into their own apps, with state managed by Redux. According to the README, it can render millions of points and perform spatial aggregations on the fly.
Best for
deck.gl
- Developers building interactive maps or geospatial dashboards over large data sets
- Teams who need GPU rendering for tens of thousands of points or shapes
- Python users who want to produce deck.gl maps through pydeck
- Projects that need custom rendering by extending core classes
kepler.gl
- Developers who want to add map-based data exploration to a React and Redux app
- Analysts who need to explore large location datasets visually in the browser
- Teams that already use MapLibre or Mapbox basemaps
Strengths
deck.gl
- Built for GPU rendering of large data sets
- Large catalog of tested layers and flexible APIs for customization
- Open-source under the MIT license, part of the OpenJS Foundation's vis.gl project
kepler.gl
- Built on MapLibre GL and deck.gl, which the README says support high-performance rendering
- Can be embedded as a React component and is described as highly customizable
- Released under the MIT license
Not ideal for
deck.gl
- People wanting a finished tool without coding, since it is a framework for building visualizations
- Simple static charts with small data, where a lighter charting library is easier
- Users on browsers without WebGL2 support, since rendering depends on it
kepler.gl
- People who need a no-code tool with no setup: the README focuses on npm installs and embedding, and the hosted demo is the easiest path for non-developers
- Projects that cannot use Node 20 or newer, since the README says older versions are not supported or tested
- Projects needing a stable release: the latest release listed is an alpha (v3.3.0-alpha.19)
Trade-offs
deck.gl
- Requires programming knowledge and is not a point-and-click tool
- Relies on WebGL2 or WebGPU support in the user's browser
- The README is truncated here, so detailed setup requirements are not fully confirmed
kepler.gl
- The latest release is an alpha version, so APIs may change
- Setup requires familiarity with npm, React, and Redux for embedding
- Default basemaps depend on MapLibre or Mapbox configuration, which the README explains only briefly
Getting started
deck.gl
Install the npm module
npm install deck.glInstall the Python package
pip install pydeckkepler.gl
Install kepler.gl modules
npm install --save @kepler.gl/components maplibre-glFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between deck.gl and kepler.gl?
deck.gl: A GPU-accelerated framework for drawing large data sets as layers on maps and 3D views. kepler.gl: Open-source web tool and React component for visualizing large geolocation datasets on maps. deck.gl suits developers building interactive maps or geospatial dashboards over large data sets, while kepler.gl suits developers who want to add map-based data exploration to a react and redux app.
Are deck.gl and kepler.gl free?
deck.gl: Free and open source. kepler.gl: Free and open source.
Is deck.gl or kepler.gl more popular?
deck.gl has more GitHub stars (14.7k) than kepler.gl (12.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to deck.gl and kepler.gl?
Other options people compare them with include Plotly.js, visx, G6, plotly.py, G2.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.