Animated Slope Chart Generator
A line from a starting value to an ending one, per category, so a rank change or before/after shift reads as the line's slope. Export MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG.
Free to try · No design skills · Ready in about two minutes
Overview
What is a slope chart?
A slope chart, also called a bump chart, compares a set of categories at exactly two points in time (or two conditions, like before and after) using two vertical axes connected by a straight line per category. The left axis holds the starting value, the right axis holds the ending value, and the line between them makes the change itself the visual.
A steep upward line reads as a big gain instantly; a steep downward line as a big loss; and two lines crossing show a rank swap the moment it happens. It compresses what a grouped bar chart would need two bars per category to show into a single line, which is what makes a slope chart effective when the audience already has a rough sense of the two numbers and just needs to see the direction and size of the change.
It's built for exactly two points in time. If there's a third or a fourth period to show, a line chart with one line per category handles the fuller trend better — a slope chart's whole value is the simplicity of comparing just a before and an after.
How it works
How a slope chart works
Each row is one category with a starting value and an ending value. Reochart plots the starting value on the left axis and the ending value on the right axis, both against a shared vertical scale.
A line draws from left to right for every category simultaneously, so the eye can watch the whole set of lines rise, fall and cross at once rather than reading one category at a time.
Examples
Example slope charts
Real charts made in Reochart, each with its own data and theme. They animate automatically as you scroll.
Good fit
When to use a slope chart
- ✓A metric measured twice, before vs after a change
- ✓Rankings that swap places between two periods
- ✓Any two-period comparison where the change matters more than either number alone
Reach for something else
When not to use a slope chart
- ✕You have more than two time points, a line chart shows the fuller trend a slope chart can't.
- ✕You have a lot of categories (10+), the lines overlap into a tangle that's hard to trace individually.
- ✕The audience needs to read the exact values precisely, not just the direction of change, a table or grouped bar chart is clearer.
- ✕There's no real "before and after", if the two columns aren't naturally paired points in time, the format doesn't fit.
Compare
Slope chart vs other charts
Slope chart vs the alternatives for showing change.
| Chart type | Best for | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|
| Slope | A two-point before/after change, especially rank swaps | More than two time points, or 10+ categories |
| Line chart | A fuller trend across 3+ time points | You only have two points — a slope chart is cleaner |
| Grouped bar | Reading the two exact values precisely | The direction/size of change is the actual point |
| Diverging bar | A single net change value per category | You want to show the two original numbers, not just the delta |
Your data
What data you need
One row per category: a label, a starting value, and an ending value. The same shape as "before" and "after" columns in a spreadsheet. 3 to 8 rows keeps every line traceable.
| Label | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | 44 | 68 |
| Mid-market | 39 | 52 |
| SMB | 58 | 41 |
Step by step
How to make a slope chart
Drop your numbers in, or import a CSV.
Choose the chart, theme and animation speed.
Tune colours, labels and add your brand.
Download MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG.
Best practices
Get it right
- ✓Keep to 3-8 categories so every line stays individually traceable.
- ✓Label both axes clearly (e.g. "Q3" and "Q4") so the direction of time is obvious.
- ✓Use it specifically when a rank swap or crossing is part of the story.
- ✓Colour lines distinctly so a crossing doesn't read as one continuous line.
- ✕Chart more than about 10 categories, the crossing lines turn into a tangle.
- ✕Use it for more than two time points, that's a line chart's job.
- ✕Skip the axis labels, without them "left" and "right" don't mean anything.
- ✕Force it when there's no real before/after relationship between the two columns.
Watch out
Common mistakes to avoid
Past about 8-10 lines, the crossings turn into a tangle nobody can trace. Trim to the categories that matter, or split into smaller groups.
Without a label on each side ("Q3", "Q4"), a slope chart's whole premise — reading left to right as time passing — isn't obvious. Always label both ends.
A slope chart is built for exactly a before and an after. A third data point needs a line chart instead, which can show a fuller trajectory.
The moment two lines cross is usually the most important thing on the chart, a rank swap happening in real time. Don't bury it — call it out in the title or a callout if it's the headline.
Why Reochart
Built for sharing, not just charting
- ✓No design skills required
- ✓Animated MP4 and GIF exports
- ✓PNG and scalable SVG too
- ✓Your brand colours and logo (Pro)
- ✓Paste from a sheet or import a CSV
- ✓Presentation and feed ready in minutes
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a slope chart?
A slope chart, also called a bump chart, compares a set of categories at exactly two points in time (or two conditions, like before and after) using two vertical axes connected by a straight line per category. The left axis holds the starting value, the right axis holds the ending value, and the line between them makes the change itself the visual: a steep upward line reads as a big gain instantly, a steep downward line as a big loss, and two lines crossing show a rank swap the moment it happens. It compresses what a grouped bar chart would need two bars per category to show into a single line, which makes a slope chart especially effective when the audience already knows the two numbers roughly and just needs to see the direction and size of the change at a glance.
What data do I need?
A label, a starting value, and an ending value per row — the same shape as "before" and "after" columns in a spreadsheet.
Slope chart or grouped bar chart?
Use a slope chart when the change between two points is the story and you have more than a couple of categories, since the lines make direction and crossings obvious. Use a grouped bar chart when the audience needs to read the two exact values, not just the change.
Slope chart or bump chart, is there a difference?
No — they're the same format under two different names. "Bump chart" is more common when the values are literal ranks (1st, 2nd, 3rd); "slope chart" is more common when they're raw values like NPS or revenue.
Can I make it animated?
Yes. Charts animate by default, and you can export the animation as an MP4 or GIF, or grab a static PNG or SVG if you prefer.
Can I export as SVG?
Yes. Pro exports a crisp, scalable SVG vector, alongside MP4, GIF and PNG. Every export renders at 1080p.
Is Reochart free?
Yes. The free plan lets you make every chart type except the animated bar chart race, and export an animated MP4 with a small watermark, no card needed. Pro adds the bar chart race, removes the watermark, and adds GIF and SVG, your brand colours and logo, longer videos and CSV import.
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