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Chart.ts vs Chart.js
Chart.js is the most popular canvas-based charting library. It renders to Canvas, which means no DOM access, no CSS styling, and no screen reader support without extra work.
| Feature | Chart.ts | Chart.js |
|---|---|---|
| Bundle size | <15kb min+gzip (entire library) | ~60kb min+gzip |
| Tree-shaking | Full (import only what you use) | Limited (v4 improved but still heavy) |
| TypeScript | Built-in, strict mode, full inference | Community types (@types/chart.js) |
| SSR | Native SSR, works with any framework | Requires node-canvas or chartjs-node-canvas |
| Accessibility | WCAG AA, keyboard nav, screen readers, pattern fills | Canvas-based, no native a11y |
| Tailwind CSS | Native className on every element, dark: variants | Not supported (canvas rendering) |
| Chart types | 40+ built-in | ~10 built-in |
| Frameworks | React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, Angular, Vanilla JS | Wrapper libraries (react-chartjs-2, etc.) |
| License | MIT | MIT |
Why switch from Chart.js?
Chart.ts advantages
- Under 15kb gzipped, full library
- Tailwind className on every chart element
- WCAG AA accessible by default
- Works with React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, Vanilla
- Native SSR, zero config
Chart.js limitations
- Canvas rendering means no CSS styling
- No native screen reader support
- Cannot use Tailwind or dark: variants
- SSR requires heavy node-canvas dependency
- Bundle includes all chart types by default
Ready to switch?
Get started with Chart.ts in 30 seconds.
$
npm install @chartts/core