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  1. Ogma vs D3

Ogma vs D3.js: which graph visualization library for your application?

Seeking an alternative to D3.js for graph visualization in JavaScript? D3.js is a versatile open-source data visualization library, and is well-known for crafting any kind of data visualizations with a high control on styling via its DOM-based API. Ogma by Linkurious provides a purpose-built solution for interactive, high-performance graph visualization — making it possible to develop fast, scalable, and visually simplified complex graphs, with enterprise-level support.

Whether you are developing a fraud detection tool, cyber threat analysis dashboard, or knowledge graph application, Ogma is built to accommodate modern development and business needs.

D3-graph vs Ogma

A different approach

D3.js is a toolbox for manipulating the DOM via data. It’s extremely flexible but requires strong technical expertise and tons of code to create advanced visualizations, particularly graphs.

Ogma, on the other hand, is specifically designed for the visual analytics of graph data. It comes with out-of-the-box features (layouts, styles, interactions, WebGL, etc.) to save considerable time on projects.

“What made the difference for us in choosing Ogma was the higher-level abstract, programmatic API that came out-of-the-box along with the responsiveness of the support and technical team which was a huge win.”

— Software Developer, Cisco

Why choose Ogma over D3.js?

Faster time-to-market & development speed

D3.js offers unmatched flexibility, but that comes at the cost of complexity. Ogma abstracts away the low-level rendering logic, providing out-of-the-box graph features, interaction patterns, and GPU acceleration. With Ogma, you spend less time developing from scratch and more time creating value.

TLDR;

Ogma helps you go to market faster — without reinventing the wheel.

Higher ROI & lower total cost of ownership

Ogma drastically reduces the engineering hours required for building and maintaining graph visualizations. D3.js provides a low-level API that requires reinventing the wheel and complex testing of the visualization is required when combining several features. With Ogma’s stable high-level APIs, bundled graph features, and quick professional support right from our engineers, your team will be free to focus on addressing core business issues. Ogma’s commercial license offers access to free updates throughout the subscription period.

TLDR;

D3.js is free — but development time isn't.

Enterprise support & documentation

Ogma comes with dedicated customer support from the creators of the library, SLAs guarantee response times, and optional training and consulting. No more struggling with GitHub issues or Stack Overflow for a solution.

Easily onboard new developers with clear guides, tutorials, code playground, and live examples. Our documentation is clear and exhaustive. You can speed up integration using boilerplates and examples for popular web frameworks such as React, Angular, Vue.js and more.

TLDR;

Both D3.js and Ogma documentations stand out, with Ogma you’ll also get professional support.

Scalability & performance

Unlike D3.js, which struggles to cope with big, dynamic graph datasets of more than 10,000 nodes, Ogma is engineered for high-performance rendering and GPU acceleration. It handles 100,000+ nodes like a breeze even with ancient hardware, making it ideal for production-grade apps, and can layout more than 1 million nodes on new hardware.

TLDR;

Your app gets sluggish beyond 10,000 nodes on screen? Unlock large graphs with Ogma.

From hairball to uncluttered visualization

D3.js has no built-in features to simplify complex networks, which can quickly become visual hairballs. Ogma comes with out-of-the box aggregation and grouping features that simplify graphs interactively like node and edge grouping, sub-graph transformations, path shortening, visual clustering, level-of-detail zooming, etc.

TLDR;

Ogma helps you create value that open source libraries like D3.js cannot compete with.


Feature comparison: Ogma vs D3.js

D3.js vs Ogma feature comparison

Summary

Choose Ogma if you:

  1. Need rapid development – Projects with tight deadlines or limited engineering resources benefit from Ogma’s high-level API and out-of-the-box capabilities.
  2. Require enterprise-grade support – Mission-critical applications need guaranteed SLAs, dedicated support, and regular updates.
  3. Scale to large datasets – With computation on GPU client-side, WebGL rendering, and LOD capabilities, Ogma keeps rendering and interactions smooth even on hundreds of thousands of nodes and edges.
  4. Value predictable ROI – Avoid unpredictable implementation and maintenance costs for in-house graph solutions that are built on low-level libraries.
  5. Want client-side graph analytics – Built-in metrics, clustering, and export features accelerate insights with just a few lines of code.
  6. Create mission-critical applications – In sectors like finance, cybersecurity, intelligence, or healthcare.

Choose D3.js if:

  • You need to create custom, static visualizations beyond graphs.
  • You have in-house D3 expertise and resources for long development cycles.
  • You prefer an open-source, general-purpose approach and can bear custom implementation costs.

Build scalable graph visualizations with Ogma

Ogma is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, governments, and startups building mission-critical data-driven applications. If you're looking for a D3.js alternative that's tailored for performance, scalability, and business value, Ogma is your best choice.

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