Chartlet
The lightest way to create beautiful, responsive charts in WordPress. No database clutter, no heavy libraries — just pure performance.
Use with caution
Chartlet works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Chartlet stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| chart | >100 |
| charts | >100 |
| graph | >100 |
| shortcode | >100 |
| visualization | >100 |
About Chartlet
From the official readme · v1.1.0Description
Chartlet is a lightweight, performance-focused plugin for creating beautiful, interactive charts and graphs via shortcodes.
Stop bloating your database! Unlike other chart plugins that store every graph as a custom post type, Chartlet stores all configurations directly within the shortcode. This makes your site faster and your data easier to manage.
Using the power of Chart.js (loaded locally for maximum privacy and GDPR compliance), Chartlet allows you to visualize data in seconds. Perfect for data journalism, financial reports, or simply adding a professional touch to your blog posts.
Key Benefits:
- Zero Database Bloat: No per-chart database entries. Everything lives in your content.
- Ultra Lightweight: Optimized for Core Web Vitals and speed.
- GDPR Compliant: No external CDNs. Chart.js is served directly from your server.
- Intuitive Builder: Create charts visually in your admin settings and get a shortcode instantly.
- Native Gutenberg Block: Insert charts directly from the block inserter with a live server-side preview.
Features
- 8 Chart Types: Bar, Line, Pie, Doughnut, Radar, Polar area, Scatter, and Bubble charts.
- Gutenberg Block: Native
chartlet/chartblock with real-time server-side preview in the editor. - Live Shortcode Builder: Configure labels, data points, colors, and dimensions with a real-time generator.
- Fully Responsive: Charts automatically scale to fit any screen size (mobile, tablet, desktop).
- Smart Defaults: Set global brand colors and heights in the settings to keep your charts consistent.
- Custom Units: Add prefixes (e.g., $) or suffixes (e.g., %) to your data tooltips.
- Translation Ready: Fully compatible with multilingual sites.
Usage
Gutenberg block: Open the block inserter and search for “Chartlet”. Insert the block, enter data, and the chart preview updates live in the editor.
Shortcode builder: Go to Chartlet → Generate. Use the visual builder to:
1. Select your chart type.
2. Input labels and data (separated by ,).
3. Customize colors, title, and height.
4. Add a value suffix (e.g., %) or prefix (e.g., $).
5. Click Generate Shortcode, copy it, and paste it anywhere!
Shortcode examples:
[chartlet type="bar" labels="Jan,Feb,Mar" data="10,20,15" colors="#3366cc,#dc3912" title="Revenue" height="300" prefix="$"]
[chartlet type="scatter" data="1:5, 2:10, 3:8"]
[chartlet type="bubble" data="1:5:3, 2:10:5, 3:8:10"]
Installation
- Upload the
chartletfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
- Navigate to Chartlet → Settings to configure your default styles.
- Use the Chart Builder to generate a shortcode and paste it into any post or page.
Frequently asked questions
Does this plugin affect site speed?
Hardly! We use a single, minified JS library and only load it when a shortcode is present. No database queries are required to render your charts.
Is it compatible with Block Editor (Gutenberg)?
Yes! Chartlet includes a native Gutenberg block (chartlet/chart) with a live server-side preview directly in the editor. You can also use the generated shortcode inside a “Shortcode” block.
Can I use it for free for commercial sites?
Absolutely. Chartlet is licensed under GPLv2, so you can use it on any personal or commercial project.
Changelog
1.1.0
- Added Radar, Polar area, Scatter, and Bubble chart types (8 total).
- Added native Gutenberg block
chartlet/chartwith server-side preview in the editor. - Scatter data format:
x:ypairs (e.g.1:5, 2:10). - Bubble data format:
x:y:radiustriples (e.g.1:5:3, 2:10:5). - Labels field is hidden in the block editor for Scatter and Bubble types.
- Fixed double JSON encoding in renderer.
1.0.1
- Updated bundled Chart.js to 4.5.1.
- Improved JSON output escaping in renderer.
- Corrected readme contributors username.
1.0.0
- Initial release.
- Bar, Line, Pie, Doughnut support.
- Visual Shortcode Builder.
- Local Chart.js integration.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Chartlet alternatives
All chart plugins →
FAQ
Chartlet: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is Chartlet free?
Yes. Chartlet is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Chartlet safe to use in 2026?
Chartlet works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Chartlet?
Chartlet is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,071 times since it launched in March 2026. It was downloaded 58 times in the last 30 days.
Does Chartlet work with WordPress 7.1?
Chartlet is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Chartlet need?
Chartlet requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Chartlet last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.0, was released on April 26, 2026 (5 months ago).
Who makes Chartlet?
Chartlet is developed and maintained by vlty.
What are the best alternatives to Chartlet?
The most popular alternatives to Chartlet are wpDataTables (60K+ installs), Pricing Table by Supsystic (10K+ installs) and WP GPX Maps (4K+ installs).
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