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Preact.js VS Inferno

Compare Preact.js VS Inferno and see what are their differences

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Preact.js logo Preact.js

Preact is a fast 3kB alternative to React with the same modern API. Components & Virtual DOM.

Inferno logo Inferno

An extremely fast React-like javascript library for building modern user interfaces.
  • Preact.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11
  • Inferno Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11

Preact.js features and specs

  • Size
    Preact is very small in size (about 3KB gzipped), which makes it easy to load and faster to execute, resulting in improved performance and quicker load times.
  • Compatibility
    Preact is largely compatible with React, allowing developers to switch to Preact with minimal code changes. This makes it easier to adopt for projects already using React.
  • Performance
    Due to its small size and efficient design, Preact offers excellent performance, especially on low-powered devices and in applications with heavy user interactions.
  • Ecosystem
    Preact can work with many tools and libraries that are designed for React, giving developers access to a rich ecosystem of resources.
  • Community
    Preact has an active and growing community that provides support, plugins, and third-party tools, making it easier for developers to find solutions and share knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Preact.js

  • Feature Set
    While Preact covers most of the core React features, it lacks some of the advanced functionality present in React, which may require additional workarounds or third-party libraries.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers coming from a non-React background, learning Preact might involve a learning curve, particularly because of its similarities and subtle differences with React.
  • Tooling Compatibility
    Although many tools designed for React can work with Preact, some might not be directly compatible, requiring additional configuration or patches.
  • Community Size
    While Preact has a supportive community, it is smaller compared to the massive React community, which can result in fewer available resources and third-party packages.
  • Maturity
    Preact, being newer and less widely adopted than React, might not have the same level of battle-tested reliability for all use cases, especially for large scale applications.

Inferno features and specs

  • High Performance
    Inferno is known for its impressive speed and performance, often comparable to or surpassing many other front-end frameworks and libraries, making it suitable for high-performance applications.
  • React-Like API
    Inferno uses a similar API to React, which makes it easier for developers who are already familiar with React to transition to or integrate Inferno.
  • Compatibility
    Due to its React-like API, Inferno can work with many existing React components and libraries, enhancing its versatility and integration capabilities.
  • Small Size
    Inferno has a small footprint, reducing load times and improving overall application performance, especially on mobile devices and slower networks.
  • Server-Side Rendering
    Inferno supports server-side rendering out of the box, allowing for faster initial page loads and better SEO.

Possible disadvantages of Inferno

  • Smaller Community
    Inferno has a smaller community and ecosystem compared to more widely used libraries and frameworks like React, potentially leading to fewer resources, plugins, and support.
  • Limited Third-Party Libraries
    While compatibility with React libraries is a strength, there are still fewer third-party libraries specifically designed for Inferno, which can limit development options in some scenarios.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers who are not familiar with React, there can be a learning curve associated with understanding the Inferno API and concepts.
  • Infrequent Updates
    Compared to larger projects like React, Inferno may have less frequent updates and new feature releases, which can impact the adoption of the latest web development trends.
  • Less Market Demand
    There is currently less market demand for developers proficient in Inferno compared to those skilled in more popular frameworks and libraries, potentially affecting job prospects and opportunities.

Preact.js videos

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JS frameworks are replaceable

Inferno videos

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Inferno - Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - Inferno - Movie Review
  • Review - Inferno - Official Movie Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Preact.js and Inferno)

Preact.js

Inferno

Javascript UI Libraries
70 70%
Javascript UI Libraries
30% 30
JavaScript Framework
63 63%
JavaScript Framework
37% 37
JavaScript
100 100%
JavaScript
0% 0
Development
0 0%
Development
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Preact.js and Inferno

Preact.js Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
PreactJS is a JavaScript library that is said to be the fast 3Kb alternative to ReactJS using the same modern API. It implements the fastest virtual DOM compared to other frameworks in the market. Moreover, it is one of the smallest libraries in terms of size.
Source: solguruz.com
20 Next.js Alternatives Worth Considering
Preact is like React’s little sibling, smaller in size but with the same familiar moves. It’s cutting down the fluff and zipping through tasks with less overhead. When performance budgets are tight, Preact wiggles in perfectly.
Source: tms-outsource.com
20 Best JavaScript Frameworks For 2023
Preact is built with the same core principle of React – A component-based approach with Virtual DOM while completely compatible with React. It can even use React packages without compromising on speed, performance, and leaner size. In instances where the full potential of React isn’t necessary, most developers even use React during development and switch to Preact for...
Source: www.lambdatest.com
Top 15 jQuery Alternatives To Know
ReactJS is a powerful JavaScript library to create user interfaces. Developers can design easy views at each stage in the application and there is regular update and rendering for the actual components whenever there is any data alteration. It is component-driven and creates encapsulated components that manage their own state.
Source: www.spec-india.com
Top 5 JavaScript Frameworks To Learn in 2021
But according to the graph above, we can notice a decrease in interest in Preact. This might result from having many similar frameworks with the same specs, like react-lite, Inferno, etc. However, knowing a framework like Preact will be useful for your development journey.
Source: enlear.academy

Inferno Reviews

The Best JavaScript Frameworks You’re Not Using
There isn’t an overall number we can use to gauge performance on the chart above, but smaller numbers are better. Obviously, Inferno performs very well again. If you’re a React developer and have a project that requires excellent performance, Inferno is definitely something you should consider. We’ll finish with this from the Inferno “About” page:
Source: jsreport.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Preact.js seems to be a lot more popular than Inferno. While we know about 93 links to Preact.js, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Inferno. 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.

Preact.js mentions (93)

View more

Inferno mentions (2)

  • Solid vs React - the Fastest VS the Most Popular UI Library
    Some might argue that React’s relatively poor performance (it’s still plenty-fast for many apps) is due to Virtual DOM and prioritization of development experience, i.e., clarity over complexity. To counter the first argument - there’s React-like Inferno. For the second one - there’s Solid. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • A Look at Compilation in JavaScript Frameworks
    A VDOM library like Inferno uses this information to compile its JSX directly into pre-optimized node structures. Marko, and Vue hoist their static VDOM nodes outside of their components so that they don't incur the overhead of recreating them on every render. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Preact.js and Inferno, you can also consider the following products

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

Vue.js - Reactive Components for Modern Web Interfaces

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

Deku - Functional view library for building UI components as an alternative to React

Blocks.js - Deprecated repository. Contribute to Tixit/blocks.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

w2ui - W2UI is a small JavaScript UI library with a complete set of widgets: layout, grid, sidebar, toolbar, tabs, fields, popup, utilities.

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