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Preact vs TanStack Start

Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TanStack Start logo

TanStack Start

Web Development

Full-stack React framework with type-safe server functions and TanStack Router

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; TanStack Start still in Release Candidate status, not yet production stable
  • They diverge on capability: Preact covers 3kB runtime, TanStack Start covers Full-document SSR with streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Preact and TanStack Start actually diverge.

Attributes where Preact and TanStack Start differ
AttributePreactTanStack Start
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 TanStack Start

  • Full-document SSR with streaming
  • Type-safe server functions
  • TanStack Router integration
  • Middleware system
  • Server routes and API endpoints
  • Experimental RSC support
  • Vite and Rsbuild support

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 TanStack Start
  • Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot TanStack Start
  • Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot TanStack Start

TanStack Start

  • Building type-safe full-stack React applicationsnot Preact
  • Projects requiring type safety across client and server boundariesnot Preact
  • Applications leveraging advanced routing patterns and nested layoutsnot Preact
  • Deployments across multiple platforms with consistent codebasenot 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

TanStack Start

  • Still in Release Candidate status, not yet production stable
  • Smaller community compared to Next.js with less third-party support
  • Documentation not as comprehensive as more established frameworks
  • Less mature ecosystem for edge deployment compared to specialized frameworks

Pricing, plan by plan

Preact

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

TanStack Start

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TanStack Start review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Preact if

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

Choose TanStack Start if

  • You need full-document ssr with streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want type-safe server functions.
TanStack Start review

Questions people ask

Is Preact or TanStack Start better?
Neither clearly leads. Preact starts at Free and TanStack Start at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Preact or TanStack Start?
Preact starts at Free and TanStack Start at Free.
Does Preact or TanStack Start run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 TanStack Start is typically brought in for.
What can Preact do that TanStack Start cannot?
Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering. TanStack Start covers Full-document SSR with streaming, Type-safe server functions, TanStack Router integration, Middleware system.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Preact: Is Preact free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

TanStack Start: Is TanStack Start production-ready?

TanStack Start is currently in Release Candidate status. While functional and used in production by some teams, it has not yet reached stable v1.

Source
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.

TanStack Start: How do type-safe server functions work in TanStack Start?

Server functions are automatically typed on the client side, enabling IDE autocomplete and type checking when calling server functions from client code.

Source
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.

TanStack Start: What deployment platforms are supported by TanStack Start?

TanStack Start supports Cloudflare Workers, Node.js, Netlify, Railway, and other platforms through custom adapter configuration.

Source
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