What is Highcharts and what are its top alternatives?
Highcharts is a popular JavaScript charting library that offers a wide range of interactive charts and features for visualizing data on the web. Its key features include a variety of chart types, extensive customization options, responsive design, and support for real-time updates. However, a limitation of Highcharts is that it can be expensive for commercial use and may not be budget-friendly for all users.
- Chart.js: Chart.js is a simple yet flexible JavaScript charting library that offers responsive and interactive charts. It is easy to use and customize, making it a popular choice for web developers. Key features include support for multiple chart types, animations, and tooltips. Pros: Lightweight library, good documentation. Cons: Limited customization options compared to Highcharts.
- D3.js: D3.js is a powerful data visualization library that allows you to create custom, interactive data-driven visualizations. It provides great flexibility and control over the design of the charts. Key features include data binding, DOM manipulation, and transitions. Pros: Highly customizable, supports complex visualizations. Cons: Steeper learning curve compared to Highcharts.
- Google Charts: Google Charts is a free charting library by Google that offers a variety of interactive charts and maps. It is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with other Google products. Key features include a wide range of chart types, responsive design, and support for dynamic data. Pros: Free to use, good documentation. Cons: Limited customization options compared to Highcharts.
- amCharts: amCharts is a feature-rich JavaScript charting library that offers a wide range of charts and mapping solutions. It provides extensive customization options and support for real-time data updates. Key features include interactive charts, animations, and export capabilities. Pros: Rich set of features, good performance. Cons: Some advanced features may require a paid license.
- Plotly: Plotly is a collaborative, browser-based data visualization library built on D3.js. It supports a wide range of chart types and comes with interactive features like hover, zoom, and pan. Key features include support for Python, R, and SQL, offline usage, and cloud-based chart editing. Pros: Easy to use, supports multiple programming languages. Cons: Limited customization compared to Highcharts.
- FusionCharts: FusionCharts is a comprehensive JavaScript charting library that offers a wide range of charts and maps for data visualization. It provides extensive customization options, exporting capabilities, and support for real-time data updates. Key features include support for over 90 chart types, custom themes, and integrations with popular frameworks. Pros: Rich set of features, good documentation. Cons: Paid licensing model may be expensive for some users.
- ApexCharts: ApexCharts is an open-source JavaScript charting library that offers responsive and interactive charts for data visualization. It is easy to use and provides a modern design with animations and tooltips. Key features include a wide range of chart types, customization options, and support for real-time data. Pros: Open-source, modern design. Cons: Limited support for older browsers.
- NVD3: NVD3 is a reusable charting library built on D3.js that offers a set of composable charts and components for data visualization. It provides predefined chart types and easy-to-use options for customization. Key features include responsive design, interactive charts, and support for complex data structures. Pros: Built on D3.js, easy to use. Cons: Limited chart types compared to Highcharts.
- ZingChart: ZingChart is a JavaScript charting library that offers responsive and interactive charts for data visualization. It provides extensive customization options, including annotations, drilldowns, and real-time data updates. Key features include a wide range of chart types, exporting capabilities, and support for popular frameworks. Pros: Extensive customization options, good performance. Cons: Paid licensing model may be expensive for some users.
- Chartist.js: Chartist.js is a simple, responsive charting library that offers beautiful and lightweight charts. It is built using SVG, which ensures crisp visuals on any device. Key features include real-time updates, animations, and support for plugins. Pros: Lightweight library, easy to implement. Cons: Limited chart types and customization options compared to Highcharts.
Top Alternatives to Highcharts
- D3.js
It is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. Emphasises on web standards gives you the full capabilities of modern browsers without tying yourself to a proprietary framework. ...
- amCharts
amCharts is an advanced charting library that will suit any data visualization need. Our charting solution include Column, Bar, Line, Area, Step, Step without risers, Smoothed line, Candlestick, OHLC, Pie/Donut, Radar/ Polar, XY/Scatter/Bubble, Bullet, Funnel/Pyramid charts as well as Gauges. ...
- Tableau
Tableau can help anyone see and understand their data. Connect to almost any database, drag and drop to create visualizations, and share with a click. ...
- Google Charts
It is an interactive Web service that creates graphical charts from user-supplied information. The user supplies data and a formatting specification expressed in JavaScript embedded in a Web page; in response the service sends an image of the chart. ...
- ECharts
It is an open source visualization library implemented in JavaScript, runs smoothly on PCs and mobile devices, and is compatible with most current browsers. ...
- Plotly.js
It is a standalone Javascript data visualization library, and it also powers the Python and R modules named plotly in those respective ecosystems (referred to as Plotly.py and Plotly.R). It can be used to produce dozens of chart types and visualizations, including statistical charts, 3D graphs, scientific charts, SVG and tile maps, financial charts and more. ...
- AnyChart
AnyChart is a flexible JavaScript (HTML5) based solution that allows you to create interactive and great looking charts. It is a cross-browser and cross-platform charting solution intended for everybody who deals with creation of dashboard, reporting, analytics, statistical, financial or any other data visualization solutions. ...
- NVD3
This project is an attempt to build re-usable charts and chart components for d3.js without taking away the power that d3.js gives you. This is a very young collection of components, with the goal of keeping these components very customizable, staying away from your standard cookie cutter solutions. ...