nivo vs visx
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
React chart components for building data visualizations, built on d3.
Open source · MIT
A set of reusable React building blocks for drawing custom charts, built on d3 math.
The short answer
Choose nivo if you need…
- React developers who need charts in a web app
- Teams that want charts rendered on the server as well as in the browser
- Projects that want animated transitions via react-spring
- Developers who want SVG, HTML, or canvas chart options from one library
Choose visx if you need…
- React developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves
- Teams building their own reusable chart library on top of shared components
- Developers who already know d3 and want its math without its DOM update style
- Projects that want to keep bundle size small by importing only needed packages
Side-by-side
| nivo | visx | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.1k | 21.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 months ago | 5 months ago |
What each one is
nivo
nivo is a set of React components for drawing charts and other data visualizations on web pages. It is built on top of the d3 library and offers declarative charts, meaning you describe what you want and the component draws it. According to the README, it also supports server-side rendering and an HTTP API.
visx
visx is a collection of low-level visualization components for React. It uses d3 for the calculations and math, while React handles updating the page, so developers can build charts without writing d3 selection code by hand. You install only the small packages you need, such as shapes or scales, and combine them into your own charts.
Best for
nivo
- React developers who need charts in a web app
- Teams that want charts rendered on the server as well as in the browser
- Projects that want animated transitions via react-spring
- Developers who want SVG, HTML, or canvas chart options from one library
visx
- React developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves
- Teams building their own reusable chart library on top of shared components
- Developers who already know d3 and want its math without its DOM update style
- Projects that want to keep bundle size small by importing only needed packages
Strengths
nivo
- Covers many chart types across SVG, HTML, and canvas renderers
- Supports server-side rendering and theming, per the README
- Large community with active discord and an interactive playground
visx
- Components are low-level and unopinionated, so you control the final look
- Lets you use d3 math without managing d3 selections or enter/exit/update logic
- Modular packages mean you only include what you use
Not ideal for
nivo
- People who do not write code, since it requires React components to be assembled in a project
- Projects not using React, because the components are React-specific
- Users who need a ready-made dashboard application rather than building blocks
visx
- People who want ready-made charts with no coding, since visx provides building blocks rather than finished charts
- Projects that need built-in animation, because the README says visx deliberately does not include animation and suggests using existing React animation libraries instead
- Projects not using React, since the components are built for React 18 or 19
Trade-offs
nivo
- Requires working knowledge of React and JavaScript/TypeScript
- README does not fully list every component, so the Components Explorer must be consulted
- Each chart type is a separate package, so setup involves choosing the right ones
visx
- Because it is low-level, you write more code than with a turnkey charting library
- No built-in animation; you must add a React animation library yourself if you want it
- Requires React 18 or 19 for the current v4 release, so older React projects need migration (see the migration guide)
Getting started
nivo
Install core and a chart package
yarn add @nivo/core @nivo/barvisx
Install the packages used in the README example
npm install --save @visx/mock-data @visx/group @visx/shape @visx/scaleFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between nivo and visx?
nivo: React chart components for building data visualizations, built on d3. visx: A set of reusable React building blocks for drawing custom charts, built on d3 math. nivo suits react developers who need charts in a web app, while visx suits react developers who want full control over how a chart looks and behaves.
Are nivo and visx free?
nivo: Free and open source. visx: Free and open source.
Is nivo or visx more popular?
visx has more GitHub stars (21.1k) than nivo (14.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to nivo and visx?
Other options people compare them with include Recharts, Chart.js, G2, three.js, Anime.js.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.