Resources / Chart Libraries
Chart.js and ApexCharts cover most everyday charting needs with clean APIs, D3.js unlocks fully custom data-driven visuals, and Vizzu adds a unique animated storytelling layer on top of your data.
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All Tools
Chart.js
Canvas based JavaScript charting library with eight chart types and no required dependencies. Version 4 added tree shaking so unused chart types are not bundled.
MIT license. Renders on HTML5 canvas, supports IE11 and all modern browsers.
Frappe Charts
JavaScript charting library for bar, line, pie and heatmap charts, including a GitHub style contribution grid. Ships with zero runtime dependencies.
MIT license. npm package frappe-charts, latest release 1.6.1. Marketing page now redirects to the general Frappe products site.
G2Plot
Interactive charting library built on the grammar of graphics from AntV, the Alibaba backed visualization group. Wraps G2 4.x internally, MIT licensed.
MIT license. README states it will not be rebuilt on G2 v5; AntV points new projects to Ant Design Charts instead.
Google Charts
Free charting library from Google that renders with SVG and HTML5, with a VML fallback for old Internet Explorer. Works on desktop, iOS and Android without plugins.
Free, no account needed. Google guarantees three years of backward compatibility for existing charts.
D3.js
Low level library for binding data to the DOM and building fully custom visualizations rather than picking from ready made chart types. ISC licensed.
ISC license. Version 7.9, maintained by Observable, over 113k GitHub stars.
ApexCharts
Interactive charting library with 15 plus chart types and first class wrappers for React, Vue and Angular. Over 8 million npm downloads a month.
Revenue based license: free under 2 million USD annual revenue, paid license required above that threshold.
Chartist
Lightweight SVG based charting library, about 10KB gzipped with no dependencies, styled through CSS instead of JavaScript options.
Maintenance moved from gionkunz/chartist-js to chartist-js/chartist, now at version 1.5.0, MIT or WTFPL license.
Vizzu
Open source library for animated charts that automatically transitions between chart states, aimed at data storytelling and exploration rather than static output.
Apache 2.0 license. Current release 0.18, written in C++ with a JavaScript build and a separate Python binding, ipyvizzu.
Best JavaScript Charting & Data Visualization Libraries
Chart libraries and data visualization tools are essential for building dashboards, analytics platforms, and data-driven applications. From simple bar charts to complex interactive data visualizations, JavaScript charting libraries handle the heavy lifting of turning raw data into insightful graphics.
Chart.js and ApexCharts cover most dashboards out of the box, with ready made chart types and framework wrappers; ApexCharts now uses a revenue based license, free under 2 million dollars in annual revenue, so check that before a commercial build. D3 sits below the rest: it binds data to the DOM instead of drawing charts, so pick it when built in chart types do not fit.
Google Charts and G2Plot are solid free defaults, though G2Plot will not be rebuilt on AntV G2 v5. The category's trap is abandonment under a different name: Chartist moved from gionkunz/chartist-js to chartist-js/chartist, and the old docs site now only maintains the 0.x branch. Vizzu stands out for animated transitions between chart states.
What to check before you pick one
- Chart type coverage: Ensure the library covers the chart types you need: bar, line, pie, scatter, heatmap, etc.
- Interactivity: Hover tooltips, click events, zoom, and pan are important for data-rich dashboards.
- Performance: Canvas-based libraries generally perform better than SVG for large datasets with thousands of data points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best JavaScript charting library?
Chart.js is the most beginner-friendly charting library with good out-of-the-box charts. D3.js is the most powerful for custom visualizations but has a steeper learning curve. Recharts and Victory are popular React-specific options. ECharts by Apache is excellent for complex dashboards.
What is the difference between Chart.js and D3.js?
Chart.js provides pre-built chart types (bar, line, pie, etc.) that are quick to set up with minimal code. D3.js is a low-level data binding library that gives you full control over every visual element, making it ideal for custom or unconventional visualizations. D3 has a much steeper learning curve.
Which chart library works best with React?
Recharts and Victory are purpose-built for React with declarative component APIs. Tremor provides pre-built React chart components styled for dashboards. For maximum flexibility, react-chartjs-2 wraps Chart.js for React use. Nivo offers both SVG and canvas rendering for React.