Comparison

HTMX vs Preact

On the evidence we track, Preact leads this comparison with a composite score of 81/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

HTMX full profile →Preact full profile →

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HTMX53

★Preact81

Attribute comparison across 2 tools
Attribute	HTMX	PreactLeader
Vioscale score	53 / 100medium · 57%	81 / 100medium · 72%
Pricing
Free tierpricing.free_tier	✓	-
Modelpricing.model	open_source	commercial
Price levelpricing.price_level	free	free
Security
Scorecardsecurity.scorecard	5	5.7
Vulnerabilitiessecurity.vulnerabilities	Count: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=htmx.org&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0	Count: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=preact&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 1 · Max severity: HIGH
Adoption
Dependent reposadoption.dependent_repos	348	78,992
Github starsadoption.github_stars	49,020	38,834
Package downloads weeklyadoption.package_downloads_weekly	247,753	31,234,030
Activity
Commits last 30dactivity.commits_last_30d	1	100
Release
Cadence daysrelease.cadence_days	35	13
Historyrelease.history	20 items	20 items
License
Spdxlicense.spdx	0BSD	MIT
Language
Primarylanguage.primary	JavaScript	JavaScript

Score

Vioscale score

HTMX53 / 100medium · 57%

Preact81 / 100medium · 72%

Pricing

Free tier

HTMX✓

Preact–

Model

HTMXopen_source

Preactcommercial

Price level

HTMXfree

Preactfree

Security

Scorecard

HTMX5

Preact5.7

Vulnerabilities

HTMXCount: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=htmx.org&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0

PreactCount: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=preact&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 1 · Max severity: HIGH

Adoption

Dependent repos

HTMX348

Preact78,992

Github stars

HTMX49,020

Preact38,834

Package downloads weekly

HTMX247,753

Preact31,234,030

Activity

Commits last 30d

HTMX1

Preact100

Release

Cadence days

HTMX35

Preact13

History

HTMX20 items

Preact20 items

License

Spdx

HTMX0BSD

PreactMIT

Language

Primary

HTMXJavaScript

PreactJavaScript

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for frontend ui frameworks. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Capability comparison for Frontend UI Frameworks
Capability	HTMX	Preact
Core
Paradigm	Attribute-driven HTML extension	Virtual DOM component library
Reusable component model	-	✓
Rendering
Virtual DOM	✗	✓
Signals / fine-grained reactivity	-	-
SSR support	-	✓
DX
First-class TypeScript	-	-
State
Built-in state management	✗	✓
Ecosystem
Official router	-	-
Performance
Runtime size	Small (10–40kb)	Tiny (<10kb)

Core

Paradigm

HTMXAttribute-driven HTML extension

PreactVirtual DOM component library

Reusable component model

HTMX-

Preact✓

Rendering

Virtual DOM

HTMX✗

Preact✓

Signals / fine-grained reactivity

HTMX-

Preact-

SSR support

HTMX-

Preact✓

First-class TypeScript

HTMX-

Preact-

State

Built-in state management

HTMX✗

Preact✓

Ecosystem

Official router

HTMX-

Preact-

Performance

Runtime size

HTMXSmall (10–40kb)

PreactTiny (<10kb)

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

HTMX

HTMX extends HTML to support modern interactive features like WebSocket connections and AJAX requests using simple HTML attributes, allowing developers to build responsive interfaces while remaining within the HTML/hypertext paradigm.

Independently observed

Preact

Leader

A minimal virtual DOM library that provides a React-compatible API with significantly reduced file size. Preact delivers performance-focused component development without the overhead of traditional frameworks.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

HTMX

Open sourceFree tier

as of 2026-08-13verify ↗

Preact

Leader

Open source

as of 2026-08-13verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platform and deployment support comparison
Supports	HTMX	Preact
WebPlatforms	✓	✓

Platforms

Web

HTMX✓

Preact✓

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.