Web Development · head to head
Qwik vs SolidJS
Qwik
Web Development
Framework for edge computing with instant interactivity and minimal JavaScript
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SolidJS
Web Development
Reactive JavaScript framework with no virtual DOM
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Qwik different mental model than React requires learning new patterns; SolidJS much smaller ecosystem than React, so many problems have no off-the-shelf library
- They diverge on capability: Qwik covers Resumability, SolidJS covers No virtual DOM.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Qwik and SolidJS actually diverge.
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 Qwik
- Resumability
- Minimal JavaScript
- Lazy JavaScript execution
- Edge deployment support
- Qwik Optimizer
- Vite integration
- JSX support
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.
Qwik
- Building ultra-fast web applications with instant page loadsnot SolidJS
- Edge-computing-first applications requiring minimal JavaScriptnot SolidJS
- Performance-critical applications targeting mobile usersnot SolidJS
- Projects requiring sub-second Time to Interactive on slow networksnot SolidJS
SolidJS
- Interfaces where update performance is the binding constraintnot Qwik
- Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot Qwik
- Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot Qwik
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Qwik
- Different mental model than React requires learning new patterns
- Smaller ecosystem and community compared to established frameworks
- Limited third-party component library support
- Fewer examples and tutorials in documentation
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
Qwik
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Qwik review.
SolidJS
Free- SolidJSFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Which should you pick?
Choose Qwik if
- You need resumability.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Edge.
- You also want minimal javascript.
Choose SolidJS if
- You need no virtual dom.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want components run once.
Questions people ask
- Is Qwik or SolidJS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Qwik 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, Qwik or SolidJS?
- Qwik starts at Free and SolidJS at Free.
- Does Qwik or SolidJS run on more platforms?
- Qwik runs on Web, Edge. SolidJS runs on Web.
- Can I use Qwik for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Qwik best used for?
- Qwik is most often used for building ultra-fast web applications with instant page loads, edge-computing-first applications requiring minimal javascript, performance-critical applications targeting mobile users, projects requiring sub-second time to interactive on slow networks. Of those, building ultra-fast web applications with instant page loads and edge-computing-first applications requiring minimal javascript are not what SolidJS is typically brought in for.
- What can Qwik do that SolidJS cannot?
- Qwik covers Resumability, Minimal JavaScript, Lazy JavaScript execution, Edge deployment support. SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Qwik: How does Qwik achieve instant interactivity without hydration?
Qwik uses resumability, serializing application state and component tree, then deserializing directly into memory without re-executing component code.
SourceSolidJS: Is SolidJS free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
Qwik: What is the typical JavaScript bundle size for a Qwik application?
Qwik applications boot with approximately 1kb of JavaScript regardless of complexity, with additional code loaded on-demand.
SourceSolidJS: 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.
Qwik: Can Qwik be deployed to edge computing platforms?
Yes, Qwik supports deployment to Cloudflare Workers, Netlify Edge, Vercel Edge, AWS Lambda, and many other edge platforms.
SourceSolidJS: 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.
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