What is Chart.js and what are its top alternatives?
Chart.js is a popular open-source JavaScript library that allows users to create various types of interactive charts and graphs for web applications. It offers a wide range of customizable options, supports responsive design, and is easy to integrate with other web technologies. However, Chart.js has limitations in terms of complex data visualization, lack of advanced features like 3D charts, and limited support for customization.
D3.js: D3.js is a powerful JavaScript library for creating dynamic, interactive data visualizations in web browsers. Key features include robust data-binding capabilities, a large collection of pre-built charts, and extensive customization options. Pros: Highly flexible and scalable, supports a wide range of visualizations. Cons: Steeper learning curve compared to Chart.js.
Highcharts: Highcharts is a JavaScript charting library that offers a wide range of chart types and interactivity options. Key features include support for dynamic updates, exporting capabilities, and responsive design. Pros: Easy to use and well-documented, suitable for a variety of projects. Cons: Licensing costs may be prohibitive for some users.
Google Charts: Google Charts is a free JavaScript library that allows users to create a variety of charts with data pulled from Google Sheets or other data sources. Key features include a wide selection of chart types, support for multiple data formats, and easy integration with Google APIs. Pros: Simple to use, great for basic data visualization needs. Cons: Limited customization options compared to Chart.js.
ApexCharts: ApexCharts is an open-source JavaScript charting library that offers a modern and intuitive API for creating interactive charts. Key features include support for real-time updates, extensive customization options, and a responsive design. Pros: Easy to get started, high performance, robust documentation. Cons: Limited support for niche chart types.
amCharts: amCharts is a JavaScript library that provides a wide range of interactive charts and maps for web applications. Key features include built-in animation effects, extensive customization options, and support for multi-series charts. Pros: Rich set of features, suitable for complex data visualization needs. Cons: Pricing may be a barrier for some users.
FusionCharts: FusionCharts is a comprehensive JavaScript charting library that offers a wide range of chart types, including advanced visualizations like heatmaps and Gantt charts. Key features include extensive customization options, support for real-time data updates, and a user-friendly interface. Pros: Rich set of features, great for enterprise-level projects. Cons: May be overkill for simple data visualization needs.
Chartist: Chartist is a simple and lightweight JavaScript library for creating responsive charts and graphs. Key features include support for SVG-based animations, plug-in architecture, and easy integration with other web technologies. Pros: Lightweight and easy to use, great for small-scale projects. Cons: Limited chart types and customization options compared to Chart.js.
Plotly.js: Plotly.js is a high-level charting library built on top of D3.js that offers interactive and declarative data visualization capabilities. Key features include support for dynamic updates, rich interactivity options, and seamless integration with Python and R data analysis tools. Pros: Powerful and flexible, suitable for complex data visualization needs. Cons: Higher learning curve compared to Chart.js.
TauCharts: TauCharts is a flexible JavaScript library for creating data-driven visualizations with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Key features include support for a wide range of chart types, customizable themes, and robust data analysis capabilities. Pros: Simple and intuitive interface, suitable for beginners. Cons: Limited advanced features compared to other alternatives.
Billboard.js: Billboard.js is a re-usable JavaScript charting library built on top of D3.js that offers a simple API for creating customizable charts. Key features include support for real-time updates, dynamic animations, and easy integration with other web technologies. Pros: Lightweight and easy to use, suitable for quick data visualization needs. Cons: Limited advanced features compared to Chart.js.
Top Alternatives to Chart.js
- Highcharts
Highcharts currently supports line, spline, area, areaspline, column, bar, pie, scatter, angular gauges, arearange, areasplinerange, columnrange, bubble, box plot, error bars, funnel, waterfall and polar chart types. ...
- D3.js
It is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. Emphasises on web standards gives you the full capabilities of modern browsers without tying yourself to a proprietary framework. ...
- Plotly.js
It is a standalone Javascript data visualization library, and it also powers the Python and R modules named plotly in those respective ecosystems (referred to as Plotly.py and Plotly.R). It can be used to produce dozens of chart types and visualizations, including statistical charts, 3D graphs, scientific charts, SVG and tile maps, financial charts and more. ...
- ApexCharts
A modern JavaScript charting library to build interactive charts and visualizations with simple API. ...
- Google Charts
It is an interactive Web service that creates graphical charts from user-supplied information. The user supplies data and a formatting specification expressed in JavaScript embedded in a Web page; in response the service sends an image of the chart. ...
- Recharts
Quickly build your charts with decoupled, reusable React components. Built on top of SVG elements with a lightweight dependency on D3 submodules. ...
- amCharts
amCharts is an advanced charting library that will suit any data visualization need. Our charting solution include Column, Bar, Line, Area, Step, Step without risers, Smoothed line, Candlestick, OHLC, Pie/Donut, Radar/ Polar, XY/Scatter/Bubble, Bullet, Funnel/Pyramid charts as well as Gauges. ...
