Chart.js vs Plotly.js
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript library for drawing simple, customizable charts on web pages using canvas.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript library for drawing interactive charts in web pages, also the engine behind Plotly in Python and
The short answer
Choose Chart.js if you need…
- Web developers adding standard charts such as line or bar charts to a site
- Designers who want chart styling they can configure in code
- Teams building dashboards in the browser who want an MIT-licensed library
Choose Plotly.js if you need…
- Web developers who want interactive charts in their own site or app
- Data analysts who already use Python or R Plotly and want to understand the JavaScript side
- Teams building dashboards that need 3D or scientific chart types
- People comfortable with basic HTML and JSON who want charts without much code
Side-by-side
| Chart.js | Plotly.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 67.8k | 18.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 14 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
Chart.js
Chart.js is a JavaScript library for adding charts to web pages. It draws charts on the HTML canvas element, so you pass it data and options and it renders the graphic in the browser. People use it to show data visually on websites and dashboards without building chart rendering from scratch.
Plotly.js
Plotly.js is a JavaScript library that draws interactive data visualizations such as statistical charts, 3D graphs, scientific charts, map charts and financial charts. You describe your data and layout as a JSON-like object, and the library renders the chart in a web page. The same library also powers the Python and R packages named plotly.
Best for
Chart.js
- Web developers adding standard charts such as line or bar charts to a site
- Designers who want chart styling they can configure in code
- Teams building dashboards in the browser who want an MIT-licensed library
Plotly.js
- Web developers who want interactive charts in their own site or app
- Data analysts who already use Python or R Plotly and want to understand the JavaScript side
- Teams building dashboards that need 3D or scientific chart types
- People comfortable with basic HTML and JSON who want charts without much code
Strengths
Chart.js
- MIT licensed, so it can be used in commercial and open-source projects
- Large community with a documentation site, samples, and a Discord server linked from the README
- Actively maintained, with a recent release (v4.6.1) and a recent last push
Plotly.js
- Supports dozens of chart types, including 3D, scientific, map and financial charts
- Can be used with no build step by loading it from a CDN, or installed through npm
- Actively maintained by Plotly, with an MIT license
Not ideal for
Chart.js
- People who need a finished chart tool with no coding, since this is a library that requires writing JavaScript
- Projects needing chart types or features the README does not describe, since the README here gives little detail on specific chart types
- Users who need charts rendered on a server, since the README describes browser canvas usage
Plotly.js
- Users who only need a simple static chart image; a lighter charting library may be enough
- Projects with strict bundle size limits unless they choose a custom or partial bundle, since the full build is large
- Anyone needing WebGL 2 features, since the README only mentions a WebGL 1 workaround for multiple graphs
Trade-offs
Chart.js
- Requires JavaScript and web page knowledge to use, so it is not beginner-friendly for non-coders
- The README is short and points to external docs for details, so getting started depends on those docs
- Documentation links in the README point to version 4; older versions need separate docs URLs
Plotly.js
- The full bundle is large, so you may need to build a custom bundle to keep pages light
- Advanced setup such as custom builds or bundling requires reading additional guides
- Some features like MathJax rendering need separate loading and extra configuration
Getting started
Chart.js
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/chartjs/Chart.jsPlotly.js
Install the ready-to-use distributed bundle
npm i --save plotly.js-dist-minFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Chart.js and Plotly.js?
Chart.js: A JavaScript library for drawing simple, customizable charts on web pages using canvas. Plotly.js: A JavaScript library for drawing interactive charts in web pages, also the engine behind Plotly in Python and . Chart.js suits web developers adding standard charts such as line or bar charts to a site, while Plotly.js suits web developers who want interactive charts in their own site or app.
Are Chart.js and Plotly.js free?
Chart.js: Free and open source. Plotly.js: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Chart.js or Plotly.js?
Plotly.js is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Chart.js is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Chart.js or Plotly.js more popular?
Chart.js has more GitHub stars (67.8k) than Plotly.js (18.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Chart.js and Plotly.js?
Other options people compare them with include Frappe Charts, G2, three.js, plotly.py, visx.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.