Kumu alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Kumu: private projects are billed per project, which adds up, and fewer analysis algorithms than Gephi or Cytoscape. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Kumu, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Gephi currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Gephi	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	5 of 5	66.5
2	Cytoscape	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	62.6
3	yEd Graph Editor	Free	No	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	52.6

1. GephiTop pick
Best for: Researchers, journalists and analysts who need to map and measure large networks for free
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Kumu
Free desktop tool with far stronger graph algorithms for large datasets, though harder to share.
Pros
Handles very large graphs with fast layout algorithms
Built-in community detection and centrality metrics
Exports publication-ready PNG, PDF and SVG
Free and open source, with a browser-based Gephi Lite
Cons
Steep learning curve for newcomers
Java desktop app that can feel dated and unstable
No real-time collaboration
Visit Gephi Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Gephi a good Kumu alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Graph size
Ten to ten million nodes
Checked Oct 29, 2026gephi.org(opens source in a new tab)
Export formats
PNG, PDF, SVG
Checked Oct 29, 2026gephi.org(opens source in a new tab)
Web version
Gephi Lite
Checked Oct 29, 2026gephi.org(opens source in a new tab)
Origin
University of Technology of Compiègne
Checked Oct 29, 2026gephi.org(opens source in a new tab)
2. Cytoscape
Best for: Biologists and data scientists analyzing interaction networks alongside their own data
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Kumu
Free, scriptable network analysis platform for researchers who need statistics, not presentations.
Pros
Large app ecosystem for clustering, statistics and domain-specific tools
Scriptable from R and Python
Free and open source under the LGPL
Strong support for biological data formats and pathway databases
Cons
Interface and terminology are geared to biology
Many analysis features depend on installing separate apps
Java desktop app that can be heavy on large networks
Visit Cytoscape Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Cytoscape a good Kumu alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
LGPL
Checked Nov 1, 2026cytoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
Apps
Over a hundred third-party apps
Checked Nov 1, 2026cytoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
Web version
Cytoscape Web
Checked Nov 1, 2026cytoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
Cytoscape Consortium (nonprofit)
Checked Nov 1, 2026cytoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
3. yEd Graph Editor
Best for: People who need to lay out large graphs or network diagrams automatically
FreeWindows, macOS, Linux, Web
52.6
score / 100
Why switch from Kumu
Free graph editor with automatic layouts, fine for one-off maps without per-project fees.
Pros
Excellent automatic layout algorithms
Builds diagrams from Excel or XML data
Free on Windows, macOS and Linux
Browser version available
Cons
Dated Java interface
No real-time collaboration
Closed source despite being free
Visit yEd Graph Editor Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is yEd Graph Editor a good Kumu alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
Free
Checked Oct 29, 2026yworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, Unix/Linux, macOS
Checked Oct 29, 2026yworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
Data import
Excel (.xls) or XML
Checked Oct 29, 2026yworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
Browser version
yEd Live
Checked Oct 29, 2026yworks.com(opens source in a new tab)