SolidJS vs Svelte
Two UI library (with Vite) options for frontend framework. When each fits, what it costs, who moves from one to the other, and what makers who chose it say.
Which fits you
Choose SolidJS if- Fast, small interactive apps written in JSX, where signals update only the parts of the page that change.
Use it whenYou like React's JSX but want finer-grained updates and smaller bundles.
Trade-offA much smaller ecosystem of components and examples than React, and React libraries don't work in it.
Choose Svelte if- Interactive apps and widgets with little boilerplate, compiled to small client bundles.
Use it whenBundle size matters, or you want less code per component than React.
Trade-offSmaller component ecosystem than React, and Svelte 5 changed the reactivity syntax, so older tutorials and AI suggestions may use the previous style.
At a glance
| SolidJS | Svelte | |
|---|---|---|
| Used by | 4 makers' products · 47 open-source projects | 42 makers' products · 102 open-source projects |
| Downloads | 3.6M/wk+32% vs npm | 5.4M/wk−27% vs npm |
| Pricing | Free (open source). | Free (open source, MIT). |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes · self-hostable | Yes |
What makers say
Makers on using it for frontend framework, from Product Hunt and Starter Story interviews, each linked to the source. Products with a page of their own and fuller notes first.
On SolidJSOur dashboard is written in SolidJS, because we're all about that extra performance in every little corner of our product.
SolidJS gave us the performance and fine-grained reactivity we needed for the frontend. Its simple mental model and blazing speed made it easy to ship an interactive UI without the overhead, while still enjoying a great developer experience.
On SvelteSvelteKit is the web framework underneath Evidence. We've loved working with Svelte and watching it evolve over the past few years. The community has helped our project a ton.
Svelte compiles to vanilla JavaScript instead of shipping a runtime, so our landing page and client app load fast, stay small, and don't drag a virtual DOM around just to update a button.
I went with Svelte because I heard a lot of React devs usually like Svelte better than React. Svelte was my first JS framework, and it was a pretty good experience overall.
Loved and watch-outs
Themes that recur in makers' words and Hacker News comments, each linked to what it summarises.
SolidJSNothing that recurs in what we collected yet.SvelteOn Product Hunt: 5.0★, 52 reviews · mentioned most: developer experience, easy to learn, fast performance · complaints: ecosystem sizeWho uses each
Bricks
Enclosed
Adoptly
Dad Reply
Evidence
Unabyss
unloved
vol
ZenkanWhat makers pair each with
With SolidJS
Novu
Vite
WXT
Cypress
OpenReplayWith Svelte
Formcrafts
OboeNeither quite right?
See the whole frontend framework decision →
ReactUI library (with Vite)Single-page apps built from React components, with the largest ecosystem of component libraries, examples and AI-generated code.vs SolidJS →vs Svelte →
Next.jsReact full-stackReact apps that want server rendering, API routes and the largest set of examples, templates and SaaS starters.
React RouterReact full-stackReact apps built around web standards — loaders, actions and forms — in the lineage of Remix.
TanStack StartReact full-stackType-safe routing and server functions for React or Solid, built on TanStack Router.
SvelteKitSvelte or Vue full-stackApps written in Svelte, with less boilerplate and small client bundles.
NuxtSvelte or Vue full-stackVue apps, with a large module ecosystem for auth, content, images and SEO.
AstroContent-firstMarketing sites, docs and blogs that ship minimal JavaScript, with interactive islands from any UI library.