Web Development · head to head
SolidJS vs Lit
SolidJS
Web Development
Reactive JavaScript framework with no virtual DOM
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: SolidJS much smaller ecosystem than React, so many problems have no off-the-shelf library; Lit smaller ecosystem compared to React or Vue
- They diverge on capability: SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Lit covers Reactive properties.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SolidJS and Lit 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 SolidJS
- No virtual DOM
- Components run once
- JSX syntax
- Small bundles
Only in Lit
- Reactive properties
- Tagged template literals
- Scoped styling with Shadow DOM
- Web Components standard
- Minimal bundle size
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SolidJS
- Interfaces where update performance is the binding constraintnot Lit
- Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot Lit
- Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot Lit
Lit
- Building reusable component libraries across frameworksnot SolidJS
- Creating design systems with scoped stylesnot SolidJS
- Developing progressive web applications with minimal dependenciesnot SolidJS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Lit
- Smaller ecosystem compared to React or Vue
- Web Components adoption still growing in the industry
- Requires understanding of Shadow DOM concepts
Pricing, plan by plan
SolidJS
Free- SolidJSFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Lit
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Lit review.
Which should you pick?
Choose SolidJS if
- You need no virtual dom.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want components run once.
Choose Lit if
- You need reactive properties.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Node.js.
- You also want tagged template literals.
Questions people ask
- Is SolidJS or Lit better?
- Neither clearly leads. SolidJS starts at Free and Lit at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SolidJS or Lit?
- SolidJS starts at Free and Lit at Free.
- Does SolidJS or Lit run on more platforms?
- SolidJS runs on Web. Lit runs on Web, Node.js.
- Can I use SolidJS for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is SolidJS best used for?
- SolidJS is most often used for interfaces where update performance is the binding constraint, teams comfortable with react syntax who want finer-grained reactivity, applications where bundle size directly affects the business. Of those, interfaces where update performance is the binding constraint and teams comfortable with react syntax who want finer-grained reactivity are not what Lit is typically brought in for.
- What can SolidJS do that Lit cannot?
- SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles. Lit covers Reactive properties, Tagged template literals, Scoped styling with Shadow DOM, Web Components standard.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SolidJS: Is SolidJS free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
Lit: Is Lit free to use?
Yes, Lit is open source and completely free under the BSD 3-Clause license.
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.
SolidJS: 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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