kepler.gl vs visx
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
Open-source web tool and React component for visualizing large geolocation datasets on maps.
Open source · MIT
A set of reusable React building blocks for drawing custom charts, built on d3 math.
The short answer
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
Choose visx if you need…
- React developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves
- Teams building their own reusable chart library on top of shared components
- Developers who already know d3 and want its math without its DOM update style
- Projects that want to keep bundle size small by importing only needed packages
Side-by-side
| kepler.gl | visx | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.1k | 21.1k |
| 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 | 5 months ago |
What each one is
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.
visx
visx is a collection of low-level visualization components for React. It uses d3 for the calculations and math, while React handles updating the page, so developers can build charts without writing d3 selection code by hand. You install only the small packages you need, such as shapes or scales, and combine them into your own charts.
Best for
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
visx
- React developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves
- Teams building their own reusable chart library on top of shared components
- Developers who already know d3 and want its math without its DOM update style
- Projects that want to keep bundle size small by importing only needed packages
Strengths
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
visx
- Components are low-level and unopinionated, so you control the final look
- Lets you use d3 math without managing d3 selections or enter/exit/update logic
- Modular packages mean you only include what you use
Not ideal for
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)
visx
- People who want ready-made charts with no coding, since visx provides building blocks rather than finished charts
- Projects that need built-in animation, because the README says visx deliberately does not include animation and suggests using existing React animation libraries instead
- Projects not using React, since the components are built for React 18 or 19
Trade-offs
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
visx
- Because it is low-level, you write more code than with a turnkey charting library
- No built-in animation; you must add a React animation library yourself if you want it
- Requires React 18 or 19 for the current v4 release, so older React projects need migration (see the migration guide)
Getting started
kepler.gl
Install kepler.gl modules
npm install --save @kepler.gl/components maplibre-glvisx
Install the packages used in the README example
npm install --save @visx/mock-data @visx/group @visx/shape @visx/scaleFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between kepler.gl and visx?
kepler.gl: Open-source web tool and React component for visualizing large geolocation datasets on maps. visx: A set of reusable React building blocks for drawing custom charts, built on d3 math. kepler.gl suits developers who want to add map-based data exploration to a react and redux app, while visx suits react developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves.
Are kepler.gl and visx free?
kepler.gl: Free and open source. visx: Free and open source.
Is kepler.gl or visx more popular?
visx has more GitHub stars (21.1k) 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 kepler.gl and visx?
Other options people compare them with include Plotly.js, deck.gl, G6, Turf, Recharts.
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.