Fabric.js vs Signature Pad
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, editing and exporting interactive objects on HTML canvas.
Open source · MIT
A small JavaScript library that lets web pages capture smooth hand-drawn signatures on a canvas.
The short answer
Choose Fabric.js if you need…
- Web developers building interactive canvas editors or drawing tools
- Teams that need selectable, movable and resizable objects on a canvas without writing that logic from scratch
- Developers who want to load or export SVG and JSON canvas content
- Node.js developers who need to render canvas images on the server
Choose Signature Pad if you need…
- Web developers adding a signature field to a form or app
- Teams that want signatures captured in the browser without a plugin
- Projects that need to save signatures as PNG, JPEG, or SVG
- Developers who want to store signatures as point data and redraw them later
Side-by-side
| Fabric.js | Signature Pad | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 31.5k | 12.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 8 days ago |
What each one is
Fabric.js
Fabric.js is a JavaScript library that makes it easier to work with the HTML canvas element. It gives you ready-made shapes, text, images, filters, gradients and brushes, plus built-in mouse interactions such as move, scale, rotate and skew. It can also read and write SVG, JSON, PNG and JPG data, and it can run in Node.js with the node-canvas package.
Signature Pad
Signature Pad is a JavaScript library that adds a drawing area to a web page where people can sign with a mouse, finger, or stylus. It uses HTML5 canvas and smooths strokes with variable-width Bézier curves. The README says it has no external dependencies and works in modern desktop and mobile browsers. Developers use it to collect signatures and export them as images, SVG, or raw point data.
Best for
Fabric.js
- Web developers building interactive canvas editors or drawing tools
- Teams that need selectable, movable and resizable objects on a canvas without writing that logic from scratch
- Developers who want to load or export SVG and JSON canvas content
- Node.js developers who need to render canvas images on the server
Signature Pad
- Web developers adding a signature field to a form or app
- Teams that want signatures captured in the browser without a plugin
- Projects that need to save signatures as PNG, JPEG, or SVG
- Developers who want to store signatures as point data and redraw them later
Strengths
Fabric.js
- Covers many built-in features: shapes, controls, animations, image filters, gradients, patterns and brushes
- Supports SVG and JSON import and export along with JPG and PNG output
- Typed and modular, with MIT license and a large community (about 31.5k stars)
Signature Pad
- Small, dependency-free library that works in modern desktop and mobile browsers
- Flexible export options: PNG, JPEG, SVG, and raw point data
- Well-established project with many stars, an npm package, and a test badge in the README
Not ideal for
Fabric.js
- People who only need a simple static chart or image; a lighter drawing API may be enough
- Projects that must support Internet Explorer 11 or legacy Edge, since the README marks both as unsupported
- Non-developers looking for a finished app; this is a library to build with
Signature Pad
- Non-developers looking for a ready-made app; it is a code library with no interface beyond a canvas
- Projects needing legally certified e-signatures; the README covers drawing and export only and says nothing about legal validity or identity verification
Trade-offs
Fabric.js
- Node.js use depends on node-canvas and jsdom, which the README notes can have their own limitations and bugs
- The package names have changed; the README recommends new packages (@fabricjs/browser, @fabricjs/node) while keeping the legacy fabric package, which can confuse newcomers
- Browser support is limited to recent versions as listed in the README table
Signature Pad
- Canvas contents are cleared when the canvas is resized, so developers must handle resizing carefully (the README describes workarounds)
- Storing signatures as data URLs has performance drawbacks on mobile, per the README; developers must design storage themselves
- The README is truncated, so details beyond the basics are not fully verified here
Getting started
Fabric.js
Install for browser applications
npm install @fabricjs/browserInstall for Node.js applications
npm install @fabricjs/nodeSignature Pad
Install with npm
npm install --save signature_padInstall with Yarn
yarn add signature_padFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Fabric.js and Signature Pad?
Fabric.js: A JavaScript library for drawing, editing and exporting interactive objects on HTML canvas. Signature Pad: A small JavaScript library that lets web pages capture smooth hand-drawn signatures on a canvas. Fabric.js suits web developers building interactive canvas editors or drawing tools, while Signature Pad suits web developers adding a signature field to a form or app.
Are Fabric.js and Signature Pad free?
Fabric.js: Free and open source. Signature Pad: Free and open source.
Is Fabric.js or Signature Pad more popular?
Fabric.js has more GitHub stars (31.5k) than Signature Pad (12.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Fabric.js and Signature Pad?
Other options people compare them with include PixiJS, Excalidraw.
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.