Sigma.js vs uPlot
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
A JavaScript library for drawing graphs with thousands of nodes and edges in the browser.
Open source · MIT
A small, fast JavaScript chart library for time series, lines, areas, OHLC and bars.
The short answer
Choose Sigma.js if you need…
- Web developers who need to display large network graphs in a browser
- Data analysts building interactive graph visualizations on a website
- Teams already using graphology for graph data
- Developers who want optional add-ons for images, maps, or image export
Choose uPlot if you need…
- Web developers who need a fast chart for large time series data
- Dashboards that update live with streamed data
- Apps where a small download size matters
- Projects that need zoom and cursor sync across multiple charts
Side-by-side
| Sigma.js | uPlot | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.2k | 10.6k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 10 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
Sigma.js
Sigma.js is an open-source JavaScript library for displaying network graphs (nodes connected by edges) in a web page. It uses WebGL, a browser technology for fast graphics, so it can show graphs with thousands of nodes and edges. It is built on top of graphology, a companion library for storing graph data.
uPlot
uPlot is a JavaScript library that draws charts in a web page using the browser's Canvas 2D drawing API. It is built for plotting time series data such as lines, areas, OHLC and bars. The README says it is about 50 KB minified and aims to render large datasets quickly with low memory use.
Best for
Sigma.js
- Web developers who need to display large network graphs in a browser
- Data analysts building interactive graph visualizations on a website
- Teams already using graphology for graph data
- Developers who want optional add-ons for images, maps, or image export
uPlot
- Web developers who need a fast chart for large time series data
- Dashboards that update live with streamed data
- Apps where a small download size matters
- Projects that need zoom and cursor sync across multiple charts
Strengths
Sigma.js
- Designed to handle graphs with thousands of nodes and edges using WebGL
- Modular: companion packages let you install only the features you need
- Has official documentation and interactive examples on its website
uPlot
- The README reports strong benchmark results against other chart libraries, with a small bundle size
- Supports time zones (IANA names) and daylight saving time, plus features like missing data handling and high/low bands
- Has a plugin and hooks API for extending behavior
Not ideal for
Sigma.js
- People who only need a simple chart or bar graph, since this library is specialized for graphs and networks
- Users who want a finished tool with no coding, because sigma is a library that must be built into a project
- Projects that require a long track record of stable APIs, since the README notes v4 development included LLM-drafted code and the API is evolving
uPlot
- People who want a ready-made chart with no coding, since the README focuses on the API and docs are described as a work in progress
- Projects needing built-in drag panning, since the README says it is not included and must be added via plugins
- Very large live views above about 100k points, which the README says may struggle
- Projects needing 3D or WebGL-style rendering, since the README points to other libraries for that
Trade-offs
Sigma.js
- Requires JavaScript and a build setup; it is not a ready-made application
- The README does not detail browser support or performance limits, so those should be checked in the docs
- Some features rely on companion packages that must be installed separately
uPlot
- The README says the docs are a work in progress, so some APIs need to be learned from the type definitions and demos
- Does not include data parsing, aggregation or statistics, and has no animations or built-in panning
- Axis tick labels have no collision avoidance, so spacing may need manual tuning
Getting started
Sigma.js
Install sigma and graphology
npm install sigma graphologyuPlot
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/leeoniya/uPlotFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sigma.js and uPlot?
Sigma.js: A JavaScript library for drawing graphs with thousands of nodes and edges in the browser. uPlot: A small, fast JavaScript chart library for time series, lines, areas, OHLC and bars. Sigma.js suits web developers who need to display large network graphs in a browser, while uPlot suits web developers who need a fast chart for large time series data.
Are Sigma.js and uPlot free?
Sigma.js: Free and open source. uPlot: Free and open source.
Is Sigma.js or uPlot more popular?
Sigma.js has more GitHub stars (12.2k) than uPlot (10.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Sigma.js and uPlot?
Other options people compare them with include Cytoscape.js, G6, Plotly.js, deck.gl, Chart.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.