recharts vs @visx/shape vs @nivo/bar vs @ant-design/charts
Data Visualization Libraries for React Comparison
1 Year
recharts@visx/shape@nivo/bar@ant-design/chartsSimilar Packages:
What's Data Visualization Libraries for React?

Data visualization libraries for React provide developers with tools to create interactive and visually appealing charts and graphs that help in representing data effectively. These libraries often come with built-in components that simplify the process of rendering complex visualizations, allowing developers to focus on data analysis rather than the intricacies of drawing shapes and managing state. They cater to various use cases, from simple bar charts to complex interactive dashboards, and are essential for applications that require data-driven insights.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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recharts3,250,16224,6864.64 MB446a month agoMIT
@visx/shape521,96419,796291 kB1584 months agoMIT
@nivo/bar328,51313,410375 kB1124 months agoMIT
@ant-design/charts56,9712,0019.64 MB3382 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: recharts vs @visx/shape vs @nivo/bar vs @ant-design/charts

Customization

  • recharts:

    Recharts offers a balance of customization and simplicity. While it allows for some level of customization through props, it is designed to be easy to use, making it suitable for standard charting needs without overwhelming complexity.

  • @visx/shape:

    @visx/shape offers a high degree of customization, allowing developers to create bespoke visualizations. It provides a set of low-level components that can be combined to build unique charts tailored to specific requirements, leveraging the power of D3.js.

  • @nivo/bar:

    @nivo/bar excels in customization, offering a rich API that allows developers to tweak nearly every aspect of the charts, from colors and labels to animations and interactivity. This flexibility makes it suitable for complex data visualization needs.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    @ant-design/charts provides a variety of configuration options that allow developers to customize the appearance and behavior of charts. It supports themes and styles consistent with Ant Design, making it easy to maintain a cohesive look across applications.

Integration

  • recharts:

    Recharts is built specifically for React, making it easy to integrate into any React application. Its component-based architecture allows for straightforward implementation and reusability across different parts of an application.

  • @visx/shape:

    @visx/shape is designed to work well with React and can be easily integrated into existing React applications. It is also compatible with D3.js, allowing developers to leverage D3's powerful capabilities while working within the React ecosystem.

  • @nivo/bar:

    @nivo/bar can be integrated with various state management libraries and is compatible with React Router, making it versatile for different application architectures. It can also work well with other Nivo components for a unified data visualization experience.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    @ant-design/charts integrates seamlessly with Ant Design, making it an excellent choice for applications already using this UI framework. This integration ensures that charts match the overall design and user experience of the application.

Learning Curve

  • recharts:

    Recharts is known for its low learning curve, making it accessible for beginners. Its straightforward API and clear documentation allow developers to quickly implement charts without extensive prior knowledge.

  • @visx/shape:

    @visx/shape may require a deeper understanding of D3.js concepts, making its learning curve steeper for those unfamiliar with D3. However, it offers great flexibility for those willing to invest the time.

  • @nivo/bar:

    @nivo/bar has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive customization options and rich API. However, once mastered, it provides powerful tools for creating complex visualizations.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    @ant-design/charts has a moderate learning curve, especially for developers familiar with Ant Design. The documentation is comprehensive, which helps in understanding how to utilize its features effectively.

Performance

  • recharts:

    Recharts is optimized for performance in typical use cases, but may not handle extremely large datasets as efficiently as some other libraries. It is best used for standard charting needs without excessive data.

  • @visx/shape:

    @visx/shape leverages D3's performance capabilities, allowing for efficient rendering of complex visualizations. It is suitable for applications that require high-performance graphics.

  • @nivo/bar:

    @nivo/bar is designed with performance in mind, utilizing React's reconciliation process to minimize re-renders and improve responsiveness, especially in interactive charts.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    @ant-design/charts is optimized for performance, ensuring that charts render efficiently even with large datasets. It uses canvas rendering for better performance in complex visualizations.

Community and Support

  • recharts:

    Recharts has a large user base and community support, with plenty of tutorials and examples available online. Its popularity ensures that developers can find help and resources easily.

  • @visx/shape:

    @visx/shape, while newer, has a dedicated community and is backed by Airbnb, ensuring ongoing support and development. The documentation is robust, aiding developers in implementation.

