Alternatives to React JS: Top 11 Frameworks You Can Use

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By: Manish Shewaramani

Alternatives to React JS: Top 11 Frameworks You Can Use (Instead of React)

React JS is an incredibly popular JavaScript library. The USP of this library is that it has a Virtual DOM, which allows the information to process faster.

React is one of the most preferred frameworks when it comes to building single-page web applications. Since most of the websites are not SPA, one of the USPs of React dies here.

One of the biggest problems while choosing the alternatives to React JS is to find a framework that offers flexibility and easiness as React. At times, developers get so much attached to the framework that they don’t want to leave it.

However, choosing the right alternatives to React JS can be difficult. You need to consider several points such as stability, support of the ecosystem, API, performance, and package size.

Essential Characteristics of Ideal Alternatives to React JS

  • Supply a slim compatible layer, which can be used for your running React JS development project.
  • Have an API compatible with React, which means you can replace React DOM with any import that the library provides.
  • Support JSX. Most alternatives to React JS do not support PropTypes, which is okay for most of the projects.

11 Best Alternatives to React JS

1. Inferno JS

Inferno is one of the most high-profile alternatives to React JS. Clocking at 9k, Inferno JS is one of the quickest JavaScript libraries out there. It has been under active development since its first release in 2016.

It supports hyperscript, JSX, and Vanilla createElement method. Moreover, it provides support for several popular state management libraries such as Redux, MobX, and Cerebral JS.

If you’re looking forward to building a high performing web app, then Inferno will be an amazing choice for you since it specializes in performance.

2. Preact

Clocked at 3k gzipped, Preact can be an excellent choice to build websites if performance is not the most profound concern for you. It is one of the smallest alternatives to React JS out there.

It supports most of the modern-day browsers and IE9+. However, if you’re looking forward to a library that supports Facebook synthetic events system, then this is not the right choice.

Preact offers several other features nifty features such as the rendering of both props and states, linked state, and the utilization of ‘class’ instead of className.

3. React-Lite

The sole reason to create this library was to introduce the lighter version of React JS. Unlike Inferno and Preact, there is no compatibility package require. One can use it directly via webpack alias.

Its compatibility level with other React components is much greater than the other two frameworks mentioned above. However, it is neither the fastest nor the smallest among all libraries.

Neither does it supports server-side rendering, nor does it supports client-side hydration. Despite using React DOM servers for those functions, developers haven’t seen any seamless transitions.

4. Backbone JS

Backbone JS can be considered as the right alternative to React JS as it offers a structure to JS heavy applications by providing models with value-binding and custom events, collections with a rich API of various functions, views with declarative event handling, and connects all of them with your existing apps over a RESTful JSON interface.

5. Aurelia

Aurelia is written using ES2016. Without any external dependencies except polyfills, it seamlessly integrates with web components.

Aurelia is made of smaller and more focused environments rather than following the monolithic framework approach. You can create applications using all or selected modules.

It also offers two-way data binding to any object. Its extensible HTML compiler allows you to create custom HTML elements, control template generation, and attach new behaviors to the existing HTML elements.

6. Ember JS

It holds a strong position in top alternatives to React JS. Ember’s handlebars integrated templates allow you to do more by writing less code. This template updates automatically when the underlying data changes.

It is designed to increase the productivity of a developer. It is API-friendly and helps one to enhance the development speed since it incorporates all the common idioms.

7. Riot JS

Riot JS allows us to create user interfaces with custom tags using simple and intriguing syntax. It also has a virtual DOM which is similar yet faster than React.

If you’re looking for a small-sized UI library, then Riot is the right choice for you. It’s custom tags let you build complex views using HTML. Moreover, it does not require any extra HTML root elements, fancy custom attributes, or data attributes.

8. Mithril

Mithril is a modern-day client-side JS framework for developing Single Page Applications. It is fast, small (less than 10kb gzip), and offers routing and XHR utility out-of-the-box.

9. Vue JS

Vue is a progressive javascript framework that is used to create web user interfaces. The framework is entirely cerated and maintained by the community. Though it does have the backing of any tech giants, it is one of the best alternatives to React JS.

Vue.js is flexible, handy conventions, developer-friendly, and considered as a trendiest JavaScript Frontend Framework. When it comes to performance, Vue.js is faster than React. Moreover, Vue makes the app development easy and smooth.

The framework has a smooth learning curve so it is quite easy for developers to adopt it. Vue is a modular, high performant, and lightweight technology compared to React JS.

10. AngularJS

AngularJS is the best React JS alternative to build highly dynamic web, desktop, and mobile applications. It is an opensource front-ed JavaScript framework that helps in simplifying and structuring the JavaScrpt Code.

The technology allows building SInglePageApplcaiotn (SPA) in a very maintainable and clean way. The SPA could be an application or website that interacts with users not by loading entire new pages from a server, but by rewriting the current page dynamically.

Invented by Google, it allows to build the fastest SPA that works 100% perfectly. Moreover, AngularJS is used by brands like Gooogle, Amazon, Udemy, and more.

Another reason that makes AngualrJS as the best alternative to React JS is it empowers developers with a set of advanced AngularJS frameworks and AngularJS tools to build robust applications.

11. Cycle.js

Cycle.js is a reactive and functional JavaScript framework. It offers functional programming where the technology makes sure the functions should have only inputs and outputs, without any bug or side effect.

With the help of Cycle.js, you can write clear asynchronous logic. The framework contains an API in its core. Apart from that Cycel.js contains streams, drivers, and functions.

A Cycel.js app always covers three important components in it such as main (), driver, and run ().

Are you Struggling to Choose the Right Alternative to React JS?

So, how would you choose the most appropriate alternatives to React JS for your web application? The answer depends on your priority.

If you’re developing a full-fledge SPA or single page application, then you might require a stable and growing library like React. However, if the performance of the application is your biggest concern, then Inferno or Preact can be a better choice for you.

Similarly, every JavaScript frameworks/libraries have their own unique ability which you should keep in mind while choosing an appropriate library for building applications.

Still, if you feel you are not able to make the right choice for your project that which JavaScript framework you need to consider instead of React, feel free to connect with our experts. We would provide you a free consultation for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions on Alternatives to React JS

1) Is Angular better than React?

Both frameworks have their benefits. Angular is a full-fledge framework, whereas React is a JavaScript Library. Angular is helpful when you want to build an application from scratch, whereas React is used when you want to scale existing applications. To learn more, read React JS vs Angular: Which Framework Should you Choose (and Why).

2) Should I use React JS?

If you’re planning to build a single page application or you’re planning to scale your existing web application, then React is the ideal choice for you.

3) Why Vue JS better than React?

Both Vue and React have tools that help you build interactive user interfaces. However, because of its simple templating syntax and use of components, migrating or integrating existing projects to Vue is faster and smoother. To learn more, read Vue JS vs React: A Battle for the Best Front-End Framework (with Latest Updates).

4) Is Preact better than React?

Preact stands for performance-optimized React. It is highly compatible with React and is used whenever there is a need to enhance the performance of an existing React application.



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