PlotAPI makes genuinely distinctive chord and Sankey visualizations, and it exports MP4. PlotSet covers far more chart types and starts free.
Choose PlotAPI if you want its specific visualization types — chord diagrams, Sankey, Terminus — especially from Python notebooks, and you are comfortable with a paid licence and no free tier. Choose PlotSet for a much wider chart library, maps and a permanent free plan.
PlotAPI is a visualization product by Dr Shahin Rostami offering ten distinctive types: Chord, Split Chord, Sankey, Terminus, Bar Fight, Pie Fight, Line Fight, Heat Map, Pareto Front and Goal Rush. It can be driven from a Python package, a Rust crate or a REST API, works inline in Jupyter and Colab, and also provides a no-code web app. It exports PNG, PDF, SVG, MP4 and HTML. Licences are sold as Pro and Business tiers priced in pounds sterling.
PlotSet is a no-code platform with 300+ chart templates, maps, spreadsheet import, live embeds on every plan, MP4 video export on every plan, and a permanent free tier.
PlotAPI is narrow and distinctive; PlotSet is broad and conventional. Its chord and Sankey work is better than most alternatives, and its 'Fight' charts are a real animated-race capability with MP4 output. But ten visualization types with no maps is a small library, and there is no free tier to test against.
Capabilities verified against public documentation on 2026-08-16.
| Capability | PlotSet | PlotAPI |
|---|---|---|
| Video export (MP4) | YesMP4; watermarked & limited on Free | YesExports PNG, PDF, SVG, MP4 and HTML |
| Animated & race charts | YesFree on every plan | YesBar Fight, Line Fight, Pie Fight and Goal Rush |
| Ready-made template library | Yes300+ templates | Partial10 visualization types, distinctive but narrow |
| AI text-to-chart | No | No |
| Chart from a screenshot | No | No |
| Live interactive embeds | YesFree on every plan | PartialHTML export you host, plus share links |
| CSV / Excel import | Yes | PartialData supplied in code or through the web app |
| Maps & geo charts | Yes | No |
| Live database / warehouse connections | PartialFiles & Google Sheets; no warehouse connections | No |
| Team collaboration | No | Paid plan5 users on Business |
| White-label / no branding | Paid planPlus and Enterprise | Paid plan |
| API access | Yes | YesPython package, Rust crate and REST API |
| AI agent control (MCP) | Yes13-tool MCP server with OAuth | No |
| Figma plugin | Yes | No |
| Google Sheets add-on | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Yes5 static charts/day, 2 videos/day | NoPaid licence required |
Prices shown as published by each vendor, checked on 2026-08-16.
pip install plotapi, add the Rust crate, or use the web app.
Supply matrices or flows in code, or upload through the app.
Set the type and its options — chord, Sankey, a Fight chart.
Output PNG, PDF, SVG, MP4 or HTML.
CSV, Excel, or a Google Sheet.
Static, interactive and animated options, plus maps.
Theme, colours and animation timing, previewed live.
Hosted embed on any plan, MP4 video on every plan.
PlotAPI is a well-made specialist tool and its chord diagrams are among the best available anywhere — if that is the chart you need, it is a strong choice, and its MP4 export is real. Where PlotSet wins is breadth and access: 300+ templates against ten types, maps against none, hosted embeds, and a free plan you can evaluate without buying a licence.
300+ templates against PlotAPI's ten visualization types.
Static and animated geographic templates; PlotAPI has none.
Evaluate and publish without a licence; PlotAPI requires a paid plan.
A 13-tool MCP server with OAuth for AI agents.
Live embeds on every plan, plus Figma, Sheets, Chrome and MCP.
PlotAPI data is usually defined in notebooks or code as matrices or flows. Export the underlying table and import it into PlotSet. Check the template gallery first for chord and Sankey equivalents — where PlotAPI's specific types matter to you, keeping it alongside PlotSet is reasonable.
PlotAPI Pro is £16/month billed annually or £40/month billed monthly for one user. Business is £18.67/month annually for five users. There is no permanent free tier. PlotSet is free to start and $40/month for Plus.
Start free with 300+ templates. No credit card required.
