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Web Development · head to head

Nginx vs Preact

Nginx logo

Nginx

Web Development

High-performance web server and reverse proxy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Nginx open-source nginx has no admin API for changing arbitrary config at runtime; dynamic reconfiguration requires editing the config file and reloading via 'nginx -s reload'; Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • They diverge on capability: Nginx covers High-performance web server, Preact covers 3kB runtime.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nginx and Preact actually diverge.

Attributes where Nginx and Preact differ
AttributeNginxPreact
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb
Founded2011Unknown

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

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 Nginx

  • High-performance web server
  • Reverse proxy
  • Load balancing
  • HTTP caching
  • SSL/TLS termination
  • Gzip compression
  • Rate limiting
  • Static file serving

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.

Nginx

  • HTTP web server and static file servingnot Preact
  • Reverse proxy and load balancernot Preact
  • TLS/SSL termination (SNI, HTTP/2, HTTP/3)not Preact
  • Content cachingnot Preact
  • Kubernetes Ingress Controller backendnot Preact
  • TCP/UDP stream proxyingnot Preact

Preact

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

Where each one falls short

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

Nginx

  • Open-source nginx has no admin API for changing arbitrary config at runtime; dynamic reconfiguration requires editing the config file and reloading via 'nginx -s reload'
  • No official built-in GUI or dashboard for management or live metrics in the open-source edition
  • Advanced capabilities such as active health checks, dynamic upstream reconfiguration without reload, and a full API gateway feature set are exclusive to the paid NGINX Plus product, not open-source nginx
  • No published list price for NGINX Plus on the current F5 product page; pricing requires contacting sales

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

Nginx

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Web server
    • Reverse proxy
    • Load balancing

Preact

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Nginx if

  • You need high-performance web server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want reverse proxy.
Nginx 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 Nginx or Preact better?
Neither clearly leads. Nginx 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, Nginx or Preact?
Nginx starts at Free and Preact at Free.
Does Nginx or Preact run on more platforms?
Nginx runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Preact runs on Web.
Can I use Nginx for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Nginx best used for?
Nginx is most often used for http web server and static file serving, reverse proxy and load balancer, tls/ssl termination (sni, http/2, http/3), content caching. Of those, http web server and static file serving and reverse proxy and load balancer are not what Preact is typically brought in for.
What can Nginx do that Preact cannot?
Nginx covers High-performance web server, Reverse proxy, Load balancing, HTTP caching. Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nginx: How much does nginx cost?

nginx is free and open source software distributed under the 2-clause BSD License. Enterprise distributions, commercial support, and training are available from F5 Inc. at custom pricing.

Source
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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