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SolidStart vs Preact

SolidStart logo

SolidStart

Web Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

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; Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • They diverge on capability: SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity, Preact covers 3kB runtime.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SolidStart and Preact actually diverge.

Attributes where SolidStart and Preact differ
AttributeSolidStartPreact
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee

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 SolidStart

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

Only in Preact

  • 3kB runtime
  • preact/compat
  • Same modern API
  • Fast rendering

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 Preact
  • Projects requiring fine-grained reactivity and automatic dependency trackingnot Preact
  • Applications targeting multiple deployment platforms with single codebasenot Preact
  • Teams prioritizing performance and small bundle sizesnot Preact

Preact

  • Embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay smallnot SolidStart
  • Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot SolidStart
  • Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot 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

Preact

  • Compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • Behavioural differences from React exist in edge cases, particularly around event handling
  • A much smaller community, so unusual problems have fewer existing answers than React

Pricing, plan by plan

SolidStart

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SolidStart review.

Preact

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

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 Preact if

  • You need 3kb runtime.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want preact/compat.
Preact review

Questions people ask

Is SolidStart or Preact better?
Neither clearly leads. SolidStart starts at Free and Preact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SolidStart or Preact?
SolidStart starts at Free and Preact at Free.
Does SolidStart or Preact 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 Preact is typically brought in for.
What can SolidStart do that Preact cannot?
SolidStart covers Fine-grained reactivity, Server actions, Single-flight mutations, Request deduplication. Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.

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
Preact: Is Preact free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

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
Preact: Can I use React libraries with Preact?

Most, through the preact/compat layer. Compatibility is good but not complete, so libraries relying on React internals can break.

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
Preact: Why choose Preact over React?

Bundle size, almost always. If payload is not a binding constraint, React’s ecosystem is usually the better trade.

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