Compare WebGPU and WebGL2

Compare the functions, limitations, and similarities between the WebGPU and WebGL2 Web graphics APIs.

WebGL2

WebGL2 is the default graphics API and is compatible with most devices and browsers, but lacks more modern features that WebGPU provides.

WebGPU

WebGPU is a modern graphics API that enables features such as compute shadersA program that runs on the GPU. More info
See in Glossary and indirect rendering. However, WebGPU is experimental and not recommended for production usage.

Limitations

WebGPU and WebGL2 have limitations that are unique to each graphics API, but also share some limitations.

For full WebGL2 limitations, refer to WebGL2.

For full WebGPU limitations, refer to Limitations of the WebGPU graphics API.

The following recommendations and restrictions apply to both WebGPU and WebGL2:

• Recommendations for how to use fonts in Web.
• Restrictions on global illumination in Web.
• Recommendations on how to use video in Web.
• Restrictions on shader variants in Web.

Additional resources

• WebGL2
• WebGPU (Experimental)