GazePlotter

Overview

The tool brings gaze visualizations, metric calculations and data exports into a browser-based workflow. It is open-source software under the GNU GPL v3 license, and its documentation describes it as an offline-capable Progressive Web App for desktop and mobile devices. The maker says data is processed locally in the browser rather than sent to a server, which suits work where keeping files on the device is important.

GazePlotter’s range is its strongest case: users can move between visual inspection and structured metric exports without coding. The value of those analyses still depends on what the imported data contains. For more options in the category, see Eye Tracking Software.

Key features

Visualizations and metrics

Available views include scarf plots, AOI comparisons, transition matrices, AOI timelines, recurrence plots, scanpaths, scanpath similarity, metric timelines and metric correlations. The metric library covers dwell time, fixation duration and count, latency, AOI transitions, recurrence, scanpath similarity and eye-movement types. This breadth gives non-programmers several ways to inspect gaze patterns and compare areas of interest, though the tool does not remove limitations in the source data.

Imports, privacy and exports

GazePlotter accepts Tobii Pro Lab, SMI BeGaze, Gazepoint, Pupil Cloud, Varjo and OGAMA files, plus custom CSV files, and detects file types automatically. OGAMA data retains sequence order but not actual timing, so dwell time and time to first fixation cannot be calculated accurately from it. Researchers who need dependable temporal measures should use a source with timing information rather than rely on OGAMA imports for those calculations.

Workspaces can be saved as JSON, figures exported as PNG or JPG, and segmented data, events and metrics exported as CSV; ScanGraph export is also supported. Metric CSVs can be produced in long or wide format for use in R, Python, SPSS, JASP or jamovi. That makes GazePlotter useful as a visualization and preparation step in a wider analysis workflow, rather than a closed destination for results.

The maker directs users to GitHub to report bugs, request visualizations or contribute code. That route is relevant to users who want to engage with an open-source project, but it is not a substitute for a dedicated support service.

Pricing

GazePlotter’s Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and is described as a free tool with no registration or subscription. It includes the app’s gaze visualizations and JSON, PNG, JPG, ZIP, CSV and ScanGraph export formats. There is no free-plan cap or trial period to weigh against a paid tier: the published offering is free, with no subscription commitment.

This makes it a straightforward fit for individual researchers and non-programmers who need the supported analysis and export workflow. It is less compelling for teams that require accurate temporal measures from OGAMA files; the price does not change that data limitation.

Platforms

GazePlotter supports web browsers, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Its offline-capable PWA format broadens its reach beyond desktop research setups, though the maker’s local-browser processing model is the key practical distinction for users handling sensitive gaze data.

Who it's for

Choose GazePlotter if you need to inspect eye-gaze data without writing code, want multiple visualization and metric options, and value local browser processing or export into statistical tools. It is a weaker choice when your workflow depends on precise temporal results from OGAMA data, or when you need a paid product with a different support model.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad plots and metrics let non-programmers examine gaze patterns from several angles.
• Pros: Imports span named eye-tracking platforms and custom CSV, with automatic file-type detection.
• Pros: Local browser processing and offline-capable PWA support suit users who want an on-device workflow.
• Pros: Multiple export formats, including long and wide metric CSVs, support follow-on work in common statistical packages.
• Cons: OGAMA imports lack actual timing, making dwell time and time to first fixation inaccurate.
• Cons: Bug reports, visualization requests and contributions go through GitHub rather than a dedicated support channel.

Alternatives

GazeRecorder is another free option for users looking for gaze software across Android, iOS, web and Windows; its free plan is limited to non-commercial use.

Labvanced may suit readers seeking a freemium research platform with a free trial: its Free plan includes 300 MB storage, 10 recordings and one active recruiting link.

Hawkeye is worth considering for an iOS or web workflow with a defined free cap of one project and five sessions; its Starter Plan costs 39.99 USD per month, billed monthly.

Retra is a free, open-source Android alternative.

OpenGazer is a free open-source gaze tracker for Linux users able to provide a webcam and meet its Linux build dependencies.

PyGaze is another free option for Windows, macOS and Linux.

OGAMA is a free alternative for Windows users.

WebGazer.js is a free web-based alternative.

Verdict

GazePlotter is a strong fit for researchers and non-programmers who want broad gaze visualizations, flexible exports and local browser processing without a subscription. Its main reason to look elsewhere is source-dependent accuracy: users relying on OGAMA should not treat its timing-based measures as reliable.