NVD3 vs Plotly: What are the differences?

Key Differences between NVD3 and Plotly

NVD3 and Plotly are two popular data visualization libraries used for creating interactive charts and graphs. While both libraries have their own set of features, there are several key differences that set them apart.

1. Chart Types: NVD3 provides a variety of chart types including line charts, area charts, scatter plots, bar charts, and pie charts. On the other hand, Plotly offers a wide range of chart types such as line charts, scatter plots, bar charts, box plots, 3D surface plots, maps, and more. Plotly offers a greater variety of visuals compared to NVD3.

2. Interactivity: Plotly is known for its highly interactive charts that can be easily zoomed, panned, and rotated. It allows users to hover over data points to view tooltips and supports click events for drill-down analysis. NVD3 also provides interactivity with basic features like tooltips and hover effects, but it lacks the advanced interactive capabilities offered by Plotly.

3. Integrations and Compatibility: NVD3 is primarily designed to work with D3.js, a powerful JavaScript library for data visualization. It is tightly integrated with D3.js and leverages its functionality. On the other hand, Plotly can be used with different programming languages including Python, R, and JavaScript, making it more versatile and compatible with various development environments.

4. Ease of Use: NVD3 tends to have a steeper learning curve due to its tight integration with D3.js. It requires a good understanding of JavaScript and D3.js concepts to effectively utilize its features. On the other hand, Plotly provides a user-friendly interface with intuitive APIs, making it easier for developers to create charts and graphs without extensive knowledge of underlying libraries.

5. Hosting Options: NVD3 is typically employed as a client-side library, which means the charts and graphs are rendered within the user's web browser. Plotly provides hosting options where charts can be hosted on Plotly's servers, allowing you to embed interactive charts directly into your website or share them with others. This hosting feature gives Plotly an advantage in terms of easy sharing and collaboration.

6. Pricing: NVD3 is an open-source library and is free to use, without any licensing fees. Plotly, however, offers both open-source and commercial plans, with advanced features and hosting options available for paid subscriptions. Depending on the requirements and budget, this difference in pricing may influence the choice between NVD3 and Plotly.

In summary, while both NVD3 and Plotly serve the purpose of data visualization, Plotly offers a wider range of chart types, advanced interactivity, compatibility with multiple programming languages, ease of use, hosting options, and pricing flexibility.