Software Alternatives & Startups

DataTables VS Plotly

Compare DataTables VS Plotly and see what are their differences

DataTables

DataTables is a plug-in for the jQuery Javascript library.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Plotly

Low-Code Data Apps

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, DataTables should be more popular than Plotly. It has been mentioned 74 times since March 2021.

social mentions
74 vs 34
Development Tools popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
222 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

DataTables
Plotly
Website datatables.net plotly.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

DataTables 5 features
Plotly 6 features
  • Feature-Rich
    DataTables provides a vast array of features: pagination, filtering, sorting, and customizable buttons, which can cater to various data handling needs in web applications.
  • Easy to Use
    Its straightforward implementation and extensive documentation make it simple for developers to integrate DataTables into their projects.
  • Extensible
    DataTables supports a variety of plugins and extensions, such as Editor for rich editing capabilities and FixedColumns for better column handling, allowing for enhanced functionality.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    It works consistently across different browsers and devices, providing a reliable user experience regardless of the end user's environment.
  • Community and Support
    A large and active community, along with official support forums, provide assistance, plugins, and extensions, contributing to a rich ecosystem.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Issues
    Handling very large datasets might lead to performance bottlenecks, requiring server-side processing or additional optimization strategies.
  • Complexity in Customization
    While customization is possible, it can sometimes be complex and time-consuming, especially for non-standard functionalities or appearances.
  • Dependencies
    DataTables rely on jQuery, which might be an additional overhead for projects not already using jQuery or those aiming to minimize dependencies.
  • Learning Curve
    To fully leverage DataTables' advanced features and customization options, developers might need to invest time in understanding the API and various options.
  • License Restrictions
    While DataTables is generally free to use under the MIT license, some advanced plugins and extensions are commercial and require purchase.
  • Interactivity
    Plotly offers highly interactive plots that allow users to pan, zoom, and hover over data points for more information. This enhances the user experience and provides deeper insights.
  • High-quality visualizations
    It provides aesthetically pleasing and highly customizable charts, making it suitable for publication-quality visuals.
  • Versatility
    Plotly supports multiple chart types including line charts, scatter plots, bar charts, and 3D plots, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
  • Python integration
    Plotly is well-integrated with Python and works seamlessly with other popular data science libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Scikit-learn.
  • Web-based
    The plots can be easily embedded in web applications or dashboards, making it ideal for sharing insights over the internet.
  • Open-source
    Plotly offers an open-source version, which allows users to create and share visualizations without any cost.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance
    Rendering very large datasets can sometimes be slow, which may not be suitable for real-time data visualization requirements.
  • Learning curve
    Even though the library is well-documented, the extensive range of features can have a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Cost for advanced features
    While the basic functionality is free, more advanced features, such as export to certain formats and additional customizable options, require a paid subscription.
  • Dependency management
    Plotly has a number of dependencies that need to be managed properly, which can sometimes complicate the setup process.
  • Complexity
    For simple visualizations, Plotly might be overkill and simpler libraries like Matplotlib or Seaborn could be more appropriate.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

DataTables
Plotly

Overall verdict

  • DataTables is generally considered a good library for handling interactive tables in web applications. It is well-suited for projects that require robust table manipulation features and can accommodate a variety of needs through its extensive customization options.

Why this product is good

  • DataTables is a popular jQuery plugin that is widely known for its ability to enhance HTML tables with advanced interaction controls. It offers features like pagination, instant search/filtering, multi-column ordering, and responsive table design. Its extensibility with various plugins and themes, along with a comprehensive documentation, makes it a versatile choice for many web development projects.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for an out-of-the-box solution for interactive and feature-rich tables.
  • Projects that require quick integration of data manipulation features in tables.
  • Applications that need extensive customization and scalability of table data handling.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Plotly is a strong choice for those looking to create dynamic and interactive data visualizations, thanks to its range of features and ease of integration with web technologies.

Why this product is good

  • Plotly is considered good because it offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating interactive visualizations that can be used in web applications, reports, and dashboards. It supports many different types of plots, is easy to use for both beginners and experienced developers, and integrates well with popular programming languages like Python, R, and JavaScript.

Recommended for

    Plotly is recommended for data scientists, analysts, and developers who need to create interactive and visually appealing data visualizations. It's particularly useful for those who work with Python or R and want the ability to embed their visualizations in web applications or dashboards.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

DataTables 0 videos + Add
Plotly 5 videos + Add

No DataTables videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Create Real-time Chart with Javascript | Plotly.js Tutorial

More videos

  • - Introducing plotly.py 3.0
  • - Is Plotly The Better Matplotlib?
  • - Plotly Tutorial 2021
  • - Data Visualization as The First and Last Mile of Data Science Plotly Express and Dash | SciPy 2021

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
DataTables
Plotly
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using DataTables and Plotly. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

DataTables no reviews yet
Plotly no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

DataTables 74 mentions
Plotly 34 mentions
  • UX DataTables in 2026: typed columns, server-side processing, API Platform, Mercure and inline editing
    A while ago I wrote a first post introducing UX DataTables, a Symfony bundle that integrates the DataTables.net library into Symfony applications. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Solidjs: Simple and performant reactivity for building user interfaces
    Not much is going to compete directly with React's ecosystem maturity. But, of course, there's the option you have when using a non-React library in React: on mount, you instantiate the library in a ref, and then you use effects to turn... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • ASP.NET8 using DataTables.net – Part8 – Select rows
    //datatables.js /* * This combined file was created by the DataTables downloader builder: * https://datatables.net/download * * To rebuild or modify this file with the latest versions of the included * software please visit: * ... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

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Alternatives to DataTables and Plotly

When comparing DataTables and Plotly, you can also consider the following products.