head to head · open source
raylib vs libgdx
raylib has 35,554 GitHub stars, 3,374 forks, 16 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. libgdx has 25,507 stars, 6,522 forks, 337 open issues and last shipped yesterday. raylib leads on adoption by 39% (35,554 vs 25,507 stars). raylib is written in C under Zlib; libgdx is written in Java under Apache-2.0. raylib has attracted 9% as many forks as stars, libgdx 26%. libgdx was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 4 topic tags (android, 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
| raylib | libgdx | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 36K | ★ 26K |
| License | Zlib | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C | Java |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.4K | ⑂ 6.5K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick raylib if
- You weight community size — 36K stars and counting
- You want the Zlib 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 raylib
raylib is a simple and easy to use library to enjoy videogames programming. raylib is highly inspired by Borland BGI graphics lib and by XNA framework and it's especially well suited for prototyping, tooling, graphical applications, embedded systems and education. NOTE for ADVENTURERS: raylib is a programming library to enjoy videogames programming; no fancy interface, no visual helpers, no debug button... just coding in the most pure spartan programmers way. Ready to learn? Jump to code examples! features NO external dependencies , all required libraries are included in raylib Multiple platforms supported…
read the full raylib 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 raylib or libgdx more popular?
raylib has 35,554 GitHub stars and libgdx has 25,507. raylib has the larger community by that measure.
Are raylib and libgdx free?
Both are open source. raylib is licensed under Zlib and libgdx under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between raylib and libgdx?
raylib 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, raylib or libgdx?
Choose raylib if you want the larger community (35,554 stars) or its Zlib licence terms. Choose libgdx if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.