DevTools VS

Preact vs React

Updated Oct 25, 2026

Quick Verdict

React has 6.5x more GitHub stars, while React has 4.9x more weekly downloads.

GitHub Stars
Preact 39.0K
vs
React 251.8K
Downloads/wk
Preact 13.2M
vs
React 64.9M
Contributors
Preact 383
vs
React 2.0K
Bundle Size
Preact 5.0 KB
vs
React 3.1 KB

Preact

Website

Fast 3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

javascriptuilightweightvirtual-dom

React

Website

A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

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Detailed Comparison

Side-by-side metrics from GitHub and npm

Metric
Preact
React
GitHub Stars
39.0K
251.8K
Weekly Downloads
13.2M
64.9M
Forks
4.3K
51.6K
Open Issues
38
1.5K
Contributors
383
2.0K
Bundle Size (gzip)
5.0 KB
3.1 KB
Dependencies
0
0
Latest Version
11.0.2
19.3.1
Last Commit
Oct 25, 2026
Oct 23, 2026
License
MIT
MIT
First Published
Sep 11, 2015
Oct 26, 2011

Download Trends

Weekly npm downloads over the past 52 weeks

Feature Comparison

Framework capabilities at a glance

Feature
Preact
React
Typescript
Ssr
Virtual Dom
Compiler
Signals
File Routing
Built In State

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Preact vs React

Is Preact better than React?

It depends on your use case. Preact is fast 3kb alternative to react with the same modern api, while React is a javascript library for building user interfaces. Compare the stats and features above to decide which fits your needs.

Is Preact still maintained in 2026?

Yes, Preact was last updated on October 25, 2026 and has 383 contributors.

Can I migrate from Preact to React?

Migration complexity depends on how deeply Preact is integrated into your project. Both tools serve similar purposes in the JavaScript Frameworks space, so migration is generally feasible with proper planning.

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