Apache ECharts is a free, open-source JavaScript library for building interactive charts in web apps and dashboards. It is aimed at developers, offers 20+ chart types with Canvas or SVG rendering, and costs nothing under the Apache License 2.0. The current version is 6.1.0, released in May 2026.
The bottom line
A top free choice for developers who need many chart types or large datasets; not a tool for non-coders.
7.9
Our score
7.9 / 10
Conversion Gems editorial verdict
Free (Apache License 2.0)
Features9/10
9 - 20+ chart types, Canvas/SVG/SSR rendering, progressive rendering, ARIA support and 3D via ECharts GL per the official features page.
Value10/10
10 - free under Apache License 2.0 with no paid tier.
Ease of use5/10
5 - needs JavaScript skills; charts are configured through detailed option objects.
Ecosystem8/10
8 - npm package with TypeScript types, a custom build tool, and third-party wrappers such as echarts-for-react and a Power BI visual.
Support5/10
5 - official handbook and examples plus a GitHub community; no vendor support plan listed.
What it really is
A free JavaScript library for drawing interactive charts in web pages and apps.
Our take
ECharts gives developers a commercial-grade charting toolkit at no cost. The chart range, large-data rendering and built-in accessibility features stand out, and the Apache 2.0 license removes the licensing worry that comes with some paid libraries. The cost is time: charts are built from detailed option objects, and help comes from docs and the community rather than a vendor.
Why we rate it
Wide chart coverage, large-data performance and accessibility at zero cost under a permissive license.
The catch
Code-only setup and community support.
Best for
Developers building data dashboards
Apps with large or streaming datasets
Teams avoiding per-seat chart licenses
Not good for
Non-developers
Teams needing a vendor support contract
Simple one-off charts for articles
Friction report
Time to value
Quick for a basic chart from the examples; complex dashboards take longer to configure.
Scale breakpoint
No pricing breakpoint; performance tuning matters at very large data sizes.
Walled garden
None: open source, framework-agnostic, standard npm package.
Apache ECharts cost and license
Option
Price
License
How to get it
Apache ECharts 6.1.0
$0
Apache License 2.0
npm install echarts, CDN, or download from echarts.apache.org
From the Apache ECharts download page and GitHub releases, checked 4 October 2026. No paid edition exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Apache ECharts is open source under the Apache License 2.0, so you can use it free in personal and commercial projects. There is no paid edition (checked 4 October 2026).
Version 6.1.0, released in May 2026 on GitHub and npm (checked 4 October 2026).
Run npm install echarts, load it from a CDN such as jsDelivr, or download builds from the official download page. A custom build tool lets you include only the chart types you need.
Yes. ECharts is plain JavaScript, so it runs in any framework. Popular wrappers such as echarts-for-react are maintained by the community, not by the Apache project.
Yes. ECharts can render with either Canvas or SVG, and you can switch renderers. It also supports server-side rendering on Node.
Apache ECharts alternatives
Other charting options to compare:
Highcharts: Commercial JavaScript charting library with stock, maps and Gantt modules, licensed per developer.
Recharts: Open-source charting library made of React components.
Datawrapper: No-code tool for publishing charts, maps and tables.
Grafana: Open-source dashboard platform for metrics and logs, if you want ready dashboards rather than a code library.
