Aurelia vs React
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript framework for building single-page web apps, from the Aurelia 1 line.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript library for building interactive user interfaces out of reusable components.
The short answer
Choose Aurelia if you need…
- Developers who want a framework that stays close to web platform standards
- Teams already maintaining Aurelia 1 applications
- Developers who prefer convention over configuration and little framework intrusion
Choose React if you need…
- Developers building interactive web interfaces with JavaScript
- Teams adding React gradually to an existing project, as the README describes
- Developers who want to reuse the same component model for mobile apps via React Native
- Students learning how modern front-end UIs are structured
Side-by-side
| Aurelia | React | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.7k | 252k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 4 years ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
Aurelia
Aurelia is a front-end JavaScript framework for building browser apps, and the README says it can also target mobile and desktop. Apps are made of components, each a JavaScript or TypeScript class paired with an HTML template. This repository is the Aurelia 1 entry point that bundles the core sub-libraries into one package.
React
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. You describe what the screen should look like for each state of your data, and React updates and redraws only the parts that change. It is built around components, small self-contained pieces of UI that you combine into larger screens. The README also says React can render on the server with Node and power mobile apps through React Native.
Best for
Aurelia
- Developers who want a framework that stays close to web platform standards
- Teams already maintaining Aurelia 1 applications
- Developers who prefer convention over configuration and little framework intrusion
React
- Developers building interactive web interfaces with JavaScript
- Teams adding React gradually to an existing project, as the README describes
- Developers who want to reuse the same component model for mobile apps via React Native
- Students learning how modern front-end UIs are structured
Strengths
Aurelia
- Convention over configuration keeps setup light, according to the README
- Aligns closely with web platform specifications
- MIT licensed with official documentation and a public forum
React
- Declarative views make code easier to predict and debug, according to the README
- Adopts incrementally, so it can be added to an existing project without rewriting it
- Large, active project with an MIT license and a documented site at react.dev
Not ideal for
Aurelia
- People starting a new project who want the current Aurelia line; this repo is Aurelia 1 and the last push was January 2023, so check for newer versions before choosing it
- Beginners looking for a large mainstream ecosystem; the README does not compare community size against other frameworks
React
- People who want a complete, opinionated framework with routing and data fetching built in, since the README says React makes no assumptions about the rest of your stack and points to a separate toolchain for new projects
- Non-programmers looking for a no-code website builder
Trade-offs
Aurelia
- This is the Aurelia 1 entry point, and the repo's last push was 2023-01-27, so activity may be limited
- The README is mostly links to external docs, so details must be found on aurelia.io
- Release 1.4.1 ships with no binaries; you install it through the package ecosystem
React
- It is a UI library only, so you must choose and add other tools for routing, data, and build setup
- The README's examples use JSX, a syntax extension that adds a learning step, though the README notes JSX is not strictly required
Getting started
Aurelia
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/aurelia/frameworkReact
Install React and React DOM from npm
npm install react react-domFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Aurelia and React?
Aurelia: A JavaScript framework for building single-page web apps, from the Aurelia 1 line. React: A JavaScript library for building interactive user interfaces out of reusable components. Aurelia suits developers who want a framework that stays close to web platform standards, while React suits developers building interactive web interfaces with javascript.
Are Aurelia and React free?
Aurelia: Free and open source. React: Free and open source.
Is Aurelia or React more popular?
React has more GitHub stars (252k) than Aurelia (11.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Aurelia and React?
Other options people compare them with include Angular, Svelte, ice.js, Framework7, Rails.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.