Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Quokka.js VS Preact.js

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

Quokka.js logo Quokka.js

Quokka.js is a rapid prototyping playground for JavaScript and TypeScript. What that means is that it runs your code immediately as you type and displays various execution results in your code editor.

Preact.js logo Preact.js

Preact is a fast 3kB alternative to React with the same modern API. Components & Virtual DOM.
  • Quokka.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18
  • Preact.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11

Quokka.js features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

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.

Analysis of Preact.js

Overall verdict

  • Preact.js is a strong option for projects where performance and load time are critical, or where a light footprint is necessary. Its compatibility with React makes it a flexible and efficient alternative in scenarios where React may be overkill due to its larger size.

Why this product is good

  • Preact.js is known for its small size and high performance, making it an excellent choice for developers who need a lightweight alternative to React without sacrificing functionality. It offers a familiar API for React developers, ensuring an easy transition, and is highly efficient in terms of rendering performance. Preact also offers excellent compatibility with existing React tools and ecosystems, meaning many React packages work seamlessly with Preact.

Recommended for

    Preact.js is recommended for developers building applications with stringent performance requirements, those needing to optimize for fast loading times in environments with limited bandwidth or resources, or those looking to integrate React-like architecture in smaller projects without introducing the full weight of the React library.

Quokka.js videos

Quokka.js VS Code Extension - The Fastest Way to Test JavaScript

Preact.js videos

JS frameworks are replaceable

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Quokka.js and Preact.js)
JavaScript
21 21%
79% 79
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
23 23%
77% 77
JavaScript Framework
0 0%
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 Quokka.js and Preact.js

Quokka.js Reviews

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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.
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...
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.
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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Preact.js seems to be a lot more popular than Quokka.js. While we know about 93 links to Preact.js, we've tracked only 9 mentions of Quokka.js. 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.

Quokka.js mentions (9)

  • Mastering Efficient Queue Structures in TypeScript: A Complete Guide
    You can try this implementation out in a REPL or Quokka if you're using VSCode. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Throw Away your Code!
    For Javascript, you can just open the browser console. But an even better way is using an extension like Quokka that even in the free version already helps a lot to quickly verify if what you want to do will work or not. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Quokka Playground - Run JavaScript and TypeScript in VS Code
    For more features and details check out the official docs https://quokkajs.com/. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • IDEs vs Text Editors in 2023 for Web Dev: what things have you found full size IDE's like Webstorm can do that VSCode cannot in 2023 which make you more productive? Specially today now that TypeScript + AI coding tools level the playing field even further.
    Used to be true, but between Quokka.js for quick prototypes, Wallaby.js for running tests smartly within the IDE, and now Console Ninja which enables inline console.log within the VSCode while running servers for common tooling (webpack, vite). As well as continuously improving collaboration tools like Live Share, And it's become hard for me to find an argument that Webstorm is still better for productivity here. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I built a tool that let you quickly test JavaScript code suitable for teaching and learning JavaScript
    I use https://quokkajs.com/ it has a free version! Source: over 2 years ago
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Preact.js mentions (93)

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What are some alternatives?

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

RunJS - A modern JavaScript playground, with Node and browser APIs and support for Babel and TypeScript. Write JavaScript and get instant feedback as you type.

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

Wallaby.js - Wallaby.js runs your JavaScript tests immediately as you type and displays execution results in your code editor.

Vue.js - Reactive Components for Modern Web Interfaces

CodeSandbox - Online playground for React

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces