chart.js vs d3 vs highcharts vs ngx-echarts
Data Visualization Libraries Comparison
1 Year
chart.jsd3highchartsngx-echartsSimilar Packages:
What's Data Visualization Libraries?

Data visualization libraries are essential tools in web development that allow developers to create interactive and visually appealing representations of data. These libraries provide various chart types, customization options, and interactivity features that help users understand complex data sets at a glance. Choosing the right library depends on factors such as ease of use, customization capabilities, performance, and the specific requirements of the project.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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chart.js4,586,38766,0524.96 MB4802 months agoMIT
d34,154,004110,843871 kB20a year agoISC
highcharts1,402,21623561.2 MB32 months agohttps://www.highcharts.com/license
ngx-echarts109,7611,14272.5 kB1485 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: chart.js vs d3 vs highcharts vs ngx-echarts

Ease of Use

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js is designed to be user-friendly, allowing developers to create charts with minimal setup. Its API is straightforward, making it easy for beginners to get started quickly without extensive knowledge of data visualization concepts.

  • d3:

    D3.js has a steeper learning curve due to its flexibility and power. It requires a solid understanding of JavaScript and SVG, making it less accessible for beginners but highly rewarding for those who invest the time to learn it.

  • highcharts:

    Highcharts offers a balance between ease of use and advanced features. Its extensive documentation and examples make it easy to implement, while still providing powerful customization options for more experienced users.

  • ngx-echarts:

    ngx-echarts is easy to integrate into Angular applications, leveraging Angular's component architecture. It simplifies the process of using ECharts in Angular, making it accessible for developers familiar with Angular.

Customization

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js provides a range of customization options, allowing developers to modify chart colors, labels, tooltips, and animations. However, it may not offer the same level of customization as D3.js for complex visualizations.

  • d3:

    D3.js excels in customization, enabling developers to create virtually any type of visualization. It allows for detailed manipulation of the DOM and data binding, making it the go-to choice for bespoke visualizations.

  • highcharts:

    Highcharts offers extensive customization options, including themes, styles, and interactive features. It allows developers to tailor charts to fit specific design requirements while maintaining a user-friendly API.

  • ngx-echarts:

    ngx-echarts inherits the powerful customization capabilities of ECharts, allowing developers to create intricate and visually appealing charts tailored to their application's needs.

Performance

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js is optimized for performance with a focus on rendering speed, making it suitable for real-time data visualizations. However, it may struggle with very large datasets compared to D3.js.

  • d3:

    D3.js is highly efficient and can handle large datasets effectively. Its performance is dependent on how well the developer optimizes the code, but it can create complex visualizations without significant performance hits.

  • highcharts:

    Highcharts is designed for performance, especially with large datasets. It includes features like lazy loading and data grouping to enhance performance, making it suitable for enterprise applications.

  • ngx-echarts:

    ngx-echarts benefits from ECharts' performance optimizations, allowing for smooth rendering of large datasets and complex visualizations without sacrificing speed.

Community and Support

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js has a vibrant community and extensive documentation, making it easy to find resources and support. However, it may not have as many advanced features as other libraries.

  • d3:

    D3.js has a large and active community, with numerous tutorials, examples, and plugins available. Its flexibility means that developers can often find solutions to specific visualization challenges.

  • highcharts:

    Highcharts provides excellent commercial support and a wealth of documentation, making it a reliable choice for enterprise applications. The community is active, and many resources are available for troubleshooting and enhancements.

  • ngx-echarts:

    ngx-echarts benefits from the ECharts community and Angular's ecosystem, providing good support and resources for developers. Its integration with Angular ensures that developers can find help related to both ECharts and Angular.

Licensing

  • chart.js:

    Chart.js is open-source and free to use under the MIT license, making it accessible for personal and commercial projects without licensing fees.

  • d3:

    D3.js is also open-source and free to use under the BSD license, allowing for wide usage in both personal and commercial applications without restrictions.

  • highcharts:

    Highcharts requires a commercial license for non-personal use, which can be a consideration for businesses. However, it offers a free license for personal and non-commercial projects.

  • ngx-echarts:

    ngx-echarts is open-source and free to use, as it is based on ECharts, which is also open-source under the Apache 2.0 license, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

How to Choose: chart.js vs d3 vs highcharts vs ngx-echarts
  • chart.js:

    Choose Chart.js for simple and straightforward charting needs. It is ideal for developers looking for a quick solution to create responsive charts with minimal configuration and a clean API.

  • d3:

    Select D3.js for highly customizable and complex visualizations. It is best suited for projects that require fine-grained control over the visualization and the ability to bind data to the DOM directly.

  • highcharts:

    Opt for Highcharts if you need a commercial-grade solution with extensive chart types and features, including accessibility support and exporting options. It is excellent for enterprise applications that require robust support and documentation.

  • ngx-echarts:

    Use ngx-echarts if you are developing Angular applications and want to integrate ECharts seamlessly. It provides a rich set of features and is optimized for Angular's reactive programming model.

README for chart.js

https://www.chartjs.org/
Simple yet flexible JavaScript charting for designers & developers

Downloads GitHub Workflow Status Coverage Awesome Discord

Documentation

All the links point to the new version 4 of the lib.

In case you are looking for an older version of the docs, you will have to specify the specific version in the url like this: https://www.chartjs.org/docs/2.9.4/

Contributing

Instructions on building and testing Chart.js can be found in the documentation. Before submitting an issue or a pull request, please take a moment to look over the contributing guidelines first. For support, please post questions on Stack Overflow with the chart.js tag.

License

Chart.js is available under the MIT license.