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Home > Blog > Data Visualizations >

Chart vs. Graph: Definition, Examples, and Benefits

Ever wondered if there’s a real difference between a chart and a graph—or if it’s just semantics? You’re not alone. These terms get tossed around like synonyms, but they each bring something unique to the table.

Whether you’re building a business report or telling a data story, knowing when to use a chart vs. a graph can seriously level up your visual game. Let’s clear the confusion and dive into what really sets them apart.

Chart vs Graph-main-image
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

Choosing the right visual isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about clarity. The difference between a chart and a graph can influence how your audience interprets your message. A well-chosen chart can instantly reveal trends and insights, while the wrong choice might confuse more than it clarifies.

In the world of data storytelling, every visual element is a strategic decision. So if you’re aiming for clarity, impact, and accuracy, understanding the subtle yet important distinction between charts and graphs is the first step toward mastering your visuals.

In this blog, you’ll discover:

Table of Content:

  1. What is a Chart?
  2. What is a Graph?
  3. Key Differences Between Charts and Graphs
  4. Charts vs. Graphs: Advantages Explained
  5. Best Practices for Charts and Graphs
  6. Chart vs. Graph: How to Choose the Right One
  7. Chart vs. Graph: Creation Steps
    • How to Create a Chart?
    • How to Create a Graph?
  8. Chart vs. Graph – FAQs
  9. Wrap-Up

What is a Chart?

A chart is a visual tool used to simplify and present data patterns, comparisons, and distributions, especially in categorical or segmented datasets. Unlike graphs, which focus on numerical relationships, charts highlight proportions, rankings, or flows.

In Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI, charts like pie, bar, and funnel are commonly used to break down complex datasets into digestible visuals. For instance, a pie chart might show market share across competitors, while a funnel chart tracks user drop-off through sales stages.

Charts are especially effective when presenting to non-technical audiences, offering clarity at a glance without needing in-depth data interpretation.

Definition and Purpose

A chart is a structured visual used to represent categorical or segmented data, making comparisons and distributions easier to interpret. Its purpose is to simplify complex datasets into clear visuals that aid faster decision-making.

When to Use a Chart?

Charts are most effective when you’re dealing with segmented, categorical, or proportional data. They help present data in a digestible format, making it easier to compare values or visualize flow. Use them when clarity, simplicity, and quick interpretation are priorities—especially in reports and presentations.

Comparing Proportions

Pie and donut charts are best for showing how individual parts contribute to a whole. They’re commonly used in market share or budget distribution reports. 

Tracking Processes

Funnel charts visualize step-by-step drop-offs in processes, like sales or conversion funnels. Sankey diagrams show flow distribution, such as energy use or website navigation paths. These are crucial in process optimization—businesses using funnel visualizations report 20–30% better conversion tracking (Forrester, 2022). 

Funnel Chart explaining e-commerce sales funnel
Source:chartexpo.com
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

The funnel chart above represents a typical e-commerce conversion journey, starting from site visits and narrowing down to final purchases. Each stage—product view, add to cart, checkout, and purchase—shows a progressive drop-off in user engagement. This visual makes it easy to identify where potential customers are exiting the process, helping businesses optimize their sales funnel for better conversions.

Analyzing Survey Data

Pareto charts (80/20 rule) highlight the most significant factors, while sentiment analysis charts display positive, neutral, or negative responses.

The Pareto chart below showcases profit distribution across U.S. cities, comparing the current and previous periods. True to the 80/20 rule, a few key cities contribute to the majority of profits. The cumulative line helps visualize the overall impact, making it easy to identify top-performing locations at a glance.

Pareto Chart Survey
Source:chartexpo.com
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

What is a Graph?

A graph is a type of visual used to show relationships between variables, especially how one set of data changes about another. Imagine a line chart that maps how something changes day by day, or a bar chart that stacks different categories next to each other to highlight comparisons, each type brings clarity to different kinds of data stories.

Graphs are all about numbers—they help reveal patterns, trends, and outliers in a way raw data just can’t.

Whether it’s tracking stock prices, website traffic, or sales growth, graphs turn complex data into insights at a glance.

Definition and Purpose

A graph is a data visualization tool used to display the relationship between two or more variables, often along X and Y axes. Its primary purpose is to make data-driven insights easier to detect, especially trends, correlations, and patterns that might be missed in raw numbers.

Graphs are essential in fields like finance, science, and business analytics. Whether it’s predicting future sales, visualizing customer behavior, or tracking performance KPIs, graphs transform data into a format that’s instantly digestible for decision-makers.

Common Graph Use Cases

Graphs are widely used across industries to support data-driven decisions. Their strength lies in showcasing how values interact, change, or relate over time or under specific conditions. Here are some key real-world applications:

Financial Analysis: Line graphs are heavily used in stock market analysis to show historical price trends and trading volumes.

Website Analytics: Marketers use graphs to visualize traffic patterns, bounce rates, and conversions. Google Analytics, for instance, presents most data through line and area graphs to highlight performance over days, weeks, or months.

