RAWGraphs

What RAWGraphs does

RAWGraphs is an open-source data visualization framework that enables non-programmers to create complex, uncommon charts (approximately 30 built-in visual models including alluvial diagrams, Sankey, Voronoi tessellations, parallel coordinates, streamgraphs, and circular dendrograms) and export them as editable SVG files for design workflows. The product is built as a React.js web application where all data processing happens client-side in the user's browser, meaning no data is transmitted to or stored on any server. The platform is composed of three components: the main web application (app.rawgraphs.io), the JavaScript library (RAWGraphs Core) for programmatic rendering, and a community-contributed custom charts ecosystem distributed through GitHub and NPM. A proprietary .rawgraphs project file format packages data, mapping configuration, and chart code into a single shareable artifact.

The project is jointly maintained by three organizations: DensityDesign Research Lab at Politecnico di Milano (the originating research entity since 2012), Calibro (a Milan design studio co-founded by Giorgio Uboldi and Matteo Azzi in 2015), and Inmagik (a Bergamo-based web development studio that joined in 2019). It operates under an Apache 2.0 license since January 2017. Because the core product is free with no registration, RAWGraphs monetizes indirectly through four streams: individual donations and GitHub Sponsors, a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Platinum, Gold, Silver), paid educational courses and webinars, and bespoke enterprise services including in-house training and custom development of branded RAWGraphs deployments.

Its user base is global and horizontal, spanning designers and data visualization professionals, academic researchers, students and educators, journalists and media organizations, and business users, with notable usage case studies at De Tijd, Nature, Wired UK and Italia, Chicago Booth Review, ESPN Creative Studio, Amnesty International, and EMERGENCY NGO. The project received the 2024 Information is Beautiful "Test of Time" Award and is associated with European Newspaper Design Awards in 2015 and 2016, underscoring its standing in the data journalism and design communities.

Name

RAWGraphs

Legal name

RAWGraphs

Website

https://rawgraphs.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAWGraphs is a free, open-source (Apache 2.0) web-based data visualization framework that lets non-programmers create roughly 30 complex chart types and export editable SVGs, serving designers, researchers, journalists, educators, and business users globally and monetizing through donations, sponsorships, courses, and enterprise custom development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Data Visualization Software

NAICS

Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Whiteboards, Annotation & Collaborative Canvas Tools (EDAFAGAD)

Keywords

• Open source visualization
• Data visualization framework
• Vector chart exports
• Custom chart libraries
• Browser-based data visualization

Headquarters

HQ city

Hereford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations through GitHub Sponsors (one-time or recurring) and organizational sponsorships. A crowdfunding campaign in 2019 raised sufficient funds for RAWGraphs 2.0 development. Over 350 donations from 40 countries received through the Indiegogo campaign.
2. Educational Courses and Workshops: Webinars and in-person workshops teaching RAWGraphs usage. Past courses include webinars (2-3 hours) and 2-day workshops at institutions like HKB Bern. Course fees help sustain the project.
3. In-house Training: Custom workshops developed for organizations and companies. Ad-hoc didactical activities created for specific organizational needs.
4. Enterprise Custom Development: Creating specific charts or developing custom versions of RAWGraphs for enterprise clients. Includes custom logo, colors, fonts, visualization presets and other enterprise features.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

RAWGraphs is a free, open-source data visualization framework that provides a browser-based web application for creating complex, customizable charts without coding. It offers almost 30 visual models (Sankey, alluvial, Voronoi, streamgraph, parallel coordinates, etc.), processes data entirely client-side for privacy, and exports publication-ready SVG vector files. The platform is extended by a JavaScript library (RAWGraphs Core) for programmatic use and by community-contributed custom charts loadable at runtime.

