FusionCharts vs D3: Which charting library is best for dynamic modern UI charts?
D3.js is a powerful JavaScript library used for building custom data visualizations by binding data to the DOM. While it offers immense flexibility and control, it comes with a steep learning curve and requires a lot of manual setup — making it a better fit for data scientists than product teams shipping fast. FusionCharts requires less prerequisites and enables you to ship faster.
Why choose FusionCharts over D3?
Faster time-to-chart
FusionCharts provides out-of-the-box charts that work with just a few lines of code — no need to write SVG logic from scratch.
Design for business use cases
Includes dashboards, reporting features, and export capabilities baked in for enterprise-grade applications.
Minimal learning curve
FusionCharts is fully WCAG 2.1 compliant and optimized for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
Official plugins for back-end and front-end for better integration
Apart from providing official integrations for popular frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js, we also offer integrations for Ember, Java, Rails, and jQuery so that you can integrate FusionCharts into your project smoothly.
FusionCharts vs Highcharts: Feature Comparison
| Chart Types | 100+ prebuilt charts | No prebuilt charts; you build from scratch | FusionCharts gets you to production charts faster. |
| Customization | High-level APIs with styling options | Fully customizable at low level | D3 gives you full control, but FusionCharts balances flexibility and speed. |
| Learning Curve | Beginner-friendly | Steep — requires JavaScript + SVG mastery | FusionCharts is easier to pick up and use immediately. |
| Time to Production | Minutes | Days or weeks | FusionCharts is better for shipping fast. |
| Interactivity | Built-in interactivity (drilldowns, tooltips) | Custom-coded manually | With FusionCharts, interactivity comes built in. |
| Export Options | PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, Excel + server-side support | Requires additional setup | FusionCharts is ready for reporting use cases out of the box. |
| Accessibility (WCAG 2.1) | Fully compliant | Manual implementation required | FusionCharts saves effort if accessibility is a must. |
| Framework Support | Native wrappers for React, Angular, Vue | No official support | FusionCharts integrates seamlessly with modern frontend stacks. |
| Real-time Data | Supported with WebSocket and polling | Manual implementation | Easier real-time charts with FusionCharts. |
| Documentation & Support | Developer-first docs + real-time support | Community forums and tutorials | FusionCharts has dedicated support to help you ship faster. |
| Use Case Fit | Dashboards, enterprise reporting, KPIs | Custom research or academic visualizations | Choose D3 for complete control, FusionCharts for business apps that scale. |