Web Development · head to head
SolidJS vs Rollup
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; Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
- They diverge on capability: SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Rollup covers Tree shaking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SolidJS and Rollup 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 SolidJS
- No virtual DOM
- Components run once
- JSX syntax
- Small bundles
Only in Rollup
- Tree shaking
- Clean output
- Multiple output formats
- Plugin API
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 Rollup
- Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot Rollup
- Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot Rollup
Rollup
- Publishing a JavaScript library in several module formatsnot SolidJS
- Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot SolidJS
- Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot 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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
SolidJS
Free- SolidJSFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Rollup
Free- RollupFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
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 Rollup if
- You need tree shaking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want clean output.
Questions people ask
- Is SolidJS or Rollup better?
- Neither clearly leads. SolidJS starts at Free and Rollup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SolidJS or Rollup?
- SolidJS starts at Free and Rollup at Free.
- Does SolidJS or Rollup run on more platforms?
- SolidJS runs on Web. Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- 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 Rollup is typically brought in for.
- What can SolidJS do that Rollup cannot?
- SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles. Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SolidJS: Is SolidJS free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
Rollup: Is Rollup free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
SolidJS: 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.
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.
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.
Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?
Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.
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