gnuplot is a command-line and GUI program that can generate two- and three-dimensional plots of functions, data, and data fits. The program runs on all major computers and operating systems (Linux, Unix, Microsoft Windows, macOS, FreeDOS, and many others). Originally released in 1986, its listed authors are Thomas Williams, Colin Kelley, Russell Lang, Dave Kotz, John Campbell, Gershon Elber, Alexander Woo "and many others." Despite its name, this software is not part of the GNU Project.
gnuplot can produce output directly on screen, or in many formats of graphics files, including Portable Network Graphics (PNG), Encapsulated PostScript (EPS), Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), JPEG and many others. It is also capable of producing LaTeX code that can be included directly in LaTeX documents, making use of LaTeX's fonts and powerful formula notation abilities. The program can be used both interactively and in batch mode using scripts.
What is gnuplot?
gnuplot by gnuplot development team (developed by Ethan A Merritt) is Windows software in the science & maths category. It ranks 23rd by popularity among science & maths in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1986. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for cross-platform.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 33.1 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 6.0 patchlevel 4, released on December 24, 2025. The version history goes back to July 24, 2021: 7 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.6 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 3,735 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 30 of our languages. On Windows it registers 4 file types, including .plt, .gp, .gpl and .dem. Similar programs include Stellarium, KiCad and JASP.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on cross-platform
- Mature project (since 1986)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: gnuplot is a science & math tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is gnuplot safe to download?
- The file is served by sourceforge.net, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
2C31E3FC91B21C450F4B015F1CD1F2F84F7A8CFC63AFC037F9BA5EFB47CC0C23· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 7 versions ›7 versions over 4 years · about 1.6 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 patchlevel 4Latest | December 24, 2025 | 33.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 6.0 patchlevel 1 | July 23, 2024 | 65.6 MB | 64-bit ZIP64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 5.4 patchlevel 8 | June 10, 2023 | 42.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 5.4 patchlevel 6 | March 14, 2023 | 47.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 5.4 patchlevel 3 | January 20, 2022 | 38.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 5.4 patchlevel 2 | July 31, 2021 | 32.2 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 5.4 patchlevel 1 | July 24, 2021 | 31.8 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id gnuplot.gnuplot -echoco install gnuplot.portable -yscoop install main/gnuplotdownload /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install gnuplotInformation
- Publisher
- gnuplot development team
- Developer
- Ethan A Merritt
- Category
- Science & maths
- Licence
- Gnuplot license
- Written in
- C
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Other platforms
- cross-platform
- Version
- 6.0 patchlevel 4
- Released
- December 24, 2025
- First release
- 1986
- Added to the catalogue
- July 24, 2021
- Versions listed
- 7
- Updates / year
- 1.6
- Chocolatey downloads
- 3,735
- Website
- gnuplot.info
- winget ID
- gnuplot.gnuplot
- Chocolatey package
- gnuplot.portable
- Scoop package
- main/gnuplot
File types it opens (4)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to gnuplot
See all ›-
Open source118K ↓ -
Open source126.7K ↓ -
Open source12.2K ↓ -
Open source46K ↓ -
Qalculate!5.13.2A highly versatile desktop calculator, with support for units, physical constants, uncertainty propagation, symbolic calculations, etc.Open source50.3K ↓ -
Open source24.6K ↓ -
GeoGebra Classic6.0.933Apps bundle including free tools for geometry, spreadsheet, probability, and CASProprietary355.3K ↓ - scilab2025.0.0Scilab is free and open source software for numerical computation providing a powerful computing environment for engineering and scientific applications.Open source28.6K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is gnuplot safe to download?
The download comes from sourceforge.net, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install gnuplot with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can gnuplot be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does gnuplot run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of gnuplot?
The versions page lists all 7 versions with links to their official installer files, back to July 24, 2021.
What are alternatives to gnuplot?
Stellarium, KiCad, JASP, Quarto and Qalculate!. The alternatives page compares them.
