Web Development · head to head
SolidJS vs Qwik
SolidJS
Web Development
Reactive JavaScript framework with no virtual DOM
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Qwik
Web Development
Framework for edge computing with instant interactivity and minimal JavaScript
- 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; Qwik different mental model than React requires learning new patterns
- They diverge on capability: SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Qwik covers Resumability.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SolidJS and Qwik 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 Qwik
- Resumability
- Minimal JavaScript
- Lazy JavaScript execution
- Edge deployment support
- Qwik Optimizer
- Vite integration
- JSX support
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 Qwik
- Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot Qwik
- Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot Qwik
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
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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
SolidJS
Free- SolidJSFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Qwik
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Qwik 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 Qwik if
- You need resumability.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Edge.
- You also want minimal javascript.
Questions people ask
- Is SolidJS or Qwik better?
- Neither clearly leads. SolidJS starts at Free and Qwik at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SolidJS or Qwik?
- SolidJS starts at Free and Qwik at Free.
- Does SolidJS or Qwik run on more platforms?
- SolidJS runs on Web. Qwik runs on Web, Edge.
- 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 Qwik is typically brought in for.
- What can SolidJS do that Qwik cannot?
- SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles. Qwik covers Resumability, Minimal JavaScript, Lazy JavaScript execution, Edge deployment support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SolidJS: Is SolidJS free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
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 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: 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: 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.
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.
SourceRelated pages
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