chart.js
Simple HTML5 charts using the canvas element.
15.7M weekly downloads · 66.8 KB gzip · Health 67/100
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Comparison guide
Chart.js vs D3
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Chart.js
66.8 KB gzipped
Most Popular
D3
26.0M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Chart.js
40/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Chart.js
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
D3
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
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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 26.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1.7x more. Chart.js has 15.7M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.
Bundle Size
Chart.js has the smallest gzipped bundle at 66.8 KB. D3 comes in at 89.8 KB. 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 67/100 (good), with strong security, popularity scores. D3 has an overall health score of 61/100 (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 massive community and ecosystem, strong security track record. Choose D3 if you value massive community and ecosystem, 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 (67/100), 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 67/100 while D3 scores 61/100. D3 has more recorded weekly downloads (26.0M). 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?
- Chart.js has the smaller gzipped bundle at 66.8 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?
- D3 has more recorded weekly downloads (26.0M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, chart.js or d3?
- Chart.js has a maintenance score of 40/100. Chart.js scores 40/100 and D3 scores 20/100 on maintenance.
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