Pinia vs Vuex
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 lightweight, type-safe state store for Vue apps, built on the Composition API.
Open source · MIT
Centralized state store for Vue.js apps, now superseded by Pinia as the official default.
The short answer
Choose Pinia if you need…
- Vue 3 developers who need shared state across several components
- Teams using TypeScript who want store types inferred automatically
- Projects using the Composition API or Nuxt (a @pinia/nuxt module is listed)
- Developers migrating from Vuex, which the FAQ describes Pinia as succeeding
Choose Vuex if you need…
- Teams maintaining an existing Vue app that already uses Vuex
- Developers migrating an existing Vuex codebase gradually toward Pinia
- Projects that need a centralized store with devtools time-travel debugging
Side-by-side
| Pinia | Vuex | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.8k | 28.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 10 days ago | 2 years ago |
What each one is
Pinia
Pinia is a state management library for Vue. It gives an app a central place to keep shared data, such as a logged-in user or a shopping cart, so components can read and change it without passing values through many layers. Stores are defined in separate files and can be used from any component, and the project notes DevTools support for inspecting them.
Vuex
Vuex is a state management library for Vue.js applications. It keeps shared application data in one central store that all components can read, and it enforces rules so changes to that data happen in a predictable way. It also integrates with Vue's devtools extension for features such as time-travel debugging and state snapshot export and import. The README notes that the official recommendation has changed: Pinia is now the default state management library for Vue, and Vuex 3 and 4 will still be maintained but are unlikely to get new features.
Best for
Pinia
- Vue 3 developers who need shared state across several components
- Teams using TypeScript who want store types inferred automatically
- Projects using the Composition API or Nuxt (a @pinia/nuxt module is listed)
- Developers migrating from Vuex, which the FAQ describes Pinia as succeeding
Vuex
- Teams maintaining an existing Vue app that already uses Vuex
- Developers migrating an existing Vuex codebase gradually toward Pinia
- Projects that need a centralized store with devtools time-travel debugging
Strengths
Pinia
- Stores are defined with a small API (state, getters, actions) that the README shows in a short example
- Type-safe by design, according to the README
- Supports DevTools and is described as light in size
Vuex
- Official Vue state management library with a long history and a large star count
- Integrates with Vue's official devtools for time-travel debugging and snapshots
- Permissive MIT license
Not ideal for
Pinia
- Projects on Vue 2: the README says the main version targets Vue 3 and points to a separate v2 branch
- Apps with only a few components and no shared state, where a plain reactive object may be enough
- Non-Vue front-end frameworks, since the library is built specifically for Vue
Vuex
- New Vue projects: the README says Pinia is the recommended choice for new projects
- Developers who want the newest state management features, since Vuex 3 and 4 are unlikely to receive new functionality
Trade-offs
Pinia
- The README is short and offers little detail on advanced topics, so the full documentation site is needed for depth
- The README does not describe exact bundle sizes or benchmarks, so the 'extremely light' claim is unverified here
- Dynamic modules are not supported in the type-safe way; the FAQ suggests creating multiple stores instead
Vuex
- The README states Pinia is now the official default, so Vuex is no longer the recommended choice for new work
- Vuex 3 and 4 are maintained but unlikely to gain new features
- Setup details beyond the examples and documentation link are not covered in the README excerpt
Getting started
Pinia
Install pinia and the DevTools API package
npm install pinia @vue/devtools-apiVuex
Install dependencies to run the bundled examples
npm installServe the examples locally
npm run devFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Pinia and Vuex?
Pinia: A lightweight, type-safe state store for Vue apps, built on the Composition API. Vuex: Centralized state store for Vue.js apps, now superseded by Pinia as the official default. Pinia suits vue 3 developers who need shared state across several components, while Vuex suits teams maintaining an existing vue app that already uses vuex.
Are Pinia and Vuex free?
Pinia: Free and open source. Vuex: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Pinia or Vuex?
Pinia is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Vuex is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Pinia or Vuex more popular?
Vuex has more GitHub stars (28.3k) than Pinia (14.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Pinia and Vuex?
Other options people compare them with include Zustand, Redux Toolkit, Jotai, vue-admin-template, Nuxt.
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.