I’m Kayla. I make dashboards for work and for fun. Over the past few years, I’ve tried a bunch of graph chart JavaScript tools. Some felt smooth. Some felt like climbing a wall with socks on. I’ve got stories, small wins, and a few oops moments.
If you're hunting for a spoiler-filled comparison, my rundown of trying a bunch of JavaScript chart libraries and what actually worked for me may help frame the landscape.
For an even nerdier step-by-step, my earlier post about how I built real charts with JavaScript in a hands-on test walks through the bumps in code form.
Here’s what stood out when I used these libraries on real projects.
I also spent a weekend with EJSChart, a lightweight library that punches above its weight, though it hasn’t cracked my daily toolkit yet.
For a lighter primer, see how I drew charts in JavaScript so you don't sweat it.
Chart.js — My Easy Button
I first used Chart.js for a school fundraiser board. We needed a simple line chart and a doughnut chart. Setup took minutes. It felt friendly, like a toaster—plug in, toast out.
For the nitty-gritty details, see the official Chart.js site.
That experience mirrors my separate guide on easy JavaScript charts and what actually worked for me.
What I liked:
- Quick setup
- Nice defaults
- Good docs
What bugged me:
- Canvas only, so custom SVG tricks are harder
- Deep custom themes take more work
A tiny real example I shipped (sales by month):
<canvas id="sales"></canvas>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/chart.js"></script>
<script>
const ctx = document.getElementById('sales');
new Chart(ctx, {
type: 'line',
data: {
labels: ['Jan','Feb','Mar','Apr','May','Jun'],
datasets: [{
label: 'Sales',
data: [12, 19, 13, 22, 17, 25],
borderColor: '#4f46e5',
tension: 0.3,
fill: false
}]
},
options: {
responsive: true,
plugins: { legend: { display: true } },
scales: { y: { beginAtZero: true } }
}
});
</script>
That chart powered a tiny sales stand-up for months. No drama.
If polish is more your vibe, my experiment in making beautiful JavaScript charts shows a few extra tweaks you can steal for Chart.js.
D3.js — Wild Power, Sharp Edges
D3 feels like a toolbox and a puzzle at the same time. I used it for a custom bar chart with tooltips and keyboard support. It looked great. It also ate a weekend. Did I learn a ton? Yes. Did I mutter to myself? Also yes.
The full power docs live on the official D3.js page if you’re the reading type.
What I liked:
- Full control
- SVG magic
- Great for custom stories
What bugged me:
- Steeper curve
- You build a lot by hand
Real bar chart I built for an ops report:
<svg id="chart" width="420" height="200"></svg>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/d3@7"></script>
<script>
const data = [4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42];
const svg = d3.select('#chart');
const x = d3.scaleLinear().domain([0, d3.max(data)]).range([0, 400]);
svg.selectAll('rect')
.data(data)
.enter().append('rect')
.attr('y', (d,i) => i * 30)
.attr('height', 20)
.attr('width', d => x(d))
.attr('fill', '#10b981');
svg.selectAll('text')
.data(data)
.enter().append('text')
.attr('y', (d,i) => i * 30 + 14)
.attr('x', d => x(d) + 5)
.text(d => d)
.attr('font-size', 12);
</script>
When I need custom maps or a special layout, I reach for D3. When time is tight, I don’t.
I later doubled down on SVG wizardry in this recap of how I built charts with D3.js—what actually worked and what didn't.
If open-source tooling is your jam, my take on a bunch of open-source JavaScript chart tools and what actually worked stacks D3 up against its peers.
ECharts — Flashy Without Fuss
I used ECharts for a live ops dashboard. We had CPU heatmaps, pie charts, and a geo map. Themes looked sharp right out of the gate. Tooltips felt rich without me fiddling too much.
What I liked:
- Pretty themes
- Smooth tooltips
- Handles big data well
What bugged me:
- Option objects get long
- Docs are clear, but there’s a lot
A heatmap I used for server load:
<div id="heat" style="width:600px;height:300px"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/echarts@5"></script>
<script>
const chart = echarts.init(document.getElementById('heat'));
const hours = [...Array(24).keys()];
const days = ['Mon','Tue','Wed','Thu','Fri','Sat','Sun'];
const data = [];
for (let d = 0; d < 7; d++) {
for (let h = 0; h < 24; h++) {
data.push([h, d, Math.round(Math.random()*100)]);
}
}
chart.setOption({
tooltip: { position: 'top' },
xAxis: { type: 'category', data: hours },
yAxis: { type: 'category', data: days },
visualMap: { min: 0, max: 100, calculable: true, orient: 'horizontal' },
series: [{ type: 'heatmap', data }]
});
</script>
It ran all week with live data pings. Not once did it stutter.
In a separate speed test, I poked at high-performance JavaScript charts to see what actually felt fast—ECharts scored high there too.
Highcharts — Polished, Especially For Finance
I used Highcharts at a fintech client. They had a license, which is needed for commercial work. The charts looked clean. The stock module saved me hours. Candles, ranges, zoom—done.
What I liked:
- Very polished
- Stock charts feel pro
- Great interactions
What bugged me:
- License cost for paid use
- Some features hide in modules
A tiny stock-style line I used for a quick sparkline panel:
<div id="mini"></div>
<script src="https://code.highcharts.com/highcharts.js"></script>
<script>
Highcharts.chart('mini', {
chart: { height: 120 },
title: { text: null },
xAxis: { visible: false },
yAxis: { title: { text: null } },
series: [{ data: [1,3,2,4,3,5,4], color: '#ef4444' }],
legend: { enabled: false },
credits: { enabled: false }
});
</script>
It’s the kind of chart you add and forget because it just behaves.
For a lens on heavyweight options, my field notes on the big JavaScript chart tools and what actually worked lay out how Highcharts compares.
Recharts — Sweet Spot for React Folks
If you live in React land, Recharts feels cozy. I used it for a sales dashboard with Next.js. JSX charts read like UI pieces. I could pass props, map data, and reuse bits fast.
I’ve chronicled similar React-heavy workflows in I make charts with JavaScript—here’s what actually worked for me.
What I liked:
- React-first flow
- Easy to customize
- Strong