head to head · open source
plotly.js vs Ghostwriter
plotly.js has 18,376 GitHub stars, 2,066 forks, 769 open issues and last shipped 7 days ago. Ghostwriter has 1,954 stars, 258 forks, 38 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. plotly.js leads on adoption by 840% (18,376 vs 1,954 stars). plotly.js is written in JavaScript under MIT; Ghostwriter is written in Python under BSD-3-Clause. plotly.js has attracted 11% as many forks as stars, Ghostwriter 13%. Ghostwriter was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| plotly.js | Ghostwriter | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 18K | ★ 2.0K |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Written in | JavaScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-10-29 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.1K | ⑂ 258 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick plotly.js if
- You weight community size — 18K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Ghostwriter if
- You want the Ghostwriter feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the BSD-3-Clause license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and Ghostwriter fits your workflow better
About plotly.js
Plotly.js is a standalone JavaScript data visualization library, and it also powers the Python and R modules named plotly in those respective ecosystems (referred to as Plotly.py and Plotly.R). Plotly.js can be used to produce dozens of chart types and visualizations, including statistical charts, 3D graphs, scientific charts, SVG and tile maps, financial charts and more. Contact us for Plotly.js consulting, dashboard development, application integration, and feature additions. Table of contents Load as a node module Load via script tag Bundles Alternative ways to load and build plotly.js Documentation Bugs and…
read the full plotly.js overview →
About Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter Ghostwriter is an open source platform designed to enhance offensive security operations by simplifying report writing, asset tracking, and assessment management. It offers tools for managing clients, creating a reusable findings library, and organizing the infrastructure and domains utilized during assessments. With its powerful reporting engine, Ghostwriter includes comprehensive collaborative writing features and customizable report templates, allowing teams to produce polished deliverables with minimal manual effort. Ghostwriter comes equipped with "enterprise level" features, such as role based…
read the full Ghostwriter overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is plotly.js or Ghostwriter more popular?
plotly.js has 18,376 GitHub stars and Ghostwriter has 1,954. plotly.js has the larger community by that measure.
Are plotly.js and Ghostwriter free?
Both are open source. plotly.js is licensed under MIT and Ghostwriter under BSD-3-Clause. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between plotly.js and Ghostwriter?
plotly.js is written in JavaScript and Ghostwriter in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, plotly.js or Ghostwriter?
Choose plotly.js if you want the larger community (18,376 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Ghostwriter if its feature set, stack or BSD-3-Clause licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.