  • @nivo/bar:

    @nivo/bar has a growing community and good documentation, with active contributors who provide support and updates. The community is helpful for troubleshooting and sharing examples.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    @ant-design/charts benefits from the strong Ant Design community, providing ample resources, tutorials, and support for developers. This community-driven approach helps in resolving issues and sharing best practices.

How to Choose: recharts vs @visx/shape vs @nivo/bar vs @ant-design/charts
  • recharts:

    Recharts is a good choice for those looking for simplicity and ease of use. It is built on React components and is designed to be straightforward, making it suitable for developers who want to quickly implement charts without a steep learning curve.

  • @visx/shape:

    Opt for @visx/shape if you prefer a low-level library that allows for maximum customization and control over your visualizations. It is best suited for developers who want to build unique visualizations from scratch while leveraging the power of D3.js in a React-friendly way.

  • @nivo/bar:

    Select @nivo/bar for its rich set of features and flexibility. It offers a wide range of customization options and is particularly useful for creating responsive and interactive charts. It's a great choice if you prioritize performance and visual appeal in your data visualizations.

  • @ant-design/charts:

    Choose @ant-design/charts if you need a comprehensive charting library that integrates well with Ant Design components, providing a consistent design language and a wide variety of chart types. It's ideal for enterprise applications where aesthetics and usability are paramount.

README for recharts

Recharts

storybook Build Status Coverage Status npm version npm downloads MIT License

Introduction

Recharts is a Redefined chart library built with React and D3.

The main purpose of this library is to help you to write charts in React applications without any pain. Main principles of Recharts are:

  1. Simply deploy with React components.
  2. Native SVG support, lightweight depending only on some D3 submodules.
  3. Declarative components, components of charts are purely presentational.

Documentation at recharts.org and our storybook (WIP)

Please see the wiki for FAQ.

All development is done on the master branch. The current latest release and storybook documentation reflects what is on the release branch.

Examples

<LineChart width={400} height={400} data={data} margin={{ top: 5, right: 20, left: 10, bottom: 5 }}>
  <XAxis dataKey="name" />
  <Tooltip />
  <CartesianGrid stroke="#f5f5f5" />
  <Line type="monotone" dataKey="uv" stroke="#ff7300" yAxisId={0} />
  <Line type="monotone" dataKey="pv" stroke="#387908" yAxisId={1} />
</LineChart>

All the components of Recharts are clearly separated. The lineChart is composed of x axis, tooltip, grid, and line items, and each of them is an independent React Component. The clear separation and composition of components is one of the principle Recharts follows.

Installation

npm

NPM is the easiest and fastest way to get started using Recharts. It is also the recommended installation method when building single-page applications (SPAs). It pairs nicely with a CommonJS module bundler such as Webpack.

# latest stable
$ npm install recharts

umd

The UMD build is also available on unpkg.com:

<script src="https://unpkg.com/react/umd/react.production.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/react-dom/umd/react-dom.production.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/recharts/umd/Recharts.min.js"></script>

Then you can find the library on window.Recharts.

dev build

$ git clone https://github.com/recharts/recharts.git
$ cd recharts
$ npm install
$ npm run build

Demo

To examine the demos in your local build, execute:

$ npm run[-script] demo

and then browse to http://localhost:3000.

Storybook

We are in the process of unifying documentation and examples in storybook. To run it locally, execute

$ npm run[-script] storybook

and then browse to http://localhost:6006.

Releases

Releases are automated via GH Actions - when a new release is created in GH, CI will trigger that:

  1. Runs a build
  2. Runs tests
  3. Runs npm publish

Version increments and tagging are not automated at this time.

Release testing

Until we can automate more, it should be preferred to test as close to the results of npm publish as we possibly can. This ensures we don't publish unintended breaking changes. One way to do that is using yalc - npm i -g yalc.

  1. Make your changes in recharts
  2. yalc publish in recharts
  3. yalc add recharts in your test package (ex: in a vite or webpack reach app with recharts installed, imported, and your recent changes used)
  4. npm install
  5. Test a local run, a build, etc.

Module Formats

  • babel-plugin-recharts A simple transform to cherry-pick Recharts modules so you don’t have to. Note: this plugin is out of date and may not work with 2.x

Thanks

Chromatic

Thanks to Chromatic for providing the visual testing platform that helps us review UI changes and catch visual regressions.

License

MIT

Copyright (c) 2015-2023 Recharts Group.