recharts vs chart.js vs @vx/shape vs @nivo/line
Data Visualization Libraries Comparison
1 Year
rechartschart.js@vx/shape@nivo/lineSimilar Packages:
What's Data Visualization Libraries?

Data visualization libraries are essential tools in web development that allow developers to create interactive and visually appealing charts and graphs. These libraries help in transforming complex data sets into understandable visual formats, making it easier for users to interpret and analyze data. Each library has its unique strengths, catering to different use cases, design preferences, and performance requirements. Choosing the right library can significantly impact the user experience and the efficiency of data representation in web applications.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
recharts7,693,65125,5285.32 MB4612 days agoMIT
chart.js4,836,18466,2056.17 MB483a month agoMIT
@vx/shape930,69220,134278 kB168-MIT
@nivo/line320,86613,653371 kB492 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: recharts vs chart.js vs @vx/shape vs @nivo/line

Customization

  • recharts:

    Recharts offers a good level of customization with its component-based architecture, allowing developers to easily modify chart properties and styles. It strikes a balance between ease of use and flexibility.

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js allows for basic customization through options for colors, labels, and tooltips. While it covers most standard use cases, it may not be as flexible for highly specialized visualizations compared to other libraries.

  • @vx/shape:

    @vx/shape provides a high degree of customization as it is a low-level library. Developers can create unique visualizations tailored to specific requirements, but this may require more effort and understanding of SVG and D3 principles.

  • @nivo/line:

    @nivo/line offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to modify almost every aspect of the charts, including colors, shapes, and tooltips. It supports responsive design and can adapt to various screen sizes seamlessly.

Learning Curve

  • recharts:

    Recharts is relatively easy to learn, especially for React developers. Its declarative approach allows for quick implementation of charts, and the documentation provides clear examples.

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js is known for its straightforward API and ease of use, making it beginner-friendly. Developers can quickly create charts with minimal setup, making it ideal for those new to data visualization.

  • @vx/shape:

    @vx/shape has a steeper learning curve due to its low-level nature. Developers need to have a solid understanding of SVG and D3.js to effectively utilize the library for custom visualizations.

  • @nivo/line:

    @nivo/line has a moderate learning curve, especially for those familiar with React. Its extensive features may require some time to fully understand, but the documentation is comprehensive and helpful.

Performance

  • recharts:

    Recharts performs well with moderate datasets and is optimized for React applications. However, performance may be impacted with very large datasets, necessitating careful management of state and rendering.

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js is designed for performance and can handle a reasonable amount of data efficiently. However, performance may degrade with very large datasets or complex charts, requiring optimization techniques.

  • @vx/shape:

    @vx/shape can achieve high performance due to its low-level nature, allowing developers to optimize rendering as needed. However, performance may vary based on the complexity of the custom visualizations created.

  • @nivo/line:

    @nivo/line is optimized for performance, particularly when dealing with large datasets. It leverages React's rendering capabilities to efficiently update the DOM, ensuring smooth interactions and transitions.

Integration

  • recharts:

    Recharts is specifically designed for React, providing a straightforward integration process. Its component-based structure makes it easy to incorporate into existing React projects.

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js can be integrated into various frameworks, including React, Vue, and Angular. However, it may require additional wrappers for optimal use in React applications.

  • @vx/shape:

    @vx/shape is built for React and can be easily integrated into any React application. Its modular design allows developers to use only the components they need, reducing bundle size.

  • @nivo/line:

    @nivo/line integrates seamlessly with React applications, making it a great choice for projects already using React. It also supports server-side rendering, enhancing performance for initial loads.

Community and Support

  • recharts:

    Recharts benefits from a strong community of React developers, with good documentation and examples. Its popularity ensures that developers can find help and resources easily.

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and examples available. This makes it easy to find support and resources for troubleshooting.

  • @vx/shape:

    @vx/shape has a smaller community compared to others, but it is backed by the powerful D3.js ecosystem. Documentation is available, but may require more exploration for complex use cases.

  • @nivo/line:

    @nivo/line has a growing community and is well-documented, providing ample resources for developers. The community actively contributes to its development and improvement.

How to Choose: recharts vs chart.js vs @vx/shape vs @nivo/line
  • recharts:

    Choose Recharts if you are developing a React application and need a library that is easy to use with a declarative API. It is built on top of D3.js and offers a good balance between customization and simplicity, making it suitable for most use cases.

  • chart.js:

    Opt for Chart.js if you prefer a simple and easy-to-use library that provides a wide range of chart types with minimal configuration. It is great for quick implementations and works well for projects that require standard charting capabilities without extensive customization.

  • @vx/shape:

    Select @vx/shape if you are looking for a low-level library that provides maximum flexibility in creating custom visualizations. It is ideal for developers who want to build unique charts from scratch while leveraging the power of React.

  • @nivo/line:

    Choose @nivo/line if you need a highly customizable and responsive charting solution that integrates well with React applications. It offers a rich set of features and is suitable for complex visualizations with a focus on aesthetics.

README for recharts

Recharts

storybook Build Status codecov 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 with minimal dependencies.
  3. Declarative components.

Documentation at recharts.org and our storybook

Also see the wiki.

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

Examples

<LineChart width={400} height={400} data={data}>
  <XAxis dataKey="name" />
  <Tooltip />
  <CartesianGrid stroke="#f5f5f5" />
  <Line type="monotone" dataKey="uv" stroke="#ff7300" />
  <Line type="monotone" dataKey="pv" stroke="#387908" />
</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 react-is

react-is needs to match the version of your installed react package.

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

Then you can find the library on window.Recharts.

Contributing

Recharts is open source. If you want to contribute to the project, please read the CONTRIBUTING.md to understand how to contribute to the project and DEVELOPING.md to set up your development environment.

Thanks

Chromatic

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

JetBrains logo.

Thanks to JetBrains for providing OSS development license for their IDEs.

License

MIT

Copyright (c) 2015-2024 Recharts Group.