- Home
- PC Benchmark Software
- glmark2
glmark2
What it is
glmark2 is a free graphics benchmark for OpenGL 2.0 and OpenGL ES 2.0. Its default suite runs scenes covering workloads such as textures, shading, terrain, shadows and buffers, then prints a glmark2 score. Users can define custom benchmarks through command-line options or benchmark files. Results can be exported to XML or CSV, and available result details include CPU time and shader compilation time. The project documents Linux builds for DRM, Wayland and X11, with desktop GL and GLESv2 variants, and includes instructions for building and installing an Android APK. Its changelog also records Windows support through WGL and ANGLE-EGL. Building uses Meson and Ninja and requires Meson 0.47 or later, libpng 1.6, window-system development files and applicable GL or GLES libraries. On Android, arguments can be supplied through an intent extra or an arguments file, with intent arguments taking precedence. The Android version ignores several X11 command-line options, including validation, off-screen, fullscreen and scene-list options. The project is licensed under GPLv3 and is provided without warranty.
For and against
For
- Free and licensed under GPLv3.
- Runs a built-in suite of graphics scenes.
- Supports custom benchmarks.
- Exports results to XML or CSV.
- Android APK build instructions are included.
Against
- Building requires Meson, libpng and graphics development files.
- Android ignores several X11 command-line options.
- Project is provided without warranty.
- Windows support is recorded via WGL and ANGLE-EGL.
The verdict
glmark2 provides a configurable graphics benchmark with documented builds across several environments. Account for build dependencies and Android-specific command-line limits before choosing it.
Who it suits
glmark2 suits users who need to benchmark graphics workloads on documented Linux environments or Android. It also supports custom benchmark definitions.
On the record
- Android
- The repository includes instructions for building an APK and installing it on an Android device.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Android arguments
- Android accepts arguments through an intent extra or an arguments file, and the intent arguments take precedence when supplied.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Android build
- The repository includes Android build instructions that describe producing and installing an APK.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Android limitations
- The Android version ignores several X11 command-line options, including --validate, --off-screen, --fullscreen, and --list-scenes.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Benchmark scenes
- The default benchmark suite includes build, texture, shading, bump, desktop, buffer, terrain, shadow, and other scenes.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Build dependencies
- The README lists Meson 0.47 or newer, libpng 1.6, window-system development files, and either libGL or libEGL plus libGLESv2, depending on the build.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- The README lists Meson 0.47 or later, libpng 1.6, window-system development files, and the applicable GL or GLES libraries as build requirements.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Build system
- The project uses Meson to configure builds and Ninja to build and install.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Custom benchmarks
- The program can run benchmarks provided through command-line options or benchmark files.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Developers
- The README credits Alexandros Frantzis and Jesse Barker as glmark2 developers, based on Ben Smith’s original glmark benchmark.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documented build flavors target graphics environments and APIs including X11, Wayland, DRM, desktop GL, EGL, and GLESv2.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes itself as a graphics benchmark and documents builds for Linux graphics environments and Android.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under the GPLv3.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Linux display backends
- The documented build flavors include DRM, Wayland, and X11, with desktop GL and GLESv2 variants.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Linux window systems
- Documented build flavors include DRM, Wayland, and X11, as well as other options.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Platform history
- The 2020.04 changelog records support for Windows via WGL and ANGLE-EGL.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- glmark2 is an OpenGL 2.0 and OpenGL ES 2.0 benchmark.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Reported results
- The 2023.01 changelog says CPU time and shader compilation time were added to the available results.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
