Electron vs Proton Native
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 framework for building desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Open source · MIT
Build desktop apps with React syntax and React Native-style components, without Electron.
The short answer
Choose Electron if you need…
- Web developers who want to ship a desktop app using skills they already have
- Teams that need one codebase running on macOS, Windows, and Linux
- Developers building editor-style or tool-style desktop apps with web UIs
Choose Proton Native if you need…
- React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit
- Developers already familiar with React Native components
- People who want to reuse existing React libraries such as Redux in a desktop app
- Developers who prefer to avoid Electron's footprint
Side-by-side
| Electron | Proton Native | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 124k | 10.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | See the README |
| Main language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 years ago |
What each one is
Electron
Electron lets developers write desktop applications using web technologies (JavaScript, HTML, and CSS) instead of platform-specific languages. The README says it is based on Node.js and Chromium, and that apps such as Visual Studio Code are built with it. The same code can run on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Proton Native
Proton Native is a framework that lets developers write desktop applications using React and the same component style as React Native. It aims to produce cross-platform desktop apps without bundling a full Chromium browser the way Electron does. The author has said they no longer have time to maintain it, and a community fork exists.
Best for
Electron
- Web developers who want to ship a desktop app using skills they already have
- Teams that need one codebase running on macOS, Windows, and Linux
- Developers building editor-style or tool-style desktop apps with web UIs
Proton Native
- React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit
- Developers already familiar with React Native components
- People who want to reuse existing React libraries such as Redux in a desktop app
- Developers who prefer to avoid Electron's footprint
Strengths
Electron
- Uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which many developers already know
- Prebuilt binaries are provided for macOS, Windows, and Linux on x64 and arm64 (macOS Intel and Apple Silicon)
- Released under the MIT license and used by large apps such as Visual Studio Code
Proton Native
- Uses React and React Native-style components, so familiar patterns carry over
- Lists MIT licensing, which permits broad reuse
- Advertises compatibility with normal Node.js packages and hot reloading
Not ideal for
Electron
- People who only want to use an existing desktop app; Electron is for building apps, not an end-user program
- Projects that need very small download sizes or minimal memory use, since each app bundles a Chromium and Node.js runtime (inferred from the README's description of its base components)
- Developers wanting native platform UI toolkits rather than web-based interfaces
Proton Native
- Teams that need a actively maintained framework: the README says the original author lacks time to maintain it and points to a fork, and the last push was January 2023
- Projects needing a stable production release: no latest release is listed in the metadata
- Beginners new to both React and desktop development, since setup and debugging are not covered in the README
Trade-offs
Electron
- The README does not state app size or memory footprint; apps bundle Chromium and Node.js, which the README's description implies adds weight
- Platform support follows Chromium and supported Linux distributions, so older OS versions may be dropped (e.g., macOS Ventura and up, Windows 10 and up)
- Desktop-specific behavior still requires learning Electron's APIs; documentation is at electronjs.org/docs
Proton Native
- The README announces the original maintainer has no time to work on it, so updates are uncertain
- Last push date in the metadata is January 2023 and no release is listed
- The README is brief and points to external documentation for setup details
Getting started
Electron
Install Electron as a dev dependency in your app
npm install electron --save-devProton Native
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kusti8/proton-nativeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Electron and Proton Native?
Electron: A framework for building desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Proton Native: Build desktop apps with React syntax and React Native-style components, without Electron. Electron suits web developers who want to ship a desktop app using skills they already have, while Proton Native suits react developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new ui toolkit.
Are Electron and Proton Native free?
Electron: Free and open source. Proton Native: Free and open source.
Is Electron or Proton Native more popular?
Electron has more GitHub stars (124k) than Proton Native (10.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Electron and Proton Native?
Other options people compare them with include NW.js, Expo.
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.