Softwr

Web Development · head to head

npm vs SolidJS

npm logo

npm

Web Development

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SolidJS logo

SolidJS

Web Development

Reactive JavaScript framework with no virtual DOM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only; SolidJS much smaller ecosystem than React, so many problems have no off-the-shelf library
  • They diverge on capability: npm covers Package installation, SolidJS covers No virtual DOM.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which npm and SolidJS actually diverge.

Attributes where npm and SolidJS differ
AttributenpmSolidJS
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb
Founded2014Unknown

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 npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

Only in SolidJS

  • No virtual DOM
  • Components run once
  • JSX syntax
  • Small bundles

What people use each for

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

npm

  • Package managementnot SolidJS
  • Dependency installationnot SolidJS
  • Project scaffoldingnot SolidJS
  • Build automationnot SolidJS
  • Package publishingnot SolidJS
  • Version controlnot SolidJS

SolidJS

  • Interfaces where update performance is the binding constraintnot npm
  • Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot npm
  • Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot npm

Where each one falls short

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

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

SolidJS

  • Much smaller ecosystem than React, so many problems have no off-the-shelf library
  • The React-like syntax is misleading: components run once, and React habits produce subtle bugs
  • Smaller hiring pool and fewer learning resources than the mainstream frameworks

Pricing, plan by plan

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

SolidJS

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

Which should you pick?

Choose npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Choose SolidJS if

  • You need no virtual dom.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want components run once.
SolidJS review

Questions people ask

Is npm or SolidJS better?
Neither clearly leads. npm starts at Free and SolidJS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, npm or SolidJS?
npm starts at Free and SolidJS at Free.
Does npm or SolidJS run on more platforms?
npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. SolidJS runs on Web.
Can I use npm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is npm best used for?
npm is most often used for package management, dependency installation, project scaffolding, build automation. Of those, package management and dependency installation are not what SolidJS is typically brought in for.
What can npm do that SolidJS cannot?
npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running. SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SolidJS: Is SolidJS free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

SolidJS: Is SolidJS just React without the virtual DOM?

The syntax is similar but the model is not. Solid components run once and reactivity is fine-grained, so patterns that are correct in React can be wrong in Solid.

SolidJS: Why is SolidJS fast?

It compiles away much of the framework and updates individual DOM nodes directly, rather than re-rendering components and diffing a virtual DOM.

Share

Related pages

More on npm

More on SolidJS

Keep looking

Other head to heads