What is a ridgeline chart maker?

A ridgeline chart maker (also called a joyplot) lets you create a chart stacking multiple distribution curves, one per group, slightly overlapping to save vertical space. AECharts lets you paste data, customize colors and styling, and export and use in PowerPoint or Google Slides.

What data do I need for a ridgeline chart?

A set of numeric values for each group you want to compare. AECharts builds a smoothed distribution curve for each group and stacks them automatically.

Can I import data from Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. Copy your grouped numeric data and paste it directly into the editor.

What export formats are available?

Every chart exports ready to use in PowerPoint or Google Slides, or as an image for reports.

Can I customize the colors?

Yes. Each group's curve gets its own color, fully customizable. You can also adjust fonts, background color, and label styles to match your brand.

What is a ridgeline chart used for?

Ridgeline charts are used to compare distributions across many groups at once, score distributions across teams, time distributions across processes, or measurement distributions across product batches, without the clutter of overlapping histograms.

What is the difference between a ridgeline chart and a box plot?

A box plot summarizes a distribution into five numbers (min, quartiles, max). A ridgeline chart shows the full shape of each distribution, which can reveal patterns like multiple peaks that a box plot's summary would hide.

Do I need design skills?

No. Templates are professionally designed, paste your data and adjust colors if needed. Most users create their first ridgeline chart in a few minutes.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. AECharts is free to start, exports on the free plan include a watermark. The paid plan removes it, starting at $12/month billed annually. No credit card required to start.

Can I use a ridgeline chart in a presentation?

Yes. Charts export ready to drop directly into PowerPoint and Google Slides. Ridgeline charts work well in data analysis appendices and reports comparing many groups' distributions at once.

Ridgeline Chart Maker, Create Distribution Comparison Charts Free

Built for comparing score, time, or measurement distributions across many groups at once. Free to start.

Everything You Need to Create Ridgeline Charts

Easy Data Input: Paste grouped numeric data from Excel or Google Sheets, AECharts builds each distribution curve automatically.
Stacked, Overlapping Curves: Compare many groups' distributions in a compact vertical layout without a cluttered grid of separate charts.
Export Straight to PowerPoint: Export and drop it directly into PowerPoint, Google Slides, or reports.
Custom Colors: Each group's curve gets its own color. Match your brand palette or use a built-in color scheme.
Real-time Preview: See every change instantly. What you see in the editor is exactly what exports.
No Design Skills Needed: Templates are professionally designed. Paste your data and export, most users finish in a few minutes.

When to Use a Ridgeline Chart

Ridgeline charts work best when comparing the shape of a distribution across many groups at once, where separate histograms would take too much space.

Score Distribution by Team: Compare performance score distributions across many teams in one compact chart.
Process Time Distribution: Compare processing time distributions across stages or locations to spot outliers.
Measurement Distribution by Batch: Compare a quality measurement's distribution across production batches.
Survey Response Distribution by Segment: Compare how response distributions differ across customer or demographic segments.
Salary Distribution by Department: Compare compensation distributions across departments in an HR analysis.
Time Series Snapshot Comparison: Compare a metric's distribution at several points in time, stacked to show how it evolved.

Ridgeline Chart vs Box Plot

Both compare distributions across groups, at different levels of detail.

Ridgeline Chart

Best for: Seeing the full shape of each distribution.
Strength: Reveals patterns like multiple peaks that summary statistics hide.
Use when: Many groups, shape matters more than a quick summary.

Box Plot

Best for: A compact statistical summary per group.
Strength: Quartiles and outliers are immediately readable.
Use when: Quick comparison of medians and spread across groups.

AECharts supports both. Switch between chart types to find the right format for your data.

How to Create a Ridgeline Chart

Choose a Template. Browse ridgeline chart templates and pick one that fits your data.
Paste Your Data. Copy your grouped numeric values from Excel or Google Sheets, AECharts builds each distribution curve automatically.
Customize Colors & Style. Assign a color to each group and match your brand. Adjust fonts and background.
Export. Export and drop it directly into PowerPoint, Google Slides, or reports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ridgeline Charts

Other chart makers

100% Stacked Bar Chart Maker 100% Stacked Column Chart Maker Area Chart Maker Bar Chart Maker Bar Mekko Chart Maker Box Whisker Plot Maker Bubble Chart Maker Bullet Chart Maker Bump Chart Maker Candlestick Chart Maker Chord Diagram Maker Circle Packing Chart Maker Concentric Circle Chart Maker Cycle Diagram Maker Dumbbell Chart Maker Fishbone Diagram Maker Funnel Chart Maker Gantt Chart Maker Gauge Chart Maker Grouped Bar Chart Maker Half Donut Chart Maker Heatmap Maker Histogram Maker Horizontal Bar Chart Maker Line Chart Maker Mekko Chart Maker (Marimekko)Nightingale Rose Chart Maker Pareto Chart Maker Pictograph Maker Pie Chart Maker Population Pyramid Maker Pyramid Chart Maker Radar Chart Maker Radial Bar Chart Maker Sankey Chart Maker Scatter Plot Maker Segmented Bar Chart Maker Semicircle Pie Chart Maker Slope Chart Maker Stacked Area Chart Maker Stacked Column Chart Maker Stacked Waterfall Chart Maker Step Chart Maker Stream Graph Maker Sunburst Chart Maker Tornado Chart Maker Treemap Chart Maker Trellis Chart Maker Venn Diagram Maker Waffle Chart Maker Waterfall Chart Maker