Web Development · head to head
Preact vs Rollup
Preact
Web Development
3kB alternative to React with the same modern API
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose; Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
- They diverge on capability: Preact covers 3kB runtime, Rollup covers Tree shaking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Preact and Rollup actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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 Preact
- 3kB runtime
- preact/compat
- Same modern API
- Fast rendering
Only in Rollup
- Tree shaking
- Clean output
- Multiple output formats
- Plugin API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Preact
- Embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay smallnot Rollup
- Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot Rollup
- Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot Rollup
Rollup
- Publishing a JavaScript library in several module formatsnot Preact
- Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot Preact
- Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot Preact
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Rollup
- Slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
- Application concerns like dev servers and hot reloading are not its job, so app builds need Vite on top
- Configuration for non-trivial applications gets verbose compared with tools that assume more
Pricing, plan by plan
Preact
Free- PreactFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Rollup
Free- RollupFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Preact if
- You need 3kb runtime.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want preact/compat.
Choose Rollup if
- You need tree shaking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want clean output.
Questions people ask
- Is Preact or Rollup better?
- Neither clearly leads. Preact starts at Free and Rollup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Preact or Rollup?
- Preact starts at Free and Rollup at Free.
- Does Preact or Rollup run on more platforms?
- Preact runs on Web. Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Preact for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Preact best used for?
- Preact is most often used for embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay small, marketing and content sites where javascript payload affects core web vitals, applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devices. Of those, embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay small and marketing and content sites where javascript payload affects core web vitals are not what Rollup is typically brought in for.
- What can Preact do that Rollup cannot?
- Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering. Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Preact: Is Preact free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
Rollup: Is Rollup 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.
Rollup: Rollup or webpack?
Rollup is the usual choice for libraries thanks to cleaner output and better tree shaking. webpack remains stronger for complex applications with heavy asset handling.
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.
Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?
Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.
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