DevTools VS

Preact vs React

Updated Mar 4, 2026

Quick Verdict

React has 6.3x more GitHub stars, while React has 6.2x more weekly downloads.

GitHub Stars
Preact 38.4K
vs
React 243.6K
Downloads/wk
Preact 13.6M
vs
React 84.6M
Contributors
Preact 369
vs
React 2.0K
Bundle Size
Preact 4.8 KB
vs
React 2.9 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
38.4K
243.6K
Weekly Downloads
13.6M
84.6M
Forks
2.0K
50.6K
Open Issues
147
1.1K
Contributors
369
2.0K
Bundle Size (gzip)
4.8 KB
2.9 KB
Dependencies
0
0
Latest Version
10.28.4
19.2.4
Last Commit
Feb 26, 2026
Mar 3, 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 February 26, 2026 and has 369 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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