Description
Pop3D Charts brings genuine WebGL-based 3D chart rendering to the WordPress Block Editor. Add one chart block, enter or import your data, choose a layout, adjust the appearance in the sidebar, and publish a responsive visualization without using shortcodes or a separate chart dashboard.
The free version is a complete production-ready chart block for editorial content, landing pages, reports, comparisons, educational pages, survey results, KPI sections, and data-driven articles. It focuses on a handful of useful chart families, live editing, flexible imports, visitor-friendly controls, and clean integration with Gutenberg.
Try it in WordPress Playground (no install).
What you can build with the free version
- Straight column charts for classic category comparisons.
- Stacked column charts for totals, composition, and percentage-style comparisons.
- Pie and donut charts for simple shares of a whole.
- 3D stairs pie/donut charts where each segment rises to its own height, forming a staircase ring that lies flat and is shown in 3D.
- 2D and 3D views — all layouts render in real WebGL via three.js. Most layouts support both 2D and 3D; a few layouts, such as the 3D stairs pie/donut, are 3D-only by design.
- Interactive front-end charts with optional legend, sorting, data table modal, and PNG export.
- Responsive chart sections that can be adjusted for desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts.
Designed for the block editor
Everything important happens inside the block sidebar. You can edit rows, import data, switch layouts, change palettes, adjust labels, configure captions, and preview the result while you work.
There is no shortcode workflow and no separate proprietary chart database. Chart settings and chart data are stored as normal block attributes inside the post content.
Free version features
- Chart layouts: straight columns, stacked columns, pie/donut, and a 3D stairs pie/donut.
- Five built-in color palettes: Vivid, Pastel, Accessible, Material, and Corporate.
- Per-row color overrides using hex color values.
- Live editor preview while editing data, labels, appearance, captions, and chart settings.
- Manual row editor for adding, editing, duplicating, reordering, and deleting chart rows.
- Flexible data input: enter rows manually, paste from a spreadsheet, or import JSON, CSV, XLSX, or XLS files.
- Chart data export as CSV or JSON.
- Optional front-end controls such as legend, sorting, data table modal, fullscreen view, and PNG download where enabled and supported.
- Lazy loading for 3D scenes when charts scroll into view.
- Built-in translations for English, German, French, and Spanish.
- Accessibility-minded output with labelled chart regions, semantic data tables, keyboard-friendly dialogs, accessible toolbar labels, and live regions for loading and tooltip states.
Bring your own data
Start with a few manual rows, paste values from Excel or Google Sheets, or import a prepared file. The importer accepts familiar column names and turns your data into chart rows automatically.
For most charts, the most useful columns are:
value— the number that drives the chart.headline— the main label, such as a product, country, month, or category.unit— an optional unit such as%,€,kWh, oritems.paragraph— optional tooltip text.smallPrint— an optional source note or footnote.color— an optional custom row color such as#ff8800.groupKey— useful for stacked chart groups.
A simple CSV can look like this:
value;unit;headline;paragraph;smallPrint
42;%;North;Sales region Q1;Report 2024
31;%;South;Sales region Q1;Report 2024
Tip: create one chart manually, then export it as CSV from the block settings. The exported file gives you a practical template for your own spreadsheet.
Built for visual storytelling
Pop3D Charts is made for charts that feel like part of the page instead of external reports embedded into it. It works especially well for:
- editorial data stories
- annual reports
- landing page sections
- product and feature comparisons
- survey results
- educational content
- simple KPI and performance summaries
Pro version
A Pro add-on is sold separately outside the WordPress.org directory. The free plugin remains fully usable on its own; Pro extends the same chart block when both plugins are installed and active.
Free version includes:
- Chart layouts: straight columns, stacked columns, pie/donut, and a 3D stairs pie/donut
- 5 color palettes
- 2D and 3D views where supported
- CSV, JSON, XLSX, XLS import and export
- All front-end controls (legend, sorting, data table, fullscreen, PNG export)
Pro adds:
- 7 additional chart layouts: arc, grouped, wave, horizontal, radial, bubble, surface/heatmap
- 14 color palettes including a custom palette builder
- Advanced styling options per layout
- Ready-made chart block templates/patterns
Learn more about Pro: Pop3D Charts Pro
For free plugin support, please use the Support tab on this plugin page. Commercial support for the Pro version is handled through the vendor support channel.
Credits
Attributions required under Apache License 2.0 for bundled components are listed in the root file NOTICE; the full Apache-2.0 license text is in licenses/APACHE-2.0.txt.
Third-party libraries and assets are bundled with this plugin and served from your site. Runtime dependencies such as Three.js are not loaded from external CDNs.
- three.js — 3D rendering (MIT License). https://threejs.org/
- three.js examples (OrbitControls, RoundedBoxGeometry, Reflector, CSS2DRenderer) — Same license as three.js (MIT), included alongside the vendor build.
- SheetJS Community build (
xlsx) — Parsing.xlsx/.xlsfiles in the block editor for import (Apache License 2.0). https://sheetjs.com/ - Troika 3D text (
troika-three-textand sibling modules undervendor/troika) — Rendering text in WebGL scenes (Troika: MIT License). The filevendor/troika/troika-three-text.esm.jsembeds components whose upstream licenses are called out at the top of that bundle: Typr.ts (MIT), fflate (MIT), woff2otf WOFF unpacking (Apache-2.0), and unicode-font-resolver client (MIT). https://github.com/protectwise/troika - Barlow Semi Condensed (Bold and Light
.ttfunderassets/) — Typography in 3D labels (SIL Open Font License 1.1). https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Barlow+Semi+Condensed
The plugin does not transmit imported spreadsheet files to your server as uploads; parsing runs in the editor in the visitor’s browser. Chart settings and data live in normal block attributes in post content.
