head to head · open source
imgui vs libgdx
imgui has 76,965 GitHub stars, 12,102 forks, 1,227 open issues and last shipped yesterday. libgdx has 25,507 stars, 6,522 forks, 337 open issues and last shipped yesterday. imgui leads on adoption by 202% (76,965 vs 25,507 stars). imgui is written in C++ under MIT; libgdx is written in Java under Apache-2.0. imgui has attracted 16% as many forks as stars, libgdx 26%. imgui was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 4 topic tags (framework, game-development, game-engine, gamedev), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| imgui | libgdx | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 77K | ★ 26K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C++ | Java |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 12K | ⑂ 6.5K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick imgui if
- You weight community size — 77K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick libgdx if
- You want the libgdx feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You evaluated both and libgdx fits your workflow better
About imgui
Dear ImGui ===== "Give someone state and they'll have a bug one day, but teach them how to represent state in two separate locations that have to be kept in sync and they'll have bugs for a lifetime." ryg (This library is available under a free and permissive license, but needs financial support to sustain its continued improvements. In addition to maintenance and stability there are many desirable features yet to be added. If your company is using Dear ImGui, please consider reaching out.) Businesses: support continued development and maintenance via invoiced sponsoring/support contracts: E mail: contact @…
read the full imgui overview →
About libgdx
Cross platform Game Development Framework libGDX is a cross platform Java game development framework based on OpenGL (ES), designed for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, web browsers, and iOS. It provides a robust and well established environment for rapid prototyping and iterative development. Unlike other frameworks, libGDX does not impose a specific design or coding style, allowing you the freedom to create games according to your preferences. Open Source, Feature Packed, and Fostering a Large Third Party Ecosystem libGDX is released under the Apache 2.0 License, offering unrestricted usage in both commercial…
read the full libgdx overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is imgui or libgdx more popular?
imgui has 76,965 GitHub stars and libgdx has 25,507. imgui has the larger community by that measure.
Are imgui and libgdx free?
Both are open source. imgui is licensed under MIT and libgdx under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between imgui and libgdx?
imgui is written in C++ and libgdx in Java. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, imgui or libgdx?
Choose imgui if you want the larger community (76,965 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose libgdx if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.