# HTMX vs Preact

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Preact

| Attribute | HTMX | Preact |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 52.5 (57% (medium)) | 80.7 (72% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 1 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 348 | 78,992 |
| adoption.github_stars | 49,020 | 38,834 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 247,753 | 31,234,030 |
| description.long | 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. | 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. |
| features.capabilities | `{"paradigm":"Attribute-driven HTML extension","bundle_size":"small","virtual_dom":false,"state_management":false}` | `{"paradigm":"Virtual DOM component library","bundle_size":"tiny","ssr_support":true,"virtual_dom":true,"component_model":true,"state_management":true}` |
| language.primary | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| license.spdx | 0BSD | MIT |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://htmx.org/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:05:42.622Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://preactjs.com/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:05:09.849Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | - |
| pricing.model | open_source | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| release.cadence_days | 35 | 13 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta6","date":"2026-07-23T17:19:16Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v4.0.0-beta6"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta5","date":"2026-06-26T18:17:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta4","date":"2026-05-22T16:01:42Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta3","date":"2026-05-08T19:31:54Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.9","date":"2026-04-20T13:03:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.7","date":"2025-09-11T19:03:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.6","date":"2025-06-27T13:49:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.5","date":"2025-06-20T21:44:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.4","date":"2024-12-13T18:13:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.3","date":"2024-10-04T17:55:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.2","date":"2024-08-12T21:10:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.1","date":"2024-07-12T17:28:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.0","date":"2024-06-17T18:42:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.12","date":"2024-04-25T17:24:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.11","date":"2024-03-15T14:56:53Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.10","date":"2024-01-05T18:28:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.9","date":"2023-11-30T22:39:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.8","date":"2023-11-30T22:38:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.7","date":"2023-11-05T16:54:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.6","date":"2023-09-24T00:10:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.6"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/11.0.0-rc.1","date":"2026-08-26T07:49:33Z","type":"prerelease","version":"11.0.0-rc.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/11.0.0-rc.0","date":"2026-08-10T06:17:58Z","type":"prerelease","version":"11.0.0-rc.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.8","date":"2026-08-01T09:57:31Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/11.0.0-beta.2","date":"2026-07-15T16:46:28Z","type":"prerelease","version":"11.0.0-beta.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.7","date":"2026-07-08T17:33:42Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.6","date":"2026-07-08T07:34:46Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.5","date":"2026-07-07T16:51:01Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.4","date":"2026-07-03T10:58:50Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.3","date":"2026-06-26T05:16:07Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.2","date":"2026-05-17T09:58:18Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.1","date":"2026-04-03T10:43:40Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.29.0","date":"2026-03-10T18:28:07Z","type":"stable","version":"10.29.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.28.4","date":"2026-02-19T07:15:06Z","type":"stable","version":"10.28.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/11.0.0-beta.1","date":"2026-02-15T10:10:26Z","type":"prerelease","version":"11.0.0-beta.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.28.3","date":"2026-01-31T09:58:48Z","type":"stable","version":"10.28.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.28.2","date":"2026-01-06T14:51:37Z","type":"stable","version":"10.28.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.27.3","date":"2026-01-06T14:59:45Z","type":"stable","version":"10.27.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.26.10","date":"2026-01-06T15:02:47Z","type":"stable","version":"10.26.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.28.1","date":"2025-12-23T19:22:14Z","type":"stable","version":"10.28.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/preactjs/preact/releases/tag/10.28.0","date":"2025-12-01T17:12:41Z","type":"stable","version":"10.28.0"}]` |
| security.scorecard | 5 | 5.7 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=htmx.org&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":2,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=preact&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` |

## Capabilities (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) |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:43:13.408Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*