Softwr

Web Development · head to head

Rollup vs SolidStart

Rollup logo

Rollup

Web Development

JavaScript module bundler built for libraries

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SolidStart logo

SolidStart

Web Development

Full-stack meta-framework for SolidJS with fine-grained reactivity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; SolidStart smaller ecosystem compared to Next.js or Remix due to relative newness
  • They diverge on capability: Rollup covers Tree shaking, SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rollup and SolidStart actually diverge.

Attributes where Rollup and SolidStart differ
AttributeRollupSolidStart
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source
PlatformsLinux, macOS, WindowsWeb

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 Rollup

  • Tree shaking
  • Clean output
  • Multiple output formats
  • Plugin API

Only in SolidStart

  • Fine-grained reactivity
  • Server actions
  • Single-flight mutations
  • Request deduplication
  • Multi-router support
  • Automatic API generation
  • Vite integration

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 SolidStart
  • Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot SolidStart
  • Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot SolidStart

SolidStart

  • Building lightweight full-stack applications with minimal runtime overheadnot Rollup
  • Projects requiring fine-grained reactivity and automatic dependency trackingnot Rollup
  • Applications targeting multiple deployment platforms with single codebasenot Rollup
  • Teams prioritizing performance and small bundle sizesnot 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

SolidStart

  • Smaller ecosystem compared to Next.js or Remix due to relative newness
  • SolidJS less familiar to developers with React experience
  • Community documentation not as extensive as larger frameworks
  • Limited third-party UI component libraries compared to React ecosystem

Pricing, plan by plan

Rollup

Free
  • RollupFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

SolidStart

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SolidStart review.

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.
Rollup review

Choose SolidStart if

  • You need fine-grained reactivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want server actions.
SolidStart review

Questions people ask

Is Rollup or SolidStart better?
Neither clearly leads. Rollup starts at Free and SolidStart at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rollup or SolidStart?
Rollup starts at Free and SolidStart at Free.
Does Rollup or SolidStart run on more platforms?
Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. SolidStart 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 SolidStart is typically brought in for.
What can Rollup do that SolidStart cannot?
Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API. SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity, Server actions, Single-flight mutations, Request deduplication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rollup: Is Rollup free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

SolidStart: What is SolidJS and how does it differ from React?

SolidJS uses fine-grained reactivity and automatic dependency tracking instead of React's virtual DOM, resulting in smaller bundles and better performance.

Source
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.

SolidStart: How many deployment platforms does SolidStart support?

SolidStart supports over 20 deployment platforms including Cloudflare, Netlify, Vercel, Deno, AWS, and Azure through Vite plugins.

Source
Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?

Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.

SolidStart: Can I use TanStack Router with SolidStart?

Yes, SolidStart supports using either the official Solid Router or TanStack Router depending on project requirements.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Rollup

More on SolidStart

Keep looking

Other head to heads