Highcharts
Free for non-commercial use
Highcharts is a charting library that provides a simple way of adding interactive charts to web pages. It's a great choice for data journalists looking to integrate interactive charts into their stories.
Our take
Ideal for adding interactivity to your data narratives.
Highcharts is like that dependable friend who’s always there when you need to whip up a quick chart. It's straightforward and gets the job done without a fuss. One of the nice things about Highcharts is how easy it is to get started with it. You just toss in some data, and bam, you’ve got yourself a decent-looking chart. No need to wrestle with it or dig through a ton of documentation, which is a breath of fresh air, especially if you’re short on time.
But let’s not pretend it’s all sunshine and rainbows. Highcharts can feel a bit like it’s stuck in its ways. While it’s highly customizable, you might find yourself jumping through hoops to get it to do exactly what you want. It’s like it wants you to color within the lines, and if you want to get creative, you’ll need to put in the effort. Not the end of the world, but something to keep in mind if you’re planning on doing something out of the ordinary.
If you’re dealing with a ton of data, though, Highcharts handles it pretty well. It’s surprisingly performant even when you throw a lot at it. That’s pretty crucial if you’re working on something where speed and responsiveness matter. But again, if your data is super complex, you might find yourself wishing for a bit more flexibility in how you can display it or tweak it. It’s like it can only bend so far before it starts saying, "Okay, that’s enough."
The support for Highcharts is pretty solid. There’s a lot of community knowledge floating around, and the documentation is decent enough to get you out of a jam. However, if you’re stuck, it sometimes feels like you’re on your own. Having a real person to chat with when you’re in a bind could be a game-changer, but you might not always get that with Highcharts unless you’re paying for the premium stuff.
In the end, Highcharts is like a trusty Swiss Army knife — it’s reliable, gets the basics right, and can surprise you with what it’s capable of. Just remember, if you’re looking for something that’s going to blow your socks off with bells and whistles, you might need to look elsewhere. It’s solid, dependable, and that’s worth a lot in my book, especially when you need something that just works without a lot of hassle. But hey, if you’re curious enough, give it a whirl and see how it fits your needs.
