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SolidJS vs TanStack Start

SolidJS logo

SolidJS

Web Development

Reactive JavaScript framework with no virtual DOM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TanStack Start logo

TanStack Start

Web Development

Full-stack React framework with type-safe server functions and TanStack Router

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SolidJS much smaller ecosystem than React, so many problems have no off-the-shelf library; TanStack Start still in Release Candidate status, not yet production stable
  • They diverge on capability: SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, TanStack Start covers Full-document SSR with streaming.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SolidJS and TanStack Start actually diverge.

Attributes where SolidJS and TanStack Start differ
AttributeSolidJSTanStack Start
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 TanStack Start

  • Full-document SSR with streaming
  • Type-safe server functions
  • TanStack Router integration
  • Middleware system
  • Server routes and API endpoints
  • Experimental RSC support
  • Vite and Rsbuild 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 TanStack Start
  • Teams comfortable with React syntax who want finer-grained reactivitynot TanStack Start
  • Applications where bundle size directly affects the businessnot TanStack Start

TanStack Start

  • Building type-safe full-stack React applicationsnot SolidJS
  • Projects requiring type safety across client and server boundariesnot SolidJS
  • Applications leveraging advanced routing patterns and nested layoutsnot SolidJS
  • Deployments across multiple platforms with consistent codebasenot 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

TanStack Start

  • Still in Release Candidate status, not yet production stable
  • Smaller community compared to Next.js with less third-party support
  • Documentation not as comprehensive as more established frameworks
  • Less mature ecosystem for edge deployment compared to specialized frameworks

Pricing, plan by plan

SolidJS

Free
  • SolidJSFree
    • Full library
    • Commercial use permitted
    • No usage limits

TanStack Start

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TanStack Start 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.
SolidJS review

Choose TanStack Start if

  • You need full-document ssr with streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want type-safe server functions.
TanStack Start review

Questions people ask

Is SolidJS or TanStack Start better?
Neither clearly leads. SolidJS starts at Free and TanStack Start at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SolidJS or TanStack Start?
SolidJS starts at Free and TanStack Start at Free.
Does SolidJS or TanStack Start run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 TanStack Start is typically brought in for.
What can SolidJS do that TanStack Start cannot?
SolidJS covers No virtual DOM, Components run once, JSX syntax, Small bundles. TanStack Start covers Full-document SSR with streaming, Type-safe server functions, TanStack Router integration, Middleware system.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SolidJS: Is SolidJS free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

TanStack Start: Is TanStack Start production-ready?

TanStack Start is currently in Release Candidate status. While functional and used in production by some teams, it has not yet reached stable v1.

Source
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.

TanStack Start: How do type-safe server functions work in TanStack Start?

Server functions are automatically typed on the client side, enabling IDE autocomplete and type checking when calling server functions from client code.

Source
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.

TanStack Start: What deployment platforms are supported by TanStack Start?

TanStack Start supports Cloudflare Workers, Node.js, Netlify, Railway, and other platforms through custom adapter configuration.

Source
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