Mithril 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 small JavaScript framework for building single page web apps, with routing and XHR built in.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript library for building interactive user interfaces out of reusable components.
The short answer
Choose Mithril if you need…
- Developers who want a small framework with routing and HTTP utilities included
- Teams building single page apps who prefer a lightweight alternative to larger frameworks
- Projects targeting modern browsers, since the README says no polyfills are required
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
| Mithril | React | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.5k | 252k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 3 months ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
Mithril
Mithril.js is a client-side JavaScript framework for building single page applications, where the page updates in the browser without full reloads. According to its README, it is small (about 8.93 KB gzipped) and includes routing and XHR (network request) utilities without extra packages. It is installed via npm or loaded from a CDN.
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
Mithril
- Developers who want a small framework with routing and HTTP utilities included
- Teams building single page apps who prefer a lightweight alternative to larger frameworks
- Projects targeting modern browsers, since the README says no polyfills are required
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
Mithril
- Small size, about 8.93 KB gzipped according to the README
- Routing and XHR utilities are included out of the box
- MIT licensed with an active community on Zulip and Stack Overflow
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
Mithril
- People who need server-side rendering or a backend framework, since the README only describes client-side use
- Non-programmers looking for a no-code tool, since it requires writing JavaScript
- Projects needing support for old browsers beyond Firefox ESR and the last two versions of major browsers, per the README
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
Mithril
- The README does not detail the feature set beyond routing and XHR, so the scope is unclear from this source alone
- Documentation is hosted on an external site, and the README is brief
- Browser support is limited to recent versions as listed in the README
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
Mithril
Install via npm
npm install mithril --saveInstall TypeScript type definitions (optional)
npm install @types/mithril --save-devReact
Install React and React DOM from npm
npm install react react-domFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Mithril and React?
Mithril: A small JavaScript framework for building single page web apps, with routing and XHR built in. React: A JavaScript library for building interactive user interfaces out of reusable components. Mithril suits developers who want a small framework with routing and http utilities included, while React suits developers building interactive web interfaces with javascript.
Are Mithril and React free?
Mithril: Free and open source. React: Free and open source.
Is Mithril or React more popular?
React has more GitHub stars (252k) than Mithril (14.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Mithril and React?
Other options people compare them with include Svelte, Preact, Hyperapp, Gin, Million.js.
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.