Freedom251 › Data Visualization Software
Grace
What Grace is
Grace is a free desktop WYSIWYG application for plotting scientific numerical data in two dimensions. Its point-and-click interface offers precise graph controls and refreshes plots immediately. You can create unlimited graphs and curves per graph, use up to 256 customizable colors, and add annotations with subscripts and superscripts. Curve fitting includes linear and nonlinear least-squares methods, custom fitting functions, constraints, region restrictions, and arbitrary weight functions. Analysis tools cover FFT, integration, differentiation, histograms, splines, interpolation, smoothing, convolution, correlation, covariation, and sorting. Grace reads text data files, 1D NetCDF files, disk files, and data pipes; the site describes data size as unlimited, with up to six dimensions and an optional string array. Exports include EPS, PDF, MIF, SVG, PNG, PNM, and JPEG. Built-in programming, external control, and loadable C or Fortran modules support automation and extension. It runs on Linux, Windows, and practically any Unix-like system, with some older ports requiring an X server.
Who it suits
Grace suits scientists and technical users who need two-dimensional numerical plots, curve fitting, analysis, and publication-oriented exports on a desktop. It also fits users who want scripting or external-program control.
What it does well
- Unlimited graphs and curves per graph
- Linear and nonlinear curve fitting
- Broad numerical analysis toolkit
- Exports vector and raster formats
- Built-in programming and external control
What to know first
- No 3D graphing
- No undo function
- Binary packages are not officially supported
- Some ports may lack functionality
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Grace (GPL-licensed software) | No paid plans stated | Free |
As plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Grace provides a broad scientific plotting and analysis workspace at no cost under the GPL. Its missing 3D plotting and undo, plus source-oriented installation guidance, are important considerations.
Facts from Grace's own pages
- Analysis
- Its listed analysis functions include FFT, integration, differentiation, histograms, interpolation, smoothing, convolution, correlation, and sorting. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Automation
- Grace has a built-in programming language, supports loadable user-defined functions, and can be controlled by external programs. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Curve fitting
- Grace supports linear and nonlinear least-squares fitting, constraints, region restrictions, arbitrary weight functions, and user-defined fitting functions. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can dynamically load modules and supply their own colors, fonts, and encodings. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Data input
- The feature list says Grace reads text data files and 1D netCDF files. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Data sources
- Text data files,1D NetCDF files,disk files,and data pipes · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 21 Sept 2026
- Export
- It exports vector graphics to EPS, PDF, MIF, and SVG, and supports PNG, PNM, and JPEG. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Exports
- It exports vector graphics to EPS, PDF, MIF, and SVG, and supports PNG, PNM, and JPEG. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Grace includes a built-in programming language, can be controlled by external programs, and supports dynamically loadable C or Fortran modules. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 21 Sept 2026
- Graph editing
- The official feature list describes point-and-click editing, precise graph controls, publication-quality output, and instant plot refresh. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Graphing
- It supports unlimited graphs and curves per graph, up to 256 customizable colors, and text annotations with subscripts and superscripts. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Import and data size
- Grace reads text data and 1D netCDF files, and the site describes its data size as unlimited, with up to six dimensions plus an optional string array. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The FAQ recommends compiling from source; volunteer-contributed binary packages are not officially supported. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Installation limits
- The FAQ says binary packages are not officially supported; contributed volunteer binaries are also unsupported, and compiling from source is the preferred installation method. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Interface
- It combines a graphical user interface with a scripting language for calculations and automated tasks. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- Grace is free under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The FAQ says Grace does not yet plot 3D graphs and does not have an undo function. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The site says Grace runs on practically any Unix-like operating system and reports ports to VMS, OS/2, and Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP, with some minor functionality possibly missing. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 11 Oct 2026
- Platform
- desktop · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 21 Sept 2026
- Platform support
- The home page says Grace runs on practically any Unix-like OS and has been ported to VMS, OS/2, and older Windows versions; the Windows and OS/2 ports require an X server and may lack functionality. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Grace is a WYSIWYG tool for making two-dimensional plots of numerical data. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The changes list says safe mode is enabled by default and disables command-language statements that may modify files, to guard against malicious project files. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The FAQ points users to its guide, home page, and user forums, and cautions that forum participants help in their spare time so replies may not be quick. · plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il, 12 Oct 2026
Where Grace stands on Freedom251
- Data Visualization Software#50 of 98