Education Performance Tracking: Teachers and administrators often use bar or line graphs to monitor student performance across assessments or semesters, identifying areas for academic support.

While around 50% could identify information from a bar graph, only about 25% could use a table to determine patterns, according to a study by 3iap. 

Visualizing Trends Over Time: Line graphs track value changes over consistent time intervals, such as daily stock prices or monthly sales. Area graphs do the same but highlight cumulative volume by shading under the line, ideal for comparing totals like revenue or website traffic.

Area Graph representing sales order analysis
Source:chartexpo.com
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

The area graph above illustrates monthly order sales analysis for products from January to December. The shaded regions effectively show cumulative sales trends, making it easy to compare performance across categories over time. This visual emphasizes how different product lines contribute to overall sales volume throughout the year.

Showing Relationships: Scatter Plots and Dependency Graphs reveal relationships between variables. Scatter Plots in Excel and Google Sheets show individual data points to highlight correlations or outliers, like the link between ad spend and sales.

Dependency Graphs, especially in Power BI, map how one factor influences others, such as marketing’s impact on customer acquisition.

Scatter Plot Example
Source:chartexpo.com
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

The scatter plot above illustrates the relationship between employee age and performance scores (out of 100). This visual helps identify potential trends, such as performance peaks in certain age ranges, as well as outliers. It’s a powerful way to uncover hidden patterns in workforce analytics.

These graph types are crucial for data analysis, with 75% of data scientists using scatter plots to assess correlations in their data (source: Data Science Central).

Key Differences Between Charts and Graphs

Though often used interchangeably, charts and graphs serve distinct purposes in data visualization. Understanding their structural and functional differences helps in selecting the right tool for clearer, more impactful data storytelling.

Structural Differences

Charts typically represent categorical or segmented data—think bar, pie, or Pareto charts. They focus on grouping, ranking, or proportions. Graphs, on the other hand, plot continuous numerical data using axes to display relationships or trends, like line or scatter plots.

Functional Differences

Charts are best for communicating comparisons, distributions, or process flows—ideal for presentations and dashboards. Graphs are more suited for analyzing relationships, trends, and patterns in time series or correlation data.

For example, marketers use charts to show ad spend by region, while analysts use graphs to forecast ROI over time. A McKinsey report found that decision-makers prefer charts for overviews and graphs for in-depth trend analysis, improving data interpretation efficiency by up to 20%.

Chart vs. Graph vs. Diagram 

Charts simplify quantitative comparisons, graphs show data relationships and trends, while diagrams illustrate processes or structures without relying on numerical scales—each serves a unique purpose in data communication.

Aspects Charts Graphs
Primary Function Organizes data into visually distinct categories for quick interpretation Maps data points to axes to illustrate mathematical relationships
Interpretation Focus Emphasizes composition, proportions, or comparisons Highlights variation, progression, or correlation
Audience Intent Designed for broader, often non-technical audiences Often used by analysts or technical audiences needing precise insights
Context Use Common in dashboards, presentations, and infographics Frequently seen in reports, analytics, and scientific contexts
Layout Flexibility Can adapt to non-linear structures and groupings Typically requires a linear or coordinate-based structure
Interaction with Data Often descriptive—shows “what” the data looks like Often analytical—shows “how” the data behaves or changes
Information Density Balances clarity with simplicity—often less dense Can accommodate dense datasets with more detailed visual mapping
Design Objective Prioritizes readability and visual storytelling Prioritizes accuracy and data integrity

Charts vs. Graphs: Benefits Explained

Each visual method brings unique strengths depending on your data and goal. Choosing wisely ensures effective communication and better decision outcomes.

Benefits of Charts

Charts offer fast comprehension and are highly intuitive, especially for categorical data. Their clean design and customization options (colors, icons, labels) enhance storytelling.

Benefits of Graphs

Graphs handle large datasets with continuous variables, making them ideal for precision analysis. They scale well, and line and scatter plots can manage thousands of data points without clutter. This makes them powerful for forecasting, anomaly detection, and technical analysis in data-heavy environments.

Best Practices for Charts and Graphs

Effective visualizations rely on clarity, thoughtful design, and the right tools. These best practices ensure your visuals deliver insight without confusion.

Clarity and Labeling

Always use clear axis titles, legends, and data labels. Avoid excessive decimal places and ambiguous abbreviations.

Color and Design Tips

Use color to group or differentiate, not decorate. Stick to a limited palette and ensure high contrast for accessibility. Use neutral tones for background data and highlight key points with bolder shades. 

Tools to Create Them

ChartExpo integrates smoothly with Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI, providing an easy-to-use platform for creating clear and impactful charts. Its easy-to-use interface allows users to quickly generate high-quality visuals, making data analysis and reporting more accessible and efficient for everyone, regardless of technical skill.

Chart vs. Graph: How to Choose the Right One

Choosing between a chart and a graph depends on your data type, audience, and objective. Using the right visual improves clarity, engagement, and decision-making speed.

Decision Factors

  • Type of Data: Use charts for categorical or segmented data; use graphs for continuous numerical data or trends over time.
  • Insight Needed: Choose charts for comparisons and proportions; choose graphs for patterns, relationships, or forecasting.
  • Audience: Charts are ideal for non-technical viewers; graphs offer depth for analysts and data professionals.

