Charts for email
Email clients will not run your chart.js bundle. A remote `<img>` pointing at a ChartKit PNG or SVG is the portable approach.
Why image URLs beat live charts
ESP editors want HTML they can sanitize. Images pass filters more often than script blocks.
Pick `format=png` when your tester shows SVG stripped. Keep width under ~600px for desktop preview panes.
Newsletter-specific tips: charts for newsletters.
Use cases
- Executive weekly metrics blasts with one hero chart.
- Lifecycle campaigns showing progress toward a usage threshold.
- B2B drip sequences referencing the same cached chart URL across steps.
Examples
PNG chart tuned for 600px layouts
Replace numbers with yours; test spam placement before broadcast.
https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Jan,Feb,Mar&s0=1200,980,1420&s0name=Revenue&title=Q1+outlook&valueFormat=compact&format=png&w=600&h=360HTML `<img>` (many ESPs)
<img src="https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Jan,Feb,Mar&s0=1200,980,1420&s0name=Revenue&title=Q1+outlook&valueFormat=compact&format=png&w=600&h=360" alt="Monthly revenue" width="600" height="360" />Markdown (for MD→HTML pipelines)
Shorter bar chart (less vertical space)
https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri&s0=5,8,7,9,11&s0name=Replays&format=png&w=560&h=280Horizontal bars when mobile readers wrap text
https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=horizontal-bar&labels=Enterprise,SMB,Self-serve&s0=42,35,23&s0name=Mix&format=png&w=600&h=320Compose a chart, then copy URL or `<img>`
Adjust fields and copy URL, HTML, Markdown, or an AI prompt. See the URL parameters reference if you are editing links by hand.
Chart options
Formats numbers and ISO dates (2026-01-06). Other labels stay as written.
Advanced▾
Makes X and Y axis labels larger. Applies to bar, line, area, stock, and horizontal bar charts.
Preview
Copy
Show snippets
How it works
- Build the chart, copy the absolute HTTPS URL, insert into your ESP’s HTML block as `<img src="…" width="…" height="…">`.
- Send seed tests to Gmail, Outlook, and phone clients.
- Track whether your ESP re-hosts images; if so, you may download ChartKit’s PNG and upload to the campaign asset library instead.
Use with ChatGPT or Claude
Ask ChatGPT or Claude for “email-safe HTML img only” so they do not embed scripts.
For blog follow-up, see charts for blog posts.
FAQ
- Can I use SVG in email?
Some clients support it; many do not. PNG is safer for blast campaigns.
- Do recipients need JavaScript?
No - static images only.
- Is ChartKit free for this use?
Trials and moderate public use are fine; check terms for high-volume sending.
- What about dark mode?
ChartKit renders on a light background by default; preview in dark clients.
- Can I build the chart in the browser?
Yes - use the builder below, then copy URL/HTML.