Software Alternatives & Startups

Matplotlib VS Plotly.js

Compare Matplotlib VS Plotly.js and see what are their differences

Matplotlib

matplotlib is a python 2D plotting library which produces publication quality figures in a variety...

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Plotly.js

Open-source JavaScript charting library behind Plotly and Dash - plotly/plotly.js

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Matplotlib seems to be a lot more popular than Plotly.js. While we know about 114 links to Matplotlib, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Plotly.js.

social mentions
114 vs 4
Data Science And Machine Learning popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
239 vs 22

Base details

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

Matplotlib
Plotly.js
Website matplotlib.org github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Matplotlib 6 features
Plotly.js 5 features
  • Versatility
    Matplotlib can generate a wide variety of plots, ranging from simple line plots to complex 3D plots. This versatility makes it a go-to library for many scientific and technical visualizations.
  • Customization
    It offers extensive customization options for virtually every element of a plot, including colors, labels, line styles, and more, allowing users to tailor plots to meet specific needs.
  • Integrations
    Matplotlib integrates well with other Python libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and SciPy, making it easier to plot data directly from these sources.
  • Community and Documentation
    It has a large, active community and comprehensive documentation that includes tutorials, examples, and detailed references, which can help users solve problems and improve their plot-making skills.
  • Interactivity
    Matplotlib supports interactive plots, which can be embedded in Jupyter notebooks and GUIs, allowing for dynamic data exploration and presentation.
  • Publication-Quality
    The library is capable of producing high-quality, publication-ready graphics that meet the stringent requirements of academic journals and professional presentations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    While Matplotlib offers extensive customization, it can be complex and sometimes unintuitive for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve to master all its functionality.
  • Performance
    Rendering a large number of plots or handling very large datasets can be slow, making Matplotlib less suitable for real-time data visualization.
  • Modern Aesthetics
    Out-of-the-box plots from Matplotlib can look somewhat dated compared to those from newer plotting libraries like Seaborn or Plotly, requiring additional customization to achieve a modern look.
  • 3D Plots
    Although Matplotlib supports 3D plotting, its capabilities are relatively limited and less sophisticated compared to specialized 3D plotting libraries.
  • Size and Structure
    The package is relatively large and can be slow to import. Its extensive structure can make finding specific functions and understanding the overall architecture challenging.
  • Interactive Visualizations
    Plotly.js provides highly interactive charting capabilities, allowing users to hover, zoom, and pan easily within charts, enhancing the user experience.
  • Wide Range of Chart Types
    The library supports a comprehensive variety of chart types, from simple line and bar charts to more complex types like histograms, scatter plots, and even 3D and geographic plots.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Plotly.js works seamlessly across different platforms and browsers, ensuring consistent chart rendering and functionality whether used on desktops or mobile devices.
  • Customizable
    Users have a high degree of control over the appearance and behavior of plots, with numerous options to customize colors, legends, tooltips, and more.
  • Integration with Dash
    Plotly.js integrates well with the Dash framework, enabling the creation of interactive web applications that are highly visual and data-driven.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Concerns
    Rendering very large datasets can be slow, potentially impacting the performance of the application, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
  • Complexity
    For users new to the library, the learning curve can be steep due to the extensive options and configurations available.
  • Size of Library
    Plotly.js has a relatively large file size, which can be a concern for web applications where minimizing load times and data transfer is critical.
  • Limited Free Features
    Certain advanced features and functionalities may require a paid subscription to Plotly's services, which may not be ideal for all users or projects.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility with other JavaScript libraries can sometimes pose challenges, especially in complex applications.

Analysis

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

Matplotlib
Plotly.js

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Matplotlib is a good library for data visualization, particularly for users who require a versatile and powerful plotting solution in Python.

Why this product is good

  • Matplotlib is highly regarded due to its extensive customization options, versatility in creating a wide range of static, animated, and interactive plots, and its large user community and support. It integrates well with other scientific libraries in Python, making it a staple for data visualization. The library is also open-source and frequently updated, ensuring it remains a reliable choice for users.

Recommended for

  • Data scientists and analysts needing to create detailed, customized visual representations of their data.
  • Researchers and engineers looking for a comprehensive plotting library that supports scientific and engineering formats.
  • Python developers who require integration with other scientific computing libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

No analysis of Plotly.js yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Matplotlib 1 video + Add
Plotly.js 2 videos + Add

Learn Matplotlib in 6 minutes | Matplotlib Python Tutorial

[Beginner] Simple Bar Chart | React Plotly.js

More videos

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

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
Matplotlib
Plotly.js
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Matplotlib and Plotly.js. 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.

Matplotlib no reviews yet
Plotly.js no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Matplotlib 114 mentions
Plotly.js 4 mentions
  • The soul file
    In February, an AI agent named MJ Rathbun submitted a pull request to matplotlib — the Python plotting library used by half the scientific computing world. Scott Shambaugh, a volunteer maintainer, rejected it. Standard code review.... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • How to Analyze CSV Files with Python and Pandas
    Numbers are useful, but sometimes it’s easier to spot patterns when you can actually see your data. Pandas works seamlessly with Matplotlib, a popular Python library for creating visualizations. Together, they make it easy to turn raw... - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • libmalloc, jemalloc, tcmalloc, mimalloc - Exploring Different Memory Allocators
    We are storing the results in JSON files, which we combine, analyze and visualize using matplotlib in Python. Here's the structure of a benchmark result file:. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago

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Alternatives to Matplotlib and Plotly.js

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