Formily vs WatermelonDB
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 form library for React and Vue that handles complex and JSON-schema-driven forms.
Open source · MIT
A database library for React and React Native apps that loads data lazily and updates the UI when data changes
The short answer
Choose Formily if you need…
- Frontend developers building data-heavy forms with many linked fields
- Teams that want forms generated from JSON Schema sent by a back end
- Projects already using Ant Design or Alibaba Fusion components
- Teams that want a visual form builder (Designable) alongside the library
Choose WatermelonDB if you need…
- React Native developers building apps with thousands or more records
- Teams building offline-first apps that need to sync with their own backend
- Developers who want UI components to update automatically when data changes
Side-by-side
| Formily | WatermelonDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.6k | 11.8k |
| 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 | 17 months ago | 51 days ago |
What each one is
Formily
Formily is a TypeScript form library that helps developers build forms in React, React Native, Vue 2, and Vue 3. It manages each field's state separately so large forms with many linked fields don't re-render the whole page. It also supports JSON Schema, so forms can be described as data, for example by a back end.
WatermelonDB
WatermelonDB is a database layer for React and React Native apps, built on top of SQLite. It loads records only when they are requested, so apps with large amounts of data can start quickly. When a record changes, the parts of the interface that depend on it update automatically.
Best for
Formily
- Frontend developers building data-heavy forms with many linked fields
- Teams that want forms generated from JSON Schema sent by a back end
- Projects already using Ant Design or Alibaba Fusion components
- Teams that want a visual form builder (Designable) alongside the library
WatermelonDB
- React Native developers building apps with thousands or more records
- Teams building offline-first apps that need to sync with their own backend
- Developers who want UI components to update automatically when data changes
Strengths
Formily
- The README says field state is managed independently, which aims to avoid slow re-renders in linked forms
- Supports converting between JSON Schema and its own JSchema format
- Released under the permissive MIT license
WatermelonDB
- Lazy loading keeps app launch fast as data grows, according to the README
- Queries run directly on SQLite on a separate native thread
- Has been used in production by Nozbe since 2017, per the README
Not ideal for
Formily
- Simple forms with a few inputs, where a lighter library is enough
- Projects not using React or Vue, since the README lists only those frameworks
- Non-developers who want a no-code form tool; the README describes it as a developer library
WatermelonDB
- Simple apps with little data, where the README suggests Redux or MobX with a persistence adapter is easier
- Projects that do not use React or JavaScript, since the README describes it as React-focused, though it offers a JS API for other frameworks
Trade-offs
Formily
- The README is short and covers little API detail, so setup needs the official documentation site
- The README mentions two website versions (1.0 and 2.0), so check you are reading the right docs
WatermelonDB
- Sync with your own backend is a feature you must set up yourself; the README only links to documentation for it
- Requires learning its model and decorator-based API before it is productive
- Less useful for small apps where a simpler state library is enough
Getting started
WatermelonDB
Install the npm package
npm install @nozbe/watermelondbFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Formily and WatermelonDB?
Formily: A form library for React and Vue that handles complex and JSON-schema-driven forms. WatermelonDB: A database library for React and React Native apps that loads data lazily and updates the UI when data changes. Formily suits frontend developers building data-heavy forms with many linked fields, while WatermelonDB suits react native developers building apps with thousands or more records.
Are Formily and WatermelonDB free?
Formily: Free and open source. WatermelonDB: Free and open source.
Is Formily or WatermelonDB more popular?
Formily has more GitHub stars (12.6k) than WatermelonDB (11.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Formily and WatermelonDB?
Other options people compare them with include React Hook Form, VeeValidate, Ajv, VueUse, SoybeanAdmin.
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.