Helios

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.9 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Developers building GPU-accelerated 2D and 3D graph views
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Facts checked
  24 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • WebGPU rendering with WebGL2 fallback and 2D or 3D views
  • GPU layouts plus interactive selection, hover, and filtering
  • Graph data interfaces for JavaScript, Python, and native C

• Where it doesn't

  • Requires development work to build interactive graph applications
  • No paid pricing tiers for teams seeking a commercial plan structure
  • Shared or collaborative graph workflows are not part of its documented focus

Our verdict on Helios

Helios is an open-source graph visualization toolkit for developers building interactive views of networks or embeddings, and for people who manipulate graph data programmatically. Its browser renderer supports WebGPU with a WebGL2 fallback, alongside 2D and 3D views. The toolkit also spans cloud, desktop, and self-hosted workflows, with CLI and notebook widget options. That makes it relevant to solo developers and small or mid-market teams whose graph work benefits from both visualization and code-level access.

The main distinction is the combination of rendering and a graph data layer. Helios Web offers camera controls, GPU-based layouts, attribute-driven visual mappings, labels, legends, selection, hover, and filtering. Helios Network handles graph construction, typed attributes, selectors, queries, and serialization. JavaScript, Python, and native C interfaces let a project work with graph data through more than one language, while visualization state persistence and figure export support repeatable views. Buyers looking for a graph display component paired with programmatic data handling may find this broader scope useful; those who only need a simple static chart may not need the added toolkit surface.

Helios is open-source and has a free plan, so its published model does not present a paid tier ladder or plan-by-plan feature distinctions. The tradeoff is that it is a toolkit rather than a ready-made shared graph workspace: teams should expect to build around its interfaces and workflows. It is a stronger fit for technically oriented users who want GPU layouts and flexible deployment than for buyers prioritizing a turnkey collaborative environment or commercial plan structure. The available workflows span browser, desktop, CLI, notebooks, and self-hosting, giving developers several ways to incorporate graph visualization into their work.

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Helios pricing

Helios fact sheet

Helios integrations

Helios lists 6 integrations on its own site.

• JavaScript
• Python
• native C
• CLI
• notebook widget
• desktop

Alternatives to Helios

• GraphistryA graph investigation environment with interactive exploration, APIs, and deployment choice.8.9
• GephiFree network analysis with desktop and browser-based graph exploration.8.8
• LinkuriousA broad graph investigation toolkit, priced for teams with enterprise needs.8.7

See all Helios alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Helios is listed in our Graph Visualization Tools Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update