DirectX Alternatives for Mac

DirectX is not available for Mac but there are some alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The best Mac alternative is OpenGL, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to DirectX and nine of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to DirectX are Vulkan, SDL, Allegro and PyOpenGL.

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DirectX alternatives are mainly Graphics Libraries but may also be Game Development Tools. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of DirectX.

DirectX

Graphics Library
Free • Proprietary

DirectX is a set of components in Windows that allows software, primarily and especially games, to work directly with your video and audio hardware. Games that use DirectX can use multimedia accelerator features built-in...

More about DirectX

DirectX alternatives page was last updated Mar 12, 2024

OpenGL
OpenGL is the premier environment for developing portable, interactive 2D and 3D graphics applications. Since its introduction in 1992, OpenGL has become the industry's most widely used and supported 2D and 3D graphics application programming interface (API), bringing...
11 OpenGL alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- BSD
- Haiku
OpenGL VS DirectX
Is OpenGL a good alternative to DirectX?
- Almost everyone thinks OpenGL is a great DirectX alternative.
- OpenGL is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to DirectX.
- OpenGL is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to DirectX.
- OpenGL is Free and Open SourceDirectX is Free and Proprietary

Vulkan
Vulkan is a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in a wide variety of devices from PCs and consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.
10 Vulkan alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Chrome OS
- Tizen OS
- SteamOS
Vulkan Features
Portable
OPENGL
Show all NaN Vulkan features ▾
Vulkan VS DirectX
Is Vulkan a good alternative to DirectX?

SDL
Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, 3D hardware via OpenGL, and 2D video framebuffer. It is used by MPEG playback software, emulators, and many popular games, including the...
24 SDL alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Windows Mobile
- iPhone
- Symbian S60
- BSD
- iPad
- Haiku
SDL Features
Drawing 2D
Extensible window manager
Show all NaN SDL features ▾
SDL VS DirectX
Is SDL a good alternative to DirectX?
- SDL is the most popular iPad alternative to DirectX.
- SDL is Free and Open SourceDirectX is Free and Proprietary

Allegro
Allegro 4 and Allegro 5 are cross-platform, libraries mainly aimed at video game and multimedia programming. They handle common, low-level tasks such as creating windows, accepting user input, loading data, drawing images, playing sounds, etc.
30 Allegro alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Game Development Tool
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- iPhone
Allegro VS DirectX
Is Allegro a good alternative to DirectX?

PyOpenGL
Python bindings for OpenGL API.
5 PyOpenGL alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
PyOpenGL Features
OPENGL
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PyOpenGL VS DirectX
Is PyOpenGL a good alternative to DirectX?

Metal
Metal provides near-direct access to the graphics processing unit (GPU), enabling you to maximize the graphics and compute potential of your apps on iOS, macOS, and tvOS. Building on an approachable, low-overhead architecture with precompiled GPU shaders, fine-grained resource...
10 Metal alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Mac
Metal VS DirectX
Is Metal a good alternative to DirectX?
- Metal is the most popular commercial alternative to DirectX.
- Metal is Paid and ProprietaryDirectX is Free and Proprietary

GLFW
GLFW is an Open Source, multi-platform library for OpenGL, OpenGL ES and Vulkan development on the desktop. It provides a simple API for creating windows, contexts and surfaces, receiving input and events.
13 GLFW alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Game Development Tool
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
GLFW Features
Support for Multiple Monitors
OPENGL
Show all NaN GLFW features ▾
GLFW VS DirectX
Is GLFW a good alternative to DirectX?

Crystal Space
Crystal Space is a mature, full-featured Software Development Kit (SDK) providing real-time 3D graphics for applications such as games and virtual reality. It is free (LGPL) and cross-platform (Windows, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X).
10 Crystal Space alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- Graphics Library
- Game Development Tool
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Crystal Space Features
Games library
Show all NaN Crystal Space features ▾
+1
Discontinued
Discontinued since July 2012 : http://www.crystalspace3d.org/main/Download
Crystal Space VS DirectX
Is Crystal Space a good alternative to DirectX?

ANGLE
The goal of ANGLE is to allow users of multiple operating systems to seamlessly run WebGL and other OpenGL ES content by translating OpenGL ES API calls to one of the hardware-supported APIs available for that platform. ANGLE currently provides translation from OpenGL ES 2.0, 3.
10 ANGLE alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Graphics Library
Platforms
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android Tablet
ANGLE Features
OPENGL
WebGL
Show all NaN ANGLE features ▾
ANGLE VS DirectX
Is ANGLE a good alternative to DirectX?
- ANGLE is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to DirectX.
- ANGLE is Free and Open SourceDirectX is Free and Proprietary