Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Three.js VS CanvasJS

Compare Three.js VS CanvasJS and see what are their differences

Three.js logo Three.js

A JavaScript 3D library which makes WebGL simpler.

CanvasJS logo CanvasJS

HTML5 JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, React Charts for Data Visualization
  • Three.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-05
  • CanvasJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

CanvasJS is an easy to use HTML5 and Javascript Charting library which supports 30+ chart types including line, column, bar, area, pie, financial and much more. It runs across devices including iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, Microsoft Surface, Desktops, etc. This allows you to create rich dashboards that work on all the devices without compromising on maintainability or functionality of your web application.

Three.js

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

CanvasJS

$ Details
freemium $149.0 / Annually
Platforms
Web
Release Date
2013 March

Three.js features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Three.js simplifies the complex task of 3D rendering with an intuitive API, making it accessible to developers who may not have deep expertise in 3D graphics.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    Three.js is built upon WebGL, ensuring compatibility across modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The library offers extensive documentation, examples, and an active community, which helps in quickly resolving issues and understanding implementation.
  • Integration with HTML and CSS
    Three.js can be easily integrated with HTML and CSS, allowing for the blending of 2D and 3D elements in web applications.
  • Extensive Features
    It supports a wide range of features including cameras, lights, materials, shaders, and post-processing effects, making it highly versatile for various 3D projects.

Possible disadvantages of Three.js

  • Performance Overhead
    Despite its powerful capabilities, Three.js can have significant performance overhead, especially for complex scenes, which might require optimization.
  • Learning Curve
    While easier than raw WebGL, Three.js still has a learning curve, particularly for those new to 3D graphics, requiring time to become proficient.
  • Limited Built-in Advanced Tools
    Although feature-rich, Three.js lacks some advanced tools out-of-the-box compared to more specialized or industry-standard 3D engines, necessitating custom solutions for certain tasks.
  • Dependency on WebGL
    Three.js relies on WebGL, meaning it cannot be used in environments where WebGL is not supported, which can limit accessibility and compatibility.
  • Frequent Updates
    The library is actively developed, which is generally positive, but frequent updates can mean breaking changes, requiring developers to frequently refactor their code.

CanvasJS features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    CanvasJS offers a straightforward API and extensive documentation, making it easy for developers to quickly integrate charts into their applications.
  • Performance
    CanvasJS uses HTML5 Canvas for rendering, which provides excellent performance, especially for large datasets or real-time updates.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    Charts rendered with CanvasJS work across all modern web browsers, ensuring a consistent experience for users.
  • Variety of Chart Types
    CanvasJS supports a wide range of chart types including line, bar, pie, and more, offering flexibility for different data visualization needs.
  • Responsive Design
    Charts created with CanvasJS are responsive and adjust well to different screen sizes, which is crucial for mobile and tablet support.

Possible disadvantages of CanvasJS

  • Licensing Cost
    While CanvasJS offers a free version, the full-featured version requires a commercial license, which may be costly for small projects or individual developers.
  • Limited Customization
    Although CanvasJS provides several customization options, it may not be as flexible as other libraries when it comes to highly specific or complex customizations.
  • Dependency on JavaScript
    Being a JavaScript library, CanvasJS requires a working knowledge of JavaScript, which could be a barrier for beginners or developers coming from other programming languages.
  • Learning Curve for Complex Features
    Although basic usage is simple, mastering all of the advanced features and customization options may take some time and effort.

Three.js videos

Getting Started With Three.js

More videos:

  • Review - Ricardo Cabello (Mr doob) - 5 years of three.js

CanvasJS videos

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

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Three.js and CanvasJS)
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Charting Libraries
56 56%
44% 44
Flowcharts
100 100%
0% 0
Data Dashboard
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Three.js and CanvasJS

Three.js Reviews

Top 20 Javascript Libraries
Cross-browser JS library and API that allows for the creation of beautiful animations, Three.js relies on WebGL rather than conventional browser-plugins. Through its library utilities, developers can include complex 3D animations on their website without much effort. Three.js include many features like geometry, lights, materials, shaders, effects, scenes, data loaders,...
Source: hackr.io

CanvasJS Reviews

We have no reviews of CanvasJS yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Three.js seems to be a lot more popular than CanvasJS. While we know about 248 links to Three.js, we've tracked only 11 mentions of CanvasJS. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Three.js mentions (248)

  • React Three Ecosystem
    Note three.js [1] has nothing to do with React out of the box though, this page highlights an atypical way of using three.js through a popular React binding. [1] https://threejs.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 hours ago
  • Turn your phone into a wireless Joy-Con with SyncoPath
    The phone in the codepath sample got rendered using Three.js. For fun, I also added some beep sound generated using ZZfx when you tap. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • How to Build a Portfolio Website with React
    Also, to make your portfolio stand out to recruiters and clients, you can add some creative and interactive animations to it. The following libraries can help you easily do this: Framer Motion, tsParticles, and Three.js. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Rant: state of generative AI in code generation.
    In my experience with AI code generation, in visual projects like UI development or JavaScript based animation (using three.js or p5.js) etc. AI tools work pretty well. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • My son (9 yrs old) used plain JavaScript to make a game, and wants your feedback
    After he's done with v2, might I propose... THE GAMEY GAME 3D ?? https://threejs.org/ I started coding at 9 as well (which was a long time ago now), so I was very happy to play and see this today. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
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CanvasJS mentions (11)

  • Smarter Axis Label Formatting Based on Zoom Level in CanvasJS
    When building time-series charts, how you format axis labels can make or break readability — especially when users zoom across seconds to years. CanvasJS provides excellent out-of-the-box support for time-based axis labels, but when working with sub-minute or sub-hour data (e.g., sensor readings, real-time dashboards), the default behavior might not always deliver the best readability. This guide shows how to... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Dynamic Highlighting of Weekends in CanvasJS Charts
    Visualizing time-series data - such as financial charts, project timelines, or event trackers - often requires contextual markers like weekends or holidays to improve insights. CanvasJS charts offer the flexibility to dynamically highlight specific date ranges using stripLines. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Integrating CanvasJS Charts in Salesforce Lightning Aura Component
    Visualizing data within Salesforce enhances user engagement and decision-making. A recent study showed that dashboards with interactive charts increase user adoption by 70%. This article guides you through seamlessly integrating CanvasJS charts into your Lightning Aura components for impactful data representation. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Display Chart in Express.js App using CanvasJS
    Download the CanvasJS library from CanvasJS's official website. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Integrating WebDataRocks and CanvasJS for Interactive Data Visualization
    In modern web applications, data analysis and visualization play a crucial role in delivering insights. While pivot tables allow users to explore and manipulate data interactively, charts make it easier to understand trends and patterns at a glance. WebDataRocks, a JavaScript pivot table library, and CanvasJS, a versatile charting library, can be seamlessly integrated to combine the best of data exploration and... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Three.js and CanvasJS, you can also consider the following products

p5.js - JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences

Chart.js - Easy, object oriented client side graphs for designers and developers.

PixiJS - Fast and flexible WebGL-based HTML5 game and app development library.

D3.js - D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS.

Pixi.js - Fast lightweight 2D library that works across all devices

Plotly - Low-Code Data Apps