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SolidStart vs HTMX

SolidStart logo

SolidStart

Web Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HTMX logo

HTMX

Web Development

Lightweight JavaScript library enabling AJAX, WebSockets, and server-sent events in HTML

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SolidStart smaller ecosystem compared to Next.js or Remix due to relative newness; HTMX best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • They diverge on capability: SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity, HTMX covers AJAX requests.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SolidStart and HTMX actually diverge.

Attributes where SolidStart and HTMX differ
AttributeSolidStartHTMX

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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 SolidStart

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

Only in HTMX

  • AJAX requests
  • HTTP verb support
  • DOM targeting
  • Swap strategies
  • WebSocket support
  • Server-sent events
  • Out-of-band updates

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

SolidStart

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

HTMX

  • Building interactive applications without JavaScript framework complexitynot SolidStart
  • Server-rendered applications requiring dynamic updatesnot SolidStart
  • Adding interactivity to existing server-side applicationsnot SolidStart
  • Hypermedia-driven applications using HTML-first approachesnot SolidStart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

HTMX

  • Best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • Limited client-side state management capabilities compared to frameworks
  • Smaller ecosystem with fewer third-party libraries and tools
  • Learning curve for developers from JavaScript framework backgrounds

Pricing, plan by plan

SolidStart

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SolidStart review.

HTMX

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HTMX review.

Which should you pick?

Choose SolidStart if

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

Choose HTMX if

  • You need ajax requests.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want http verb support.
HTMX review

Questions people ask

Is SolidStart or HTMX better?
Neither clearly leads. SolidStart starts at Free and HTMX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SolidStart or HTMX?
SolidStart starts at Free and HTMX at Free.
Does SolidStart or HTMX run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use SolidStart for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SolidStart best used for?
SolidStart is most often used for building lightweight full-stack applications with minimal runtime overhead, projects requiring fine-grained reactivity and automatic dependency tracking, applications targeting multiple deployment platforms with single codebase, teams prioritizing performance and small bundle sizes. Of those, building lightweight full-stack applications with minimal runtime overhead and projects requiring fine-grained reactivity and automatic dependency tracking are not what HTMX is typically brought in for.
What can SolidStart do that HTMX cannot?
SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity, Server actions, Single-flight mutations, Request deduplication. HTMX covers AJAX requests, HTTP verb support, DOM targeting, Swap strategies.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
HTMX: How big is the HTMX JavaScript library?

HTMX is only 16 kilobytes minified and gzipped with zero external dependencies.

Source
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
HTMX: Can HTMX work with JSON APIs?

While HTMX is optimized for HTML responses, it can work with JSON through additional configuration and response handling.

Source
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
HTMX: Does HTMX support real-time features like WebSockets?

Yes, HTMX includes support for WebSockets and server-sent events for real-time bidirectional communication.

Source
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