Cuelark Render vs QuickChart
Pick QuickChart if you need full Chart.js with plugins or a self-hosted open-source renderer. Pick Cuelark Render for free static chart images with no license question, plus OG images, PDFs, screenshots and an MCP server from the same API.
| QuickChart | Cuelark Render | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Community plan $0, rate limited, GNU AGPL v3 license | Free, 120 requests/min per IP, use the images anywhere |
| Paid plan | Professional $40/month: 10,000 images/month, full commercial usage | No paid plans yet |
| Chart format | Full Chart.js configs, including plugins | Chart.js-style JSON for bar, line, area, pie and doughnut, plus a simpler format; no plugins or JS callbacks |
| QR codes | Yes | On qr.cuelark.com (separate site, also free) |
| Other renders | Charts and QR codes | Charts, OG/social images, HTML to PDF and screenshots |
| MCP server for AI assistants | Not listed on the pricing page | Yes, https://render.cuelark.com/mcp |
| Open source / self-host | Yes (open source) | No |
QuickChart facts are from their pricing page, checked November 10, 2026. Prices change, so check there before you buy.
When QuickChart is the better choice
- You need Chart.js plugins, mixed chart types, custom fonts or gradients.
- You want to self-host the renderer on your own servers.
- You need an SLA (QuickChart Enterprise).
When Cuelark Render is the better choice
- You want free images without reading an AGPL license.
- You also need social cards, PDFs or screenshots from one API.
- You want an AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) to make charts through MCP.