Software Alternatives & Startups

NVD3 VS Plotly

Compare NVD3 VS Plotly and see what are their differences

NVD3

This project is an attempt to build re-usable charts and chart components for d3.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Plotly

Low-Code Data Apps

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Plotly seems to be a lot more popular than NVD3. While we know about 34 links to Plotly, we've tracked only 1 mention of NVD3.

social mentions
1 vs 34
Charting Libraries popularity
36% vs 64%
alternatives listed
135 vs 240+

Base details

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

NVD3
Plotly
Website nvd3.org plotly.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

NVD3 4 features
Plotly 6 features
  • Reusable Charts
    NVD3 provides a variety of pre-built chart types that are easy to reuse and customize, saving developers time when creating standard visualization needs.
  • Based on D3.js
    Utilizing D3.js ensures a high level of flexibility and the ability to integrate complex data manipulations with aesthetic chart outputs.
  • Ease of Use
    NVD3 simplifies the process of generating complex visualizations by providing an intuitive API for interacting with D3.js charts.
  • Responsive Design
    Many of the chart components are designed with responsiveness in mind, allowing them to adjust to different screen sizes and devices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Updates
    NVD3 is not frequently updated, which may lead to compatibility issues or lack of support for newer web technologies.
  • Learning Curve
    While it simplifies some aspects of D3.js, users still need to have a solid understanding of D3.js to fully leverage NVD3's capabilities, which can be steep for new users.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to directly using D3.js, NVD3 offers a more limited range of customization options for charts, potentially restricting designers looking for highly unique visualizations.
  • Documentation Quality
    The documentation for NVD3 can be sparse or outdated, making it harder for developers to troubleshoot issues or learn best practices.
  • 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.

NVD3
Plotly

Overall verdict

  • NVD3 is generally a good library if you are seeking convenience and speed in creating standard chart types. However, if your project requires extensive customization and more complex interactive features, sticking directly with D3.js could be more beneficial.

Why this product is good

  • NVD3 is built on top of D3.js, offering a simplified API for creating various types of charts. It's useful for developers who need to generate data visualizations quickly without delving deep into the complexities of D3. It provides a collection of reusable chart components, saving time in coding from scratch. However, since it's a layer on top of D3.js, it might not offer the same level of customization and flexibility for more unique visualizations.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for quick, easy-to-implement charting solutions.
  • Projects that require standard charts with minimal customization.
  • Teams that want to leverage D3.js capabilities with a simpler API.

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.

NVD3 0 videos + Add
Plotly 5 videos + Add

No NVD3 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
NVD3
Plotly
36% 36%
64% 64%
14% 14%
86% 86%
23% 23%
77% 77%
42% 42%
58% 58%

User comments

Share your experience with using NVD3 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.

NVD3 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.

NVD3 1 mention
Plotly 34 mentions
  • Widely Used Data Display and Analysis Libraries
    NVD3 is also on the list of the most popular libraries. Built upon D3.js like the others above, it does have a solid technical base. - Source: dev.to / about 5 years ago

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Alternatives to NVD3 and Plotly

When comparing NVD3 and Plotly, you can also consider the following products.