ChartKit

Charts for newsletters

Newsletter platforms differ - some want Markdown, some rich HTML - but almost all accept remote images. ChartKit gives you one stable URL per issue graphic.

Platform patterns

Ghost and many MD-first tools accept `!alt`. Buttondown/Medium-like editors often need the raw `<img>` from the ChartKit copy field.

Substack’s editor varies - test both Markdown image syntax and the image insert dialog with your URL.

Use cases

  • Creator economy weekly digests with a single “chart of the week”.
  • Company internal Substack-style updates with KPI sparklines rendered as PNG.
  • Paid tiers that get the same chart URL gated by the newsletter platform, not ChartKit.

Examples

PNG suitable for narrow newsletter columns

https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=line&labels=Issue+20,Issue+21,Issue+22,Issue+23&s0=4200,4450,4680,4910&s0name=Opens&title=Open+rate+trend&format=png&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=compact

HTML `<img>` (many ESPs)

<img src="https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=line&labels=Issue+20,Issue+21,Issue+22,Issue+23&s0=4200,4450,4680,4910&s0name=Opens&title=Open+rate+trend&format=png&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=compact" alt="Monthly revenue" width="600" height="360" />

Markdown (for MD→HTML pipelines)

![Monthly revenue](https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=line&labels=Issue+20,Issue+21,Issue+22,Issue+23&s0=4200,4450,4680,4910&s0name=Opens&title=Open+rate+trend&format=png&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=compact)

Donut “share of voice” graphic

https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=donut&labels=Essay,Podcast,Video&s0=55,30,15&s0name=Mix&title=Content+mix&format=png&w=480&h=420

Horizontal bar for sponsor rankings

https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=horizontal-bar&labels=Sponsor+A,B,C,D&s0=12,9,7,5&s0name=Clicks&format=png&w=560&h=340

Build the chart for this issue

Adjust fields and copy URL, HTML, Markdown, or an AI prompt. See the URL parameters reference if you are editing links by hand.

Series 15 numbers

Chart options

Advanced

Makes X and Y axis labels larger. Applies to bar, line, area, and horizontal bar charts.

Preview

Copy

Show snippets
URL
https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May&s0=12000,18000,15000,22000,27000&s0name=Revenue&title=Monthly%20Revenue&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=currency&format=png
HTML
<img src="https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May&s0=12000,18000,15000,22000,27000&s0name=Revenue&title=Monthly%20Revenue&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=currency&format=png" alt="Monthly Revenue" width="580" height="320" />
Markdown
![Monthly Revenue](https://getchartkit.com/api/chart?type=bar&labels=Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May&s0=12000,18000,15000,22000,27000&s0name=Revenue&title=Monthly%20Revenue&w=580&h=320&valueFormat=currency&format=png)

How it works

  1. Draft issue text, freeze numbers, build the chart, copy Markdown or HTML.
  2. Paste early - some editors strip hotlinked images and require upload; download PNG from the URL if needed.
  3. Archive issues should keep working: avoid expiring intermediaries when possible.

Use with ChatGPT or Claude

LLM-written issues should reference ChartKit URLs explicitly so text and graphics stay in sync.

Compare with charts for email for ESP-specific HTML notes.

FAQ

Markdown or HTML?

Try Markdown in MD-native tools; fall back to `<img>` when previews break.

SVG allowed?

Prefer PNG for widest newsletter compatibility.

Free?

ChartKit public chart URLs are meant for normal trial throughput.

Can I use Google Sheets data?

Google Sheets chart generator.

JavaScript?

Not required for readers.

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