Best OpenGL Alternatives & Competitors in 2025

Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide low level...

Key SDL features:

Cross-Platform Compatibility Simplified Development Community Support Extensible

Open Source

Vulkan is a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in a wide variety of devices from PCs and consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.

Key Vulkan features:

Low-Level Control Cross-Platform Support Explicit Synchronization Better Multithreading

Open Source

Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

Key Unreal Engine features:

High-Quality Graphics Blueprint Visual Scripting Cross-Platform Support Large and Active Community

The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

Key Unity features:

Cross-Platform Compatibility Extensive Asset Store User-Friendly Interface Strong Community Support

Open Source

Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

Key Godot Engine features:

Open Source Platform Support Scene System GDScript

Open Source

GLFW is an Open Source, multi-platform library for OpenGL, OpenGL ES and Vulkan development on the...

Key GLFW features:

Cross-Platform Support Open Source Simple API Community and Documentation

Open Source

Cross-platform, open-source game development library in C.

Key raylib features:

Simple and Easy to Use Cross-Platform Support Lightweight Modular Design

Open Source

WebGL is a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 3D computer graphics and 2D graphics within any compatible web browser.

Key WebGL features:

Cross-Platform Compatibility Hardware Acceleration Rich Graphics Community and Resources

SFML provides a simple interface to the various components of your PC, to ease the development of games and multimedia applications. It is composed of five modules: system, window, graphics, audio and network.

Key SFML features:

User-Friendly API Cross-Platform Support Module-Based Hardware Acceleration

Open Source

Apple's low-level, hardware-accelerated 3D graphic and compute shader API.

Key Metal features:

High Performance Unified API Platform Optimization Reduced Overhead

Allegro 4 and Allegro 5 are cross-platform, libraries mainly aimed at video game and multimedia...

Key Allegro features:

Cross-Platform Support Open Source Comprehensive Documentation Strong Community Support

Unity is the ultimate game development platform. Use Unity to build high-quality 3D and 2D games, deploy them across mobile, desktop, VR/AR, consoles or the Web, and connect with loyal and enthusiastic players and customers.

Key Unity3D features:

Cross-Platform Compatibility Rich Asset Store Intuitive Interface Strong Community Support

The most powerful game development platform is now available to everyone. Full engine source code.

Key CryENGINE features:

High-Quality Graphics Real-Time Lighting Sandbox Editor Integrated Physics Engine

Open Source