Chart.js vs D3

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

chart.js

Very Popular

Version 4.5.1

73
Good

Simple HTML5 charts using the canvas element.

Weekly Downloads
7.4M
31%
Bundle (gzip)
1.8 MB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
60
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

d3

Very Popular

Version 7.9.0

67
Good

Data-Driven Documents

Weekly Downloads
8.0M
39%
Bundle (gzip)
89.8 KB
Updated
Vulns
0

Health Score Breakdown

Maintenance
40
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70

Choosing between Chart.js and D3? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

D3 leads with 8.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1.1x more. Chart.js has 7.4M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

D3 has the smallest gzipped bundle at 89.8 KB. Chart.js comes in at 1.8 MB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Chart.js has an overall health score of 73/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. D3 has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Chart.js if you value large community support, strong security track record. Choose D3 if you value large community support, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Both Chart.js and D3 are solid choices for JavaScript development. Chart.js has the edge in overall health score (73/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chart.js better than d3?
It depends on your needs. Chart.js has a health score of 73/100 while D3 scores 67/100. D3 has more weekly downloads (8.0M), suggesting broader adoption. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, chart.js or d3?
D3 has the smaller gzipped bundle at 89.8 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use chart.js vs d3?
Based on npm download statistics, Chart.js has approximately 7.4M weekly downloads and D3 has approximately 8.0M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
Which is better maintained, chart.js or d3?
Chart.js currently has the higher overall health score at 73/100. Chart.js has a maintenance score of 60/100 and D3 scores 40/100 on maintenance.

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