Datawrapper vs StoryMapJS
Datawrapper
datawrapper.deStoryMapJS
storymap.knightlab.comSide by side
| Figure | Datawrapper | StoryMapJS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $21/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Map Creation Software | 9.4 (#1) | 7.2 (#23) |
| Spec score · Interactive Map Software | 9.4 (#2) | 7.1 (#37) |
| Founded | 2012 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | Evanston, Illinois, United States |
| Publishing | Visualizations can be embedded with a single line of code and exported as PNG, PDF or SVG depending on plan. | The publishing tool provides HTML that authors can copy into their own website to embed a StoryMap. |
| Support | Support is available by contact form, email, and an Academy with more than 100 articles; paid plans list email-based support. | Knight Lab points users to a StoryMapJS support forum and a private support request form. |
Plans
Datawrapper
- FreeFree
- Pro$21 a month
- Business$39 a month
- Custom theme add-on$499 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Datawrapper
Datawrapper is a web app for creating and publishing charts, maps and tables. Its feature overview lists 25 interactive, responsive and accessible visualisation types, including more than 20 chart types. Map options include symbol, choropleth and locator maps, as well as more than 4,000 basemaps and cartograms. Tables can include images, heatmaps, miniature charts, search, pagination and sorting. Users can embed visualisations on websites and export PNG, PDF or SVG files depending on plan. A PowerPoint add-in supports creating, editing, embedding and updating visualisations in presentations, while the REST API can create and edit charts and support integrations. Datawrapper says embeds have no trackers, cookies or third-party scripts and meet GDPR and CCPA requirements. It also says the service is hosted in Frankfurt and Stockholm within the EEA and is ISO 27001 certified. A free plan allows unlimited publishing and PNG downloads, but retains Datawrapper attribution. Pro costs $21 per user/month, excluding VAT, and removes attribution. The maker is based in Berlin and was founded in 2012.
StoryMapJS
StoryMapJS is a free, open-source web tool for building narratives tied to place. A story is arranged as slides, each representing a segment and carrying a map location that readers can follow. Slides can contain photos, video, sound, tweets, and other embedded media. Authors search for locations by name and adjust the position by dragging a map pin. Stories may use ordinary cartographic maps or large images, including gigapixel maps. Basemap choices include OpenStreetMap Standard and Cooper Hewitt Watercolor, with Mapbox maps also supported. OpenStreetMap Standard is listed as a no-cost option; Mapbox and Stadia basemaps may have usage-based fees. The publishing tool supplies HTML for embedding a finished StoryMap on another website. The authoring tool asks permission to store files in the user’s Google Drive. StoryMapJS runs on the web, supports custom data import and built-in location data, and offers interactive output, web embedding, HTML export, and brand customization. Knight Lab describes it for journalists and storytellers whose work depends on place.