RViz vs Foxglove (2025): Which should your team use?

Compare RViz and Foxglove for ROS. See live ROS workflows, file playback (.bag/.db3/MCAP), collaboration, and SDKs—so you can choose with confidence.

Tl;dr

  • Choose Foxglove if you want a modern, team‑ready platform that plays .bag / .db3 / .mcap, merges multiple files into one timeline, streams live ROS via foxglove_bridge, and now includes a C++/Python/Rust SDK to stream or log directly to MCAP.  
  • Keep RViz for interactive markers and local ROS debugging inside the ROS environment—RViz remains the canonical ROS GUI for in‑scene manipulation.  

At‑a‑glance: RViz vs Foxglove.

Category Foxglove RViz / RViz2
Platform Web + Desktop Desktop (ROS env)
Live ROS foxglove_bridge (ROS 1) SDK (ROS 2) over WebSocket ROS-native GUI
File playback .bag / .db3 / .mcap; multi-file merged timeline Uses rosbag / ros2 bag for playback
3D & Interactions Modern 3D scene; visualizes markers Interactive markers (move/rotate/context menu)
Collaboration Layouts, Devices, Events, Timeline Local, single-user focus
SDK / Extensibility Foxglove SDK (C++ / Py / Rust, MIT); Extensions C++ plugins, interactive markers

Head‑to‑head

1) Live ROS connectivity.

  • Foxglove: Connect ROS 1 via foxglove_bridge (WebSocket) ROS 2 via the SDK. Works from desktop or the browser—great for remote reviews.  
  • RViz: Tightest ROS integration, ideal for local debugging. Interactive markers enable direct 3D manipulation inside RViz.  

2) File playback & formats.

  • Foxglove: Drag‑and‑drop ROS 1 .bag, ROS 2 .db3, and MCAP. Open multiple files as a single merged timeline. For legacy .db3, Foxglove suggests converting to MCAP for self‑contained metadata.  
  • Context: ROS 2 Iron set MCAP as the default rosbag2 storage, simplifying cross‑tool workflows.  

3) 3D & interaction model.

  • RViz: Interactive markers (move/rotate/context menus) are native and powerful for in‑loop manipulation.  
  • Foxglove: Modern 3D visualization with synchronized panels; teams often handle interactions via publish/teleop and rich panels rather than RViz‑style marker primitives.  

4) Collaboration and scale.

  • Foxglove: Built for teams—Layouts, Devices, Events, and a fast Timeline for browsing large datasets. Free plan: 3 users / 10 devices / 10 GB cloud.  

5) Extensibility and SDKs.

  • Foxglove: Extensions (JS/TS) for custom panels/converters and new data loader extensions; Foxglove SDK (C++/Py/Rust, MIT) to stream or log to MCAP.  
  • RViz: C++ plugin system; broad community of displays and tools.  

Migration quick‑start (RViz → Foxglove).

  1. Open data: drag .bag/.db3/.mcap—or load multiple files merged into one timeline.  
  2. Connect live: run foxglove_bridge (ROS 1) SDK (ROS 2) and open the WebSocket in Foxglove.  
  3. Add context: organize by Devices, annotate Events, and explore via Timeline.  
  4. Programmatic ingest: use the Foxglove SDK (C++/Python/Rust) to stream live or log to MCAP.  

FAQs

Q: Is Foxglove a full replacement for RViz?

A: For many team workflows (file analysis, remote reviews, shared layouts), yes. For interactive marker manipulation inside ROS, RViz still shines.  

Q: Can Foxglove open ROS 2 .db3 and MCAP?

A: Yes—.db3 and .mcap are supported; Foxglove recommends MCAP for portability.  

Q: How do I connect ROS 2 to Foxglove?

A: Use foxglove_bridge for a stable, high‑performance WebSocket path.  

Try it out for yourself today: https://foxglove.dev/signup

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