Web Development · head to head
Rollup vs Preact
Preact
Web Development
3kB alternative to React with the same modern API
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript; 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: Rollup covers Tree shaking, Preact covers 3kB runtime.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Rollup and Preact 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 Rollup
- Tree shaking
- Clean output
- Multiple output formats
- Plugin API
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.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
Rollup
Free- RollupFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Preact
Free- PreactFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Which should you pick?
Choose Rollup if
- You need tree shaking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want clean output.
Choose Preact if
- You need 3kb runtime.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want preact/compat.
Questions people ask
- Is Rollup or Preact better?
- Neither clearly leads. Rollup 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, Rollup or Preact?
- Rollup starts at Free and Preact at Free.
- Does Rollup or Preact run on more platforms?
- Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. Preact runs on Web.
- Can I use Rollup for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Rollup best used for?
- Rollup is most often used for publishing a javascript library in several module formats, builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speed, producing es module output for consumers who will bundle it themselves. Of those, publishing a javascript library in several module formats and builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speed are not what Preact is typically brought in for.
- What can Rollup do that Preact cannot?
- Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API. Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Rollup: Is Rollup free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
Preact: Is Preact free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
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: 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: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?
Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.
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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