UCSF ChimeraX alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave UCSF ChimeraX: commercial users must buy a licence, and not open source under an OSI licence. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces UCSF ChimeraX, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PyMOL currently ranks first.
No alternatives match these filters.
Show all 3 alternativesThe best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for most people
PyMOLThe long-time standard for polished structure figures, with Python scripting.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for a free option
VMDFree viewer better suited to large systems and molecular dynamics trajectories.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for open source
JmolOpen-source viewer that also embeds in web pages, useful for teaching.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for Mac
PyMOLThe long-time standard for polished structure figures, with Python scripting.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for Windows
PyMOLThe long-time standard for polished structure figures, with Python scripting.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for Linux
PyMOLThe long-time standard for polished structure figures, with Python scripting.
Best UCSF ChimeraX alternative for working in the browser
JmolOpen-source viewer that also embeds in web pages, useful for teaching.
UCSF ChimeraX alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to UCSF ChimeraX?
PyMOL ranks first right now. The long-time standard for polished structure figures, with Python scripting. VMD and Jmol follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to UCSF ChimeraX?
Yes. VMD (free) and Jmol (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to UCSF ChimeraX?
Yes: Jmol.
Which UCSF ChimeraX alternatives work on Linux?
PyMOL, VMD and Jmol run on Linux.
Why do people switch from UCSF ChimeraX?
The complaints we hear most: commercial users must buy a licence; not open source under an OSI licence; less suited than VMD to analysing long simulation trajectories.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces UCSF ChimeraX, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.