Preact vs React
No clear leader: Preact (77.4) and React (74.7) are within the 5-point margin; treat as a tie. The attribute-by-attribute breakdown below, with a source and date on every value, is the honest way to compare them.
Capabilities
Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for frontend ui frameworks. “-” means undocumented, not absent.
What each one is
The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.
Preact
Preact is a JavaScript framework for building user interfaces through reusable components and Virtual DOM rendering. It offers React-like developer experience with significantly reduced JavaScript footprint, making it suitable for performance-critical applications.
React
A library that enables developers to construct user interfaces using individual components as building blocks. React components are JavaScript functions that receive data and render the appropriate output, supporting both web applications and native mobile development through frameworks.
Pricing
List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.
Platform & deployment
Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.
Preact or React: which one depends on you
A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.
Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works
Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.