Framework7 vs Ratchet
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
An MIT-licensed HTML framework for building mobile-style iOS and Android app interfaces.
Open source · MIT
A small set of HTML, CSS and JavaScript components for building mobile-style web apps.
The short answer
Choose Framework7 if you need…
- Developers who already know HTML, CSS and JavaScript and want to build mobile-style apps
- Teams building iOS- or Android-looking interfaces without learning native UI toolkits
- Projects that want an MIT-licensed, free-to-use mobile UI framework
Choose Ratchet if you need…
- Developers prototyping a mobile-style web interface with plain HTML, CSS and JS
- Designers who want to see mobile UI components in a browser
- Teams maintaining an existing Ratchet 1.x or 2.x project
Side-by-side
| Framework7 | Ratchet | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 18.8k | 14.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Download the app |
| Main language | JavaScript | CSS |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 20 months ago |
What each one is
Framework7
Framework7 is an open-source HTML framework that provides ready-made interface components styled to look like native iOS and Android apps. Developers use it to build mobile-style app screens with web technologies, which can then be packaged as native apps. The README describes it as a full-featured mobile HTML framework, but the truncated text does not detail the component list or packaging steps.
Ratchet
Ratchet is a front-end toolkit of ready-made HTML, CSS and JavaScript components meant for building mobile app interfaces. It ships as compiled CSS and JS files, with optional Android and iOS themes. Developers use it to prototype how a web app would look and feel on a phone.
Best for
Framework7
- Developers who already know HTML, CSS and JavaScript and want to build mobile-style apps
- Teams building iOS- or Android-looking interfaces without learning native UI toolkits
- Projects that want an MIT-licensed, free-to-use mobile UI framework
Ratchet
- Developers prototyping a mobile-style web interface with plain HTML, CSS and JS
- Designers who want to see mobile UI components in a browser
- Teams maintaining an existing Ratchet 1.x or 2.x project
Strengths
Framework7
- MIT license allows free use in commercial and personal projects
- Designed specifically for iOS and Android look and feel
- Large community interest, with about 18,800 GitHub stars
Ratchet
- Simple to start: download the bundled CSS and JS and link them in a page
- Includes both compiled and minified files plus optional Android and iOS themes
- MIT licensed, so it can be used in commercial and personal projects
Not ideal for
Framework7
- People who need full native performance or device APIs beyond what a web-based app can reach, since this is an HTML framework
- Beginners with no web development background, as the framework assumes working knowledge of web code
- Projects that need a long-term guarantee of active support, since the README's build badges reference older services and the truncated text gives no maintenance details
Ratchet
- Projects that need a framework-based setup such as React or Vue, since the README describes only plain HTML, CSS and JS files
- Anyone wanting a native iOS or Android app, since it builds web pages rather than native apps
- Projects needing active updates, because the README's latest push and release status should be checked before relying on it
Trade-offs
Framework7
- Based on web technologies, so it may not match fully native app performance
- The truncated README gives limited detail on setup and component documentation, so the official docs are needed
- Sponsor section in the README is dominated by unrelated gambling and promotional links, which reduces its clarity as a project page
Ratchet
- The README mentions the docs use Jekyll and a Ruby-based setup, which adds steps for local documentation
- Pages opened directly from the file system do not work; a local web server is required
- Touch behavior is tuned for phones, so desktop testing needs extra steps such as touch emulation
Getting started
Framework7
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/framework7io/framework7Ratchet
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/twbs/ratchet.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Framework7 and Ratchet?
Framework7: An MIT-licensed HTML framework for building mobile-style iOS and Android app interfaces. Ratchet: A small set of HTML, CSS and JavaScript components for building mobile-style web apps. Framework7 suits developers who already know html, css and javascript and want to build mobile-style apps, while Ratchet suits developers prototyping a mobile-style web interface with plain html, css and js.
Are Framework7 and Ratchet free?
Framework7: Free and open source. Ratchet: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Framework7 or Ratchet?
Ratchet is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Framework7 is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Framework7 or Ratchet more popular?
Framework7 has more GitHub stars (18.8k) than Ratchet (14.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Framework7 and Ratchet?
Other options people compare them with include Ionic, Quasar, Material for MkDocs, Aurelia, Bootstrap.
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.