The Plotalot Component is completely free and fully functional. The component lets you create and edit charts and display them on the front end of your site using a menu item.
The paid version of Plotalot includes the Plotalot Plugin. The main function of the plugin is to merge charts into a Joomla article. It also adds some advanced features, listed below.
We suggest that you experiment with the free Plotalot Component first, and only buy the paid version once you are sure that you can create the charts you need.
This table summarises the differences between the free and the paid versions.
| Feature | Free Version | Paid Version |
|---|---|---|
| Plotalot Component with chart editor and basic display of charts on the front end | Yes | Yes |
| 75+ page pdf user guide | Yes | Yes |
| Article Plugin | No | Yes |
| Fully responsive charts | No | Yes |
| Chart caching (reduces database load) | No | Yes |
| Self-refreshing charts (using Ajax, so only the chart is re-drawn, not the rest of the page) | No | Yes |
| Advanced Features (usage of get/post variables) | No | Yes |
| PNG and CSV download links | No | Yes |
| Support | No | Yes |
If you decide to buy the paid version, you still use the same free Plotalot Component to create and edit your charts. But with the paid version you would normally use the plugin to merge your charts into Joomla articles.
If you use the free version, you only need to install the Plotalot Component.
If you decide to use the paid version, you need to install the Plotalot Component and the Plotalot Plugin.