Product overview

RAWGraphs is a free, open-source data visualization framework consisting of a web application (RAWGraphs App), a JavaScript library (RAWGraphs Core), and a collection of approximately 30 built-in chart types (RAWGraphs Charts). The platform is extended by Custom Charts—community-contributed visualizations that can be loaded dynamically at runtime. Projects are saved in .rawgraphs format containing data, mapping, and chart code. All data processing occurs client-side in the browser with no server-side storage. The system produces vector outputs (SVG) optimized for editing in professional design tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RAWGraphs App Free, open-source web application for creating custom vector-based data visualizations. Users load data, select from almost 30 chart types, map data dimensions to visual variables via a drag-and-drop interface, and export as SVG or raster images. All processing occurs client-side in the browser with no server-side data storage. Targeted at designers, researchers, journalists, and educators.
• RAWGraphs Core JavaScript library that simplifies and modularizes the development of charts and the RAWGraphs workflow. Can be used independently to implement RAWGraphs rendering capabilities from JavaScript code without the full web interface. Targeted at developers who want to embed RAWGraphs-style visualizations in their own applications.
• Educational Courses and Workshops Paid webinars and in-person workshops teaching RAWGraphs usage. Past courses include 2-3 hour introduction webinars and 2-day intensive workshops delivered at institutions such as HKB Bern. Targeted at individuals, academic staff, and organizations seeking training.
• Enterprise Custom Development and In-House Training Bespoke services for organizations, including custom chart development, branded versions of RAWGraphs (custom logo, colors, fonts, visualization presets, hosting), and in-house training programs. Targeted at enterprises and organizations needing a tailored visualization tool or team upskilling (e.g., Hera annual meeting 2022 training).

Quantifiable outcome

• Won 'Test of Time' Award at 2024 Information is Beautiful Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CalibrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultidisciplinary design studio (founded 2015) responsible for design, development and maintenance. Co-creator of RAWGraphs alongside DensityDesign.
• InmagikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeb development studio that joined the RAWGraphs team in 2019. Responsible for development, technical architecture and maintenance of the platform.
• DensityDesign Research LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Lab at Politecnico di Milano that originated and leads the RAWGraphs project. Primary maintainer responsible for design, development and strategic direction. Project started here in 2012.
• Information is Beautiful AwardsminorOthersAwarding body that recognized RAWGraphs with the 2024 Test of Time Award.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• D3.js: Foundational open-source JavaScript library for custom data visualizations on the web. RAWGraphs is positioned as a no-code layer above D3-style workflows for users who cannot code.
• Vega / Vega-Lite: Open-source declarative visualization grammar that underpins many interactive web viz tools. Comparable to RAWGraphs' core charting engine as an open-source alternative for technical users.
• Observable: Browser-based reactive notebook platform for data visualization with JavaScript/D3. Targets technical users and overlaps with RAWGraphs' developer/designer audience, especially with custom charts.

Direct peers

• Datawrapper: No-code chart, map, and table tool widely used by newsrooms. Directly competes for RAWGraphs' journalist and editor user base, with a freemium model and strong media brand.
• Flourish: Browser-based data visualization platform offering templated and custom charts for journalists and enterprises. Closest direct peer to RAWGraphs, with a more commercial SaaS model and broader template library.
• Infogram: No-code online chart, map, and infographic maker for editors, marketers, and analysts. Competes with RAWGraphs in the same horizontal visualization segment with a more commercial SaaS model.
• Plotly (Chart Studio): Provides interactive chart-building tools and open-source Python/R/JS libraries (Plotly.js, Dash). Competes in the no-code and code-friendly data visualization space overlapping with RAWGraphs.

Broad incumbents

• Tableau Public: Free public-facing version of Tableau, the dominant enterprise BI/visualization platform. Overlaps with RAWGraphs on free, web-based visualization but offers a much broader BI feature set.
• Canva: Mass-market design platform with growing data visualization and infographic features. Increasingly overlaps with RAWGraphs' designer segment as it adds chart types and SVG export.
• Microsoft Power BI: Enterprise BI platform with embedded visualization and recently added AI-driven chart generation. Targets many of the same designers, journalists, and analysts that adopt RAWGraphs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rawgraphs
• GitHubgithub.com/rawgraphs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RAWGraphs