- CanvasJS
Lightweight, Beautiful & Responsive Charts that make your dashboards fly even with millions of data points! Self-Hosted, Secure & Scalable charts that render across devices. ...
Chart.js alternatives & related posts
Highcharts
- Low learning curve and powerful34
- Multiple chart types such as pie, bar, line and others17
- Responsive charts13
- Handles everything you throw at it9
- Extremely easy-to-parse documentation8
- Built-in export chart as-is to image file5
- Easy to customize color scheme and palettes5
- Export on server side, can be used in email1
- Expensive9
related Highcharts posts
Here is my stack on #Visualization. @FusionCharts and Highcharts are easy to use but only free for non-commercial. Chart.js and Plotly are two lovely tools for commercial use under the MIT license. And D3.js would be my last choice only if a complex customized plot is needed.
- Beautiful visualizations195
- Svg103
- Data-driven92
- Large set of examples81
- Data-driven documents61
- Visualization components24
- Transitions20
- Dynamic properties18
- Plugins16
- Transformation11
- Makes data interactive7
- Open Source4
- Enter and Exit4
- Components4
- Exhaustive3
- Backed by the new york times3
- Easy and beautiful2
- Highly customizable1
- Awesome Community Support1
- Simple elegance1
- Templates, force template1
- Angular 41
- Beginners cant understand at all11
- Complex syntax6
related D3.js posts
We use Plotly (just their open source stuff) for Zulip's user-facing and admin-facing statistics graphs because it's a reasonably well-designed JavaScript graphing library.
If you've tried using D3.js, it's a pretty poor developer experience, and that translates to spending a bunch of time getting the graphs one wants even for things that are conceptually pretty basic. Plotly isn't amazing (it's decent), but it's way better than than D3 unless you have very specialized needs.
Hi,
I am looking at integrating a charting library in my React frontend that allows me to create appealing and interactive charts. I have basic familiarity with ApexCharts with React but have also read about D3.js charts and it seems a much more involved integration. Can someone please share their experience across the two libraries on the following dimensions:
- Amount of work needed for integration
- Amount of work or ease for creating new charts in either of the libraries.
Regards
Amit
- Bindings to popular languages like Python, Node, R, etc16
- Integrated zoom and filter-out tools in charts and maps10
- Great support for complex and multiple axes9
- Powerful out-of-the-box featureset8
- Beautiful visualizations6
- Active user base4
- Impressive support for webgl 3D charts4
- Charts are easy to share with a cloud account3
- Webgl chart types are extremely performant3
- Interactive charts2
- Easy to use online editor for creating plotly.js charts2
- Publication quality image export2
- Terrible document18
related Plotly.js posts
We use Plotly (just their open source stuff) for Zulip's user-facing and admin-facing statistics graphs because it's a reasonably well-designed JavaScript graphing library.
If you've tried using D3.js, it's a pretty poor developer experience, and that translates to spending a bunch of time getting the graphs one wants even for things that are conceptually pretty basic. Plotly isn't amazing (it's decent), but it's way better than than D3 unless you have very specialized needs.
Here is my stack on #Visualization. @FusionCharts and Highcharts are easy to use but only free for non-commercial. Chart.js and Plotly are two lovely tools for commercial use under the MIT license. And D3.js would be my last choice only if a complex customized plot is needed.
- Provides zooming capabilities4
- Interactive charts4
- Graphs renders in SVG3
- Open source with MIT license3
- Multiple chart types such as pie, bar, line and others2
- Slow rendering4
related ApexCharts posts
Hi,
I am looking at integrating a charting library in my React frontend that allows me to create appealing and interactive charts. I have basic familiarity with ApexCharts with React but have also read about D3.js charts and it seems a much more involved integration. Can someone please share their experience across the two libraries on the following dimensions:
- Amount of work needed for integration
- Amount of work or ease for creating new charts in either of the libraries.
Regards
Amit
related Google Charts posts
- Very intuitive API11
- Built for React, from scratch8
- Responsive7
- Composable chart elements5
- Easy to use3
- MIT license2
- Not considered time series charts2
related Recharts posts
- Mock-up tools18
- Each element can be Customized3
- Amcharts upgrade often need to rewrite all code1
related amCharts posts
- 30+ Chart Types3
- Easy Customizations1
- Zooming, Panning1
- Dynamic Charts1
- Multiseries Charts1
- Drilldown Charts1
- Multiple Axis Support1
- Themes1
- Synchronized Charts1
- Interactivity1
- Easy Customization1
- Works across Devices and Browsers1
- Well Documented1
- Simple API1
- Responsive Charts1
- Performance1
- Exporting as Image1
- Low learning curve1
- It's not free1