Google Charts vs Highcharts: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Google Charts and Highcharts are both popular data visualization libraries used to create interactive and customizable charts on websites. While they share similarities in terms of functionality, there are key differences between the two. This article aims to highlight the main differences between Google Charts and Highcharts.

1. Pricing model: One significant difference between Google Charts and Highcharts is their pricing model. Google Charts is free to use and does not require any licensing fees, making it a cost-effective option for developers on a tight budget. On the other hand, Highcharts employs a commercial licensing model, which may require a purchase for certain uses or functionalities. Therefore, depending on the project requirements and budget, this difference in pricing structures may be a significant factor in selecting one over the other.

2. Chart Styles and Customization Options: When it comes to chart styles and customization, Highcharts offers a more extensive range of options compared to Google Charts. Highcharts provides numerous built-in chart types, including specialized charts like heatmaps, gauges, and 3D charts, allowing developers to create highly customized and unique visualizations. Google Charts, on the other hand, has a more limited selection of chart types and customization options, making it more suitable for simpler chart requirements or when a more standardized look and feel is desired.

3. Data Handling and Compatibility: Another difference between Google Charts and Highcharts is how they handle data and their compatibility with different data sources. Google Charts has seamless integration with Google Sheets and can easily fetch data from spreadsheets. This integration makes it convenient for users who already have their data stored in Google Sheets. On the other hand, Highcharts is agnostic to data sources and can fetch data from a wide range of databases, APIs, and files. This flexibility allows Highcharts to be utilized in more diverse data environments.

4. Community and Support: The level of community support and available resources can also differentiate Google Charts from Highcharts. Google Charts, being developed and maintained by Google, benefits from a vast community and extensive documentation. This ensures that developers can find answers to their questions and access helpful resources easily. Highcharts, although it also has a thriving community, may not match the extensive resources of Google Charts. However, Highcharts offers dedicated support through their commercial licenses, which can be valuable for enterprises and organizations with specific customization or implementation requirements.

5. Integration with Frameworks and Libraries: The integration capabilities with popular frameworks and libraries can also be a differentiating factor between Google Charts and Highcharts. Google Charts boasts seamless integration with other Google products and services, such as Google Maps and Google Analytics. This tight integration allows developers to leverage additional features and functionalities from these services. Highcharts, while still compatible with popular frameworks like React and Angular, may require a bit more effort in terms of integration.

6. Exporting and Printing: The ability to export and print charts is another difference between Google Charts and Highcharts. Google Charts provides a built-in export feature that allows users to save charts as images or PDF files for offline use or sharing with others. Highcharts, on the other hand, lacks native export functionality in its free version, and users need to implement third-party libraries or tools to enable export and printing capabilities. This may be a consideration for projects where exporting charts is a core requirement.

In Summary, Google Charts and Highcharts differ in their pricing models, chart styles and customization options, data handling and compatibility, community and support, integration capabilities with frameworks and libraries, and exporting/printing functionalities. Depending on the specific needs, budget, and project requirements, developers can choose the most suitable option between the two.