Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Expo VS DHTMLX

Compare Expo VS DHTMLX and see what are their differences

Expo logo Expo

The fastest way to build an iOS and Android app 📱

DHTMLX logo DHTMLX

JavaScript Library for cross-platform web and mobile app development with HTML5 JavaScript widgets. Easy integration with popular JavaScript Frameworks.
  • Expo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11
  • DHTMLX Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27

Expo features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Expo simplifies the development process by providing a managed workflow that handles configuration and builds, allowing developers to focus on coding.
  • Cross-Platform Development
    Expo enables developers to write code once and deploy it on both iOS and Android platforms, ensuring a consistent user experience across devices.
  • Pre-Built Components
    Expo offers a library of pre-built components and APIs that streamline the development process and reduce the time needed to implement common functionalities.
  • Over-the-Air Updates
    Developers can push updates to users in real-time without needing to go through the app store review process, facilitating quick bug fixes and feature releases.
  • Strong Community Support
    Expo has a vibrant and active developer community, offering a wealth of resources, tutorials, and third-party packages to assist developers.
  • Integrated Development Environment
    Expo provides tools like Expo CLI and Expo Go that make it easier to build, test, and debug applications, particularly for newcomers to mobile app development.

Possible disadvantages of Expo

  • Custom Native Code Limitations
    Expo's managed workflow restricts the use of custom native code, limiting developers when they need to integrate with third-party native libraries not supported by Expo.
  • Larger App Size
    Expo includes additional libraries and dependencies by default, which can result in a larger application size compared to custom builds.
  • Performance Overhead
    The abstraction added by Expo can introduce performance overhead, making it less suitable for highly performance-sensitive applications.
  • Dependency on Expo's Updates
    Developers are dependent on Expo's update cycle for bug fixes and new features, which may not always align with their project timelines.
  • Limited Configuration Options
    Expo's managed workflow abstracts many configurations for build processes, which can be a hindrance for developers needing granular control over app settings.
  • Ejection Complexity
    Ejecting from the managed workflow to a bare workflow for more customization can be complex and time-consuming, potentially negating some benefits of using Expo.

DHTMLX features and specs

  • Comprehensive Suite
    DHTMLX offers a wide range of UI components, from grids and charts to complex Gantt and scheduler components, providing a comprehensive toolkit for web application development.
  • Rich Documentation
    The platform provides extensive documentation, demos, and examples, which are invaluable for developers in understanding and implementing various components efficiently.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    DHTMLX components are designed to be fully compatible across major browsers, ensuring a consistent user experience regardless of the user's environment.
  • Support and Community
    DHTMLX offers various support options including forums and ticket-based support, alongside a strong user community that can provide insights and assistance.
  • Customizability
    The components are highly customizable, allowing developers to tailor them to fit the specific aesthetics and functionality requirements of their projects.

Possible disadvantages of DHTMLX

  • Cost
    While DHTMLX provides a free version, the full suite with advanced features requires a paid license, which can be a drawback for startups or individual developers with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    With its comprehensive set of features, DHTMLX can have a steep learning curve for newcomers who are unfamiliar with its architecture and functionalities.
  • Dependency on Proprietary Framework
    Using DHTMLX can lead to a dependency on its particular frameworks and methodologies, which might be a concern for projects that prioritize open-source solutions.
  • Performance Overhead
    Implementing multiple DHTMLX components in a single application might introduce performance overhead, which requires optimization to maintain responsiveness.
  • Limited Open Source Contributions
    As a commercial library, DHTMLX might not benefit from as many open source contributions and innovations as purely open-source alternatives.

Analysis of Expo

Overall verdict

  • Expo is a solid choice for developers looking to quickly build and deploy mobile applications using React Native. Its ease of use and comprehensive toolset make it particularly attractive for rapid prototyping and development of small to medium apps. However, some advanced native functionalities might require ejecting from Expo, which can introduce additional complexities.

Why this product is good

  • Ease of use
    Expo is known for its user-friendly interface that allows developers to quickly prototype and build apps with React Native without needing to set up native development environments.
  • Cross platform
    Expo simplifies the process of building cross-platform applications, giving developers tools to deploy apps for both iOS and Android effortlessly.
  • No native code
    With Expo, developers can build applications entirely in JavaScript, which is beneficial for those who may not be familiar with native coding languages.
  • Developer tools
    It provides a suite of tools such as an interactive development environment, error reporting, and debugging services that enhance the development experience.

Recommended for

    {"beginners" => "New developers who are just getting started with app development will find Expo's simplicity and comprehensive documentation helpful.", "rapid_prototyping" => "Teams seeking to quickly prototype and iterate on ideas can benefit from Expo's convenient tools and cross-platform capabilities.", "react_native_developers" => "Developers familiar with React Native who want a streamlined solution to deploy apps without deep diving into native code."}

Expo videos

Scenes from the 2019 National FFA Convention & Expo | Review Video

More videos:

  • Review - Auto Expo 2020 Film | Real-life review
  • Review - Expo Dry Erase Set Unboxing & Review

DHTMLX videos

Dhtmlx Scheduler

More videos:

  • Review - dhtmlxGantt 6.1 Release: Time Constraints, Backward Scheduling, S-curve and dataProcessor Update
  • Review - Dhtmlx-Grid with Flux4 Part2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Expo and DHTMLX)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100
Application Builder
100 100%
0% 0
Development Tools
66 66%
34% 34

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Expo seems to be a lot more popular than DHTMLX. While we know about 35 links to Expo, we've tracked only 1 mention of DHTMLX. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Expo mentions (35)

  • Video player with React Native. Part 1: Expo
    We are going to review it in a series of two articles. This is the first one, where we will touch on Expo. Expo is quite popular and is even recommended in Getting Started guide for React Native. But it differs a lot. Here we will go through the process of building an app with Expo and then make technology comparison based on the results. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • State Management Nx React Native/Expo Apps with TanStack Query and Redux
    This workspace is created using @nx/expo (Nx and Expo). - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • New OAuth Vulnerability (CVE-2023-28131) impacts hundreds of websites and Apps
    Just be clear this isn't an OAuth vulnerability. It's an vulnerability in expo.io. It doesn't even really have anything to do with OAuth. They've just terrible return url handling so it probably impacts a lot more than just stealing OAuth tokens. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Convert Reactjs + Firebase Project to a Mobile apk app. Please help
    I haven't messed with React Native in a hot minute, but it should be rather easy to port your React app to React Native. I recall using expo.io in uni for react native development. Hope that helps. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Form Validation in React (Native) using Formik
    Expo: Expo is a free and open source toolchain built around React Native to help you build native iOS and Android projects using JavaScript and React. Expo is a great way to get started with React Native. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

DHTMLX mentions (1)

  • How Much Does It Cost To a Project Management App
    To finish projects on time, efficient time management is a must. To help managers deal with deadlines, we usually implement a fully functional Gantt chart. To create a reliable and user-friendly UI, choosing the right set of tools is essential. In our work, we usually rely on Webix, a JavaScript UI library developed by the brightest minds of XB Software. Another ace up our sleeve is JavaScript UI libraries by... - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Expo and DHTMLX, you can also consider the following products

Thunkable - Powerful but easy to use, drag-and-drop mobile app builder.

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Android Studio - Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA

Bryntum - High performance web components for SaaS apps - including Gantt, Scheduler, Grid, Calendar and Kanban widgets. Seamless integration with React, Vue, Angular or plain JS apps.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Webix UI - An enterprise JavaScript Library for cross-platform app development with HTML5 JavaScript widgets and easy integration with most popular JavaScript Frameworks.