Installation
- Install Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer from the WordPress Plugin Directory, or upload the plugin ZIP under Plugins Add New Upload Plugin.
- Activate the plugin.
- Open a post or page in the WordPress block editor.
- Click the + button and search for Pop3D Charts.
- Insert the chart block.
- Add rows manually, paste spreadsheet data, or import JSON, CSV, XLSX, or XLS data in the block sidebar.
- Choose a layout, adjust the appearance, configure optional visitor controls, and publish your page.
FAQ
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Is this real WebGL 3D or just a CSS perspective effect?
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It is real WebGL 3D. Pop3D Charts uses three.js to render charts in a full WebGL scene. You can rotate the camera freely, view charts from any angle, and switch between 2D and 3D at runtime. This is a fundamentally different approach from plugins that simulate depth using CSS transforms or 3D-pie effects.
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How many data rows are practical?
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For most editorial use cases, up to around 1,000 rows work well. Spreadsheet paste is limited to approximately 500 KB; file imports accept up to around 5 MB for XLSX and XLS files. For charts displayed on a page, 10–50 rows typically produce the clearest visual result.
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Is my chart data sent to your servers?
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No. Chart data is stored as block attributes inside your post content in your own WordPress database. Imported spreadsheet files are parsed locally in the browser during the editor session and are not uploaded to any external server.
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Does Pop3D Charts really render charts in 3D?
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As far as we currently know, Pop3D Charts is one of the few WordPress chart builders with real three.js/WebGL 3D rendering directly in Gutenberg. Other chart plugins display flat 2D charts or use CSS perspective effects. Pop3D Charts renders real 3D bar charts, stacked bar charts, and pie charts using Three.js.
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Is the free version only a demo?
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No. The free version is a complete chart block with the layouts, palettes, import options, and display features listed above. It can be used on production websites within that feature set.
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What chart layouts are included in the free version?
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The free version includes straight columns, stacked columns, pie/donut charts, and a 3D stairs pie/donut (a stepped donut that lies flat and is shown in 3D).
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Does the free version include 3D charts?
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Yes. The free version includes 2D and 3D display options where supported by the selected chart layout.
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Does it use shortcodes?
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No. Charts are created as native Gutenberg blocks. You insert the chart block, configure it in the sidebar, and save it as part of the post or page content.
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Where is chart data stored?
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Chart data is stored in the block attributes inside the post content, similar to other Gutenberg blocks. The plugin does not require a separate proprietary chart database table for your chart series.
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Can I import spreadsheet data?
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Yes. You can enter data manually, paste it from a spreadsheet, or import JSON, CSV, XLSX, or XLS files.
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Which CSV columns should I use?
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For most charts, start with
valueandheadline. You can addunit,paragraph,smallPrint,color, andgroupKeywhen you need units, tooltip text, sources, custom colors, or grouped data. -
Can visitors view the chart data as a table?
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Yes. You can enable a front-end data table modal so visitors can inspect the same numbers in a semantic HTML table.
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Can visitors download charts?
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You can enable PNG export in the block settings where supported.
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Can I switch layouts after entering data?
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Yes. Your data remains in the block, and you can try the included chart layouts from the sidebar.
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Is there a Pro version?
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Yes. The Pro version is sold separately outside WordPress.org. It adds more chart layouts, more palettes, a custom palette builder, additional styling options, and the full pattern library.
Learn more about Pro: Pop3D Charts Pro
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Is the Pro version required?
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No. The free plugin works on its own. Pro is optional and adds advanced chart types, design options, and ready-made patterns for users who need more flexibility.
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Do I use a different block for Pro?
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No. Pro extends the same chart block after activation. You keep working inside the same Gutenberg block.
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Does it work with any WordPress theme?
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The plugin is built for the WordPress block editor and standard content areas. It should work with most modern block-compatible themes. If a theme applies very aggressive CSS to content elements, chart styling may be affected.
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Does it work with page builders like Elementor, Divi, or WPBakery?
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Pop3D Charts is built for the WordPress block editor. It may appear inside page-builder content where Gutenberg blocks are supported, but native editing is focused on Gutenberg.
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Can I use it on multilingual websites?
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Yes. The plugin includes translations for English, German, French, and Spanish. Other languages fall back to English.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
ContributorsTranslate “Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
The most recent releases are listed below. The complete version history is also kept in the bundled changelog.txt file.
1.1.0
- New free chart layout: 3D stairs pie/donut — each segment rises to its own height, forming a staircase ring that lies flat and is shown in 3D.
- Added a configurable step height for the stairs pie/donut in the block sidebar.
- Tuned the default 3D camera angle, orbit range, and responsive stage height so the new layout is framed cleanly in the editor and on the front end.
1.0.0
- First public release under the name Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer.
- Includes three chart layouts: straight columns, stacked columns, and pie/donut charts.
- Adds 2D and 3D display options where supported by the selected chart layout.
- Supports manual data entry, spreadsheet paste, and import from CSV, JSON, XLSX, and XLS files.
- Includes five built-in color palettes, per-row color overrides, live editor preview, chart data export, and optional visitor controls.
- Adds accessibility-minded chart output, built-in translations, and bundled third-party libraries served from the local plugin files.
0.9.0
- Prepared the plugin for the WordPress.org free version.
- Updated the plugin name, description, and documentation for the Pop3D Charts release.
- Clarified which layouts, palettes, import options, and front-end features are included in the free plugin.
- Added clearer information about the optional Pro add-on.
