arrow_circle_right EBOOK
Embedded GUI framework selection – report
Choosing a GUI framework for a microcontroller-based product shapes licensing cost, hardware strategy, team productivity and certification options for the next decade. This report compares the three leading options for MCU-class devices, so you can make the call with evidence instead of a demo.
arrow_circle_right About the publication
There’s no single winner, and that’s the point
Vendor documentation will tell you their framework is the right choice. This report won’t. It compares Qt for MCUs, LVGL and TouchGFX on their actual strengths across more than 120 evaluation points, so the framework that wins is the one that fits your product, not the one with the loudest marketing.
arrow_circle_right What’s inside
Built from vendor documentation and our hands-on experience
Executive summary: a decision-driver table covering licence, hardware strategy, safety path, designer workflow and best fit
Framework profiles: where Qt for MCUs, LVGL and TouchGFX each perform best
A detailed comparison matrix across 25 criteria groups, from AI-assisted development to compliance and certifiability
A practical decision guide: five questions that narrow your choice fast
Typical project archetypes, each matched to a recommended framework
arrow_circle_right Sneak peek
Take a peek inside!
arrow_circle_right Who this ebook is for
You’ll benefit from this guide if you:
- Are starting a new MCU-based product and haven’t committed to a GUI framework yet
- Are revisiting a framework decision made years ago that no longer fits your roadmap
- Need to justify a framework choice to stakeholders with evidence, not preference
- Are weighing licensing cost, hardware lock-in or a safety certification path against time-to-market
arrow_circle_right In numbers
From a team that builds with all three frameworks
Spyrosoft’s embedded and HMI teams work hands-on with Qt for MCUs, LVGL and TouchGFX, including one of the largest Qt/QML engineering pools in Europe.
100 Qt/QML specialists
300+ clients from various sectors
2,000 employees
10+ quality certifications
About Spyrosoft
Spyrosoft is a group of companies providing consulting and software development services in segments including Automotive, HR Tech, EduTech, Finance, Geospatial, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Industry 4.0, Renewable Energy, Media and Robotics. The Group offers a one-stop shop approach as it operates within a wide range of specialities – from Enterprise and Embedded Software Engineering, AI/ML, Cloud and Cybersecurity, to HMI or Ecommerce, Low-code and CRM Platforms.
Spyrosoft is a global company with over 1900 specialists onboard and 20 offices in 9 countries. The quality of Spyrosoft’s services is proven by internationally recognised, ISO certifications as well as Automotive SPICE, TISAX and Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate. The firm has been included in the Financial Times ranking of 1000 fastest-growing companies for three consecutive years: 2021, 2022 and 2023.
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arrow_circle_right FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Qt for MCUs is a commercial framework built for premium, multi-screen products with a mature designer workflow and a strong safety certification path. LVGL is MIT-licensed, vendor-neutral and the most portable across MCU platforms. TouchGFX is free to use but tied to the STM32 ecosystem, optimised for the fastest bring-up on supported boards.
Qt for MCUs has the strongest safety path, with a certified Qt Safe Renderer covering ASIL D, SIL 3 and Class C claims. LVGL Safe, announced in 2026, targets the same certifiable space at lower cost. TouchGFX is the weakest fit: its licence terms exclude safety-critical use unless an exception applies.
The LVGL core framework is free and open source under an MIT licence, with no royalties and no vendor lock-in. Optional commercial tooling, LVGL Pro, adds cost only if your team wants a more advanced editor or enterprise support.
No. TouchGFX is free of charge but effectively tied to STMicroelectronics hardware, CubeMX and its own Designer tool. If your product isn’t firmly STM32-first, that lock-in is the real cost, not the licence fee.
Qt for MCUs is commercial-only and the most expensive of the three. Public small-business pricing starts around 1,090 EUR per year for the Qt for Device Creation Professional plan; larger commercial deployments need a vendor quotation.
LVGL has the broadest portability of the three, running across MCUs, MPUs, desktop operating systems and embedded Linux with no single vendor or IDE dependency. Qt for MCUs is portable within its supported platform list; TouchGFX has the least portability, as it is STM32-only.
Yes. If requirements and hardware are still moving, LVGL is the safest starting point: it keeps every later option open without an early vendor commitment. Qt for MCUs and TouchGFX both involve earlier commitments to a commercial toolchain or a specific silicon vendor.
LVGL Safe is a commercial, certifiable variant of LVGL announced in 2026, positioned as compatible with IEC 61508, ISO 26262, IEC 62304 and DO-178C. It targets regulated industries such as medical, industrial and automotive, giving LVGL projects a credible certification path without moving to a fully commercial framework.
TouchGFX is hard to beat for speed on STM32-first products. Its Designer, Generator and STM32Cube integration give the fastest path from UI design to simulator and target hardware, provided your product is already committed to STM32.
The report includes a five-question decision guide: start with whether your product is regulated or safety-relevant, then whether it’s firmly STM32-first, whether you need cross-vendor portability, whether it’s a premium design-driven UI, and finally whether your requirements are still unclear. Each answer narrows the choice to one framework in most cases.