# Gnuplot 8 Hacker News commenters recommended Gnuplot and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Free plotting program people use for plots, charts and graphs, often from Emacs or the terminal. The most common caveat is that its license is criticized as conflicting with the GPL. ## Why people recommend it - Makes plots, charts and graphs (3 comments): "Install Gnuplot too for plots/charts/graphs" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48306156)) "charts made from Gnuplot can be 100% safe" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49098371)) "Gnuplot would help you in that case" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46343667)) - Works with Emacs and terminals (3 comments): "Install emacs with gnuplot and run M-x calc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49146086)) "gnuplot, img2sixel as an "image-cat"" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45804963)) "Gnu plot dumb terminal mode?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47900624)) ## What people warn about - License conflicts with the GPL (2 comments): "please, fix that hell of license" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46115381)) "is not GNU at all; worse, it conflicts with the GPL" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47974478)) - Not GNU; holds GNU back (2 comments): "Purged are gnuplot dependencies with a custom and actual GNU bound 3d plotting software." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47620070)) "Depending on non-GNU, external tools it's holding GNU and Elisp back." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47620138)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [ChartGPU](https://hackerapproved.com/p/chartgpu.md): 35 recommend - [ggplot2](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ggplot2.md): 29 recommend - [plotnine](https://hackerapproved.com/p/plotnine.md): 22 recommend - [ggsql](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ggsql.md): 19 recommend - [Matplotlib](https://hackerapproved.com/p/matplotlib.md): 17 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Gnuplot", https://hackerapproved.com/p/gnuplot/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).