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Developer Tools · head to head

Fig vs Preact

F

Fig

Developer Tools

IDE-style autocomplete for your existing terminal

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Fig shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete; Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fig and Preact actually diverge.

Attributes where Fig and Preact differ
AttributeFigPreact
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fig

Nothing recorded that Preact does not also cover.

Only in Preact

  • 3kB runtime
  • preact/compat
  • Same modern API
  • Fast rendering

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fig

No use cases recorded yet. See the Fig review.

Preact

  • Embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay smallnot Fig
  • Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot Fig
  • Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot Fig

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fig

  • Shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete
  • The standalone desktop app is no longer available or supported
  • The completion specs remain open source on GitHub, but the product that consumed them is gone

Preact

  • Compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • Behavioural differences from React exist in edge cases, particularly around event handling
  • A much smaller community, so unusual problems have fewer existing answers than React

Pricing, plan by plan

Fig

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fig review.

Preact

Free
  • PreactFree
    • Full library
    • Commercial use permitted
    • No usage limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Fig if

  • You want to start without paying.
Fig review

Choose Preact if

  • You need 3kb runtime.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want preact/compat.
Preact review

Questions people ask

Is Fig or Preact better?
Neither clearly leads. Fig starts at Free and Preact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fig or Preact?
Fig starts at Free and Preact at Free.
Does Fig or Preact run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Fig for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Fig do that Preact cannot?
Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Preact: Is Preact free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

Preact: Can I use React libraries with Preact?

Most, through the preact/compat layer. Compatibility is good but not complete, so libraries relying on React internals can break.

Preact: Why choose Preact over React?

Bundle size, almost always. If payload is not a binding constraint, React’s ecosystem is usually the better trade.

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