The chromium carbide based metal-ceramic monolithic coating and chromium carbide based metal-ceramic/Ni composite coating were prepared by electro-spark deposition. The phase compositions, microstructure, microhardness and tribological properties of monolithic and composite coatings were characterized comparatively by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness test, friction and wear test. The results indicate that the two kinds of coatings are dense, metallurgically bonded with substrate and have nanocrystalline microstructure. In composite coating, the content of FeCr_0.29Ni_0.16C_0.06plastic phase increases and Ni transition layer exists at the interface, which could release thermal stress via plastic deformation, therefore the number of cracks reduce significantly. Meanwhile, the maximum microhardness of composite coating (1186HV_0.05) is slightly lower than that of monolithic, but it displays the minimum friction coefficient (0.2462), and the wear mass of 1h is only 1/3 of that of monolithic, therefore it displays better tribological properties and the main wear mechanisms are abrasive and fatigue wear.