Overview
RAWGraphs is an open-source, web-based visualization tool developed at Politecnico di Milano’s DensityDesign research lab. It occupies a unique niche: bridging the gap between spreadsheet tools (where most people’s data lives) and vector graphics editors (where designers want to finish their work). The core workflow is paste data in, map variables to visual channels, and export as SVG — ready for refinement in Illustrator, Figma, or Inkscape.
What makes RAWGraphs special is its focus on uncommon chart types that other no-code tools ignore. While most tools top out at bar charts and scatter plots, RAWGraphs offers bump charts, alluvial diagrams (Sankey-like), contour plots, beeswarm plots, sunburst diagrams, and parallel coordinates. This makes it invaluable for researchers and designers who need visualizations that go beyond the standard business chart repertoire.
RAWGraphs 2.0 runs entirely in the browser — your data never leaves your machine, addressing privacy concerns that arise with cloud-based tools. It is free, open-source (Apache 2.0 license), and can be self-hosted or used directly at rawgraphs.io.
Strengths
- Completely free and open-source (Apache 2.0) with no account required
- Data stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded to any server
- Excellent SVG export for further editing in vector graphics tools
- Supports unusual chart types rarely found in no-code tools (alluvial, beeswarm, contour, etc.)
- Clean, intuitive variable-to-visual-channel mapping interface
- Built on D3.js, producing high-quality vector output
- Can be self-hosted for institutional or classroom use
- Active development by the DensityDesign research lab
- PNG and SVG export at configurable resolution
Limitations
- No interactivity in output — produces static images only
- Cannot publish or embed charts online (export-only workflow)
- No data transformation or aggregation capabilities; data must be pre-processed
- Limited customization within the tool — detailed styling requires post-export editing
- No dashboard or multi-chart layout features
- Smaller community and ecosystem compared to commercial tools
- Some chart types have quirky mapping requirements that take time to learn
- No API for programmatic access
Best For
RAWGraphs is perfect for designers and researchers who want to create unconventional visualizations and refine them in vector editing tools. It shines in academic contexts where you need publication-quality graphics in unusual formats (alluvial diagrams, parallel coordinates, sunburst charts) and want to fine-tune every visual detail in Illustrator or Figma afterward. It is also ideal for privacy-sensitive contexts since no data leaves the browser.
Getting Started
- Go to app.rawgraphs.io
- Paste your data from a spreadsheet, upload a CSV/TSV/JSON file, or try a sample dataset
- RAWGraphs parses your data and displays the columns and their detected types
- Choose a chart type from the visual gallery (scroll to explore all options)
- Map your data columns to visual variables by dragging column names into the mapping slots
- Customize chart parameters (colors, sorting, size, labels) in the customization panel
- Click Export to download as SVG (for vector editing) or PNG (for direct use)
Example workflow for an alluvial (Sankey-like) diagram:
- Prepare data with categorical columns representing stages/categories
- Select the Alluvial Diagram chart type
- Drag categorical columns into the Steps mapping
- Optionally map a numeric column to Size
- Export as SVG and open in Figma/Illustrator for final color and typography adjustments
Supported Chart Types
RAWGraphs offers a distinctive collection: bar charts, stacked bar charts, line graphs, area graphs (streamgraphs), scatterplots, bubble charts, treemaps, sunburst diagrams, circular dendrograms, alluvial diagrams (similar to Sankey), parallel coordinates, violin plots (via beeswarm), contour plots, bump charts, Gantt-like timeline charts, convex hull plots, hexagonal binning, circle packing, and voronoi tessellations. Its strength lies in the chart types that other no-code tools do not offer — if you need a parallel coordinates plot or an alluvial diagram without writing code, RAWGraphs is often the only option.