Chart vs Graph: Creation Steps

How to Create a Chart?

Month Laptop TV Mobile Tablet
Jan 45 60 40 35
Feb 60 80 30 70
Mar 55 65 50 55
Apr 35 70 55 80
May 55 55 70 55
Jun 75 85 20 90
Jul 60 50 55 70
Aug 40 30 80 35
Sep 50 55 60 40
Oct 80 75 20 60
Nov 30 50 65 55
Dec 25 30 35 50
  • To install ChartExpo into your Excel, click this link.
  • Open the worksheet and click the Insert button to access the My Apps option.
insert chartexpo in excel
  • Select ChartExpo for Excel and click the Insert button.
open chartexpo in excel
  • Once ChartExpo is loaded, you will see a list of charts.
list of charts in excel
  • Look for “Multi-Axis Line Chart” in the list.
search multi axis line chart in excel
  • Select the sheet holding your data and click the Create Chart From Selection button, as shown below.
create Multi Axis Line Charts in Excel
  • To edit the chart, click the Edit Chart button.
edit Multi Axis Line Charts in Excel
  • Once the Chart Header Properties window shows, click the Line 1 button and fill in your header.
  • Toggle the small button below Line 2 to the right side.
  • Click the Apply button.
  • Click the Save Changes button to finish the editing task.
save multi axis chart in excel
  • Check out the final chart below.
Final Multi Axis Line Charts in Excel
Source:chartexpo.com

You can also create a Multi-axis Line chart in Google Sheets using the ChartExpo add-in for Google Sheets.

Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

How to Create a Graph?

To get started with the Scatter Plot in Excel, follow the steps below:

  • Open your Excel application.
  • Open the worksheet and click the Insert button to access the My Apps option.
  • Click the My Apps button and click the See All button to view ChartExpo, among other add-ins.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data
  • Select the ChartExpo add-in and click the Insert button.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data
  • The add-in will be added to the Excel application. It may ask you to log in if you are not already logged in.
  • Click the Search box and type “Scatter Plot.” You’ll be taken straight to the Scatter Chart’s location in the tool, as shown below.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data
  • Once the Scatter Plot Chart pops up in the list, click the button (denoted with the red box below) to visualize data.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data

How to make a Scatter Plot in Excel with two sets of data should never be a stressful affair for you. Keep reading to discover more.

Example

We’ll use a Scatter Plot to visualize the tabular data below for insights in this example.

Products Type Products Profit cost No. of orders
Cosmetic Face Primer 15.79 90 10
Cosmetic Foundation 20.13 70 12
Cosmetic Concealer 38.62 190 9
Cosmetic Blush 34.62 880 16
Cosmetic Highlighter 71.84 900 22
Cosmetic Bronzer 71.84 600 23
Cosmetic Powder 32.77 600 42
Cosmetic Eye Primer 21.8 1300 19
Electronics TVs 110 590 28
Electronics refrigerators 12.61 390 11
Electronics washing machines 70.21 490 41
Electronics air conditioners 70.21 390 18
Electronics printers 68.83 260 17
Electronics speakers 17.55 210 2
Electronics keyboards 54.74 170 23
Electronics e-readers 12.66 170 13
  • Export the data (above) into your Excel to get started with a Scatter Graph in ChartExpo.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data
  • Click the Create Chart from Selection button, as shown above.
  • Check out the final Scatter Plot below.
How to make a scatter plot in excel with two sets of data
Source:chartexpo.com
Chart vs GraphChart vs Graph

Insights

  • There’s a nonlinear relationship between profit and cost.
  • Powder and blush are some of the costliest products to maintain in the inventory.
  • Conversely, keyboards, air conditioners, printers, and TVs make up the bulk of profitable products in the inventory.

Chart vs. Graph – FAQs

Can I use a chart instead of a graph?

Yes, you can, but charts are better for categorical data, while graphs are ideal for continuous or relational data.

What’s the difference between a plot and a graph?

A plot is a type of graph that shows data points, often used to represent relationships, whereas a graph is a broader category including various visual data representations.

Are diagrams the same as charts?

No, diagrams represent processes, structures, or concepts, while charts represent data comparisons or distributions.

How do you decide between a graph or chart?

Choose a graph for continuous data and trends, and a chart for categorical comparisons, proportions, or distributions.

What are the 3 most important features of charts/graphs?

Clarity, accuracy, and simplicity are crucial for effective communication in both charts and graphs.

Can a graph and chart be used interchangeably?

While sometimes interchangeable, they serve different purposes—graphs for trends and relationships, and charts for comparisons and distributions.

Wrap-Up

Choosing the right visualization—whether a chart or graph—can transform complex data into actionable insights. By understanding their differences and applications, you can make more informed decisions and present your data with clarity.

With ChartExpo, creating these powerful visuals becomes effortless, helping you drive smarter decisions faster. Ready to unlock the full potential of your data? Start using ChartExpo today and take your data storytelling to the next level.

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