You can create charts in WordPress without exporting a static image or embedding a hosted chart service. With ChartQuill, the practical workflow is: add a chart block, paste spreadsheet or CSV data, map the fields, add the context a reader needs, and preview the result before publishing.
This walkthrough uses a small line-chart example, but the same process works for bar charts, scatter plots, histograms, heatmaps, and pie charts in the free edition.
The short version
- Install ChartQuill from WordPress.org.
- Add a ChartQuill chart from the block inserter.
- Choose the chart style that matches the question your data answers.
- Paste rows from a spreadsheet or CSV into the data grid.
- Map the category, value, and optional series fields, then apply the data.
- Add a useful title, summary, unit, and source.
- Optionally insert a linked Chart Data Table, then preview the post at desktop and mobile widths.
1. Install ChartQuill Free
In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New, search for ChartQuill, then install and activate it. You can also download the current release directly from the official ChartQuill listing.
ChartQuill works in the WordPress block editor. If you are new to blocks, WordPress documents the different ways to add and search for a block.
2. Add a chart and choose the visual form
Open a post or page, choose the block inserter, and search for ChartQuill or Chart. Insert a chart, then use Chart type in the block settings to choose the visual form.
Start with the question, not the decoration. A line chart is a natural choice when the important story is change over time, so this example compares monthly sign-ups for two plans.
3. Prepare and paste the data
Keep the first row for field names and give each later row one observation. For a two-series line chart, a compact table can look like this:
Month,Plan,Sign-ups
January,Starter,24
January,Pro,16
February,Starter,31
February,Pro,22
March,Starter,38
March,Pro,29Select the chart and choose Edit chart data. You can type directly into the grid or paste spreadsheet, CSV, or tab-separated rows into a selected cell. Review the grid before choosing Apply data; cancelling leaves the last applied chart intact.
4. Map the fields and apply the chart
For the example above, map Month as the category, Sign-ups as the value, and Plan as the series. Each distinct plan becomes a line in the chart.
If a selected chart type needs different fields, correct the mapping before publishing. ChartQuill keeps an unapplied edit separate from the last valid chart, so experimenting with the draft does not immediately replace the published data.
5. Add the meaning around the visual
A chart should not make the reader reverse-engineer its purpose. Complete the chart content fields with:
- Title: state what the chart shows, such as “Monthly sign-ups by plan”.
- Summary: write the main takeaway in a sentence, such as “Sign-ups increased for both plans across the three-month period.”
- Unit: identify what the values count or measure.
- Source: name the dataset and link to it when a public source exists.
Use the display controls to make the legend, ticks, labels, grid, and height support the story. The goal is not to turn on every option; it is to remove ambiguity.
6. Add a linked data table when readers need the values
Select the chart, open Chart reference, and choose Insert linked data table. ChartQuill adds a separate Chart Data Table block connected to that chart. You can move the table elsewhere in the article while keeping it synchronized with applied chart changes.
The table is useful when exact values matter, when the visual is a quick summary rather than the whole answer, or when someone needs to read the data without interpreting marks and colour. Its saved snapshot can remain available even if the source chart is later removed.
7. Preview before publishing
Use the WordPress preview at more than one width. Check that the title and summary still make sense without the visual, labels are not cramped, the legend is clear, and any linked table is readable. If the chart feels crowded on a phone, simplify the data, shorten labels, increase the chart height, or choose a form that needs less horizontal space.
Which chart should you choose?
| Question | Useful starting point |
|---|---|
| How do categories compare? | Vertical or horizontal bar chart |
| How do several groups compare? | Grouped bar chart |
| How did a value change over time? | Line chart |
| Are two measures related? | Scatter plot |
| How are numeric values distributed? | Histogram |
| Where are the strongest two-dimensional patterns? | Heatmap |
| What are the parts of a simple whole? | Pie chart with a small number of clear slices |
If you cannot say what comparison the chart makes, return to the question and the table before adding more visual controls.
When ChartQuill Pro helps
The free edition covers the complete workflow in this guide, including nine chart styles, pasted data, summaries, sources, responsive local rendering, and linked tables. ChartQuill Pro is for work that needs additional chart forms or deeper presentation and analysis controls: stacked and 100% stacked bars, Likert and waterfall charts, area and trend views, bubble and box plots, donut charts, reusable palettes, conditional colour, reference lines, shaded ranges, callouts, and professional table styles.
Frequently asked questions
Does ChartQuill send chart data to a hosted chart service?
No. The chart data is saved with the WordPress post and the rendering libraries are bundled locally. ChartQuill does not need an iframe, hosted renderer, or front-end chart CDN.
Can I upload a CSV file?
The focused workflow is to paste CSV, TSV, or spreadsheet rows into the grid. That gives you a chance to review the data and mapping before applying it to the chart.
Do I need Pro to follow this tutorial?
No. The line chart, data editor, content fields, responsive rendering, and linked data table used here are included in ChartQuill Free.
What remains if the visual cannot be enhanced?
The server-rendered title, summary, and source remain in the post. A separately placed Chart Data Table also keeps its saved data snapshot available.
Create your first WordPress chart
Start with a small dataset and one clear question. Build the chart with the free plugin, then compare editions only if your publishing work needs the advanced forms and controls.