OpenGM vs GTSAM

Side-by-side — pricing, strengths, tradeoffs, and fit.

OpenGM

Discrete optimization and inference solver for factor graphs

GTSAM

Factor graph based least-square optimization solver for robotics and computer vision.

At a glance

Open SourceFree Tier
· Not enough data·From $0
Open SourceFree Tier
● Established·From $0

Overview

One-liner

Discrete optimization and inference solver for factor graphs

One-liner

Factor graph based least-square optimization solver for robotics and computer vision.

Maturity

Not enough data

Maturity

Established

Open source

✓ Yes

Open source

✓ Yes

Pricing

Free tier

✓ Available

Open source — free to use

Free tier

✓ Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

✕ None

Enterprise

✕ None

Best for

✓ Best for

Researchers working on discrete optimization problems who need a flexible framework for experimentation
Developers implementing computer vision algorithms that require factor graph inference

✓ Best for

Robotics teams working on SLAM and pose graph optimization tasks
Computer vision researchers implementing SfM algorithms
Academic projects requiring efficient least-square optimization solutions

Not ideal for

✕ Not for

Projects requiring real-time performance as OpenGM may not be optimized for speed in all scenarios
Applications where the problem cannot be represented using factor graphs

✕ Not for

Projects that require real-time processing with minimal latency
Applications needing a web-based interface for configuration and monitoring

Strengths

↑ Strengths

Support for various discrete optimization algorithms
Factor graph representation of problems
Modular design allowing easy integration with other tools

↑ Strengths

Factor graph-based optimization for solving least-square problems
Supports a wide range of robotics and computer vision tasks
Highly optimized algorithms for efficient computation

Weaknesses

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve for non-C++ developers
Limited documentation and support resources
Performance overhead due to template-heavy design
Narrow focus on factor graph models limits general applicability

↓ Weaknesses

Steep learning curve due to complex factor graph concepts
Limited language support, primarily C++
Documentation is sparse and not beginner-friendly
Performance can degrade for very large-scale problems
Full OpenGM profile →Full GTSAM profile →