react-dates vs React-Toastify
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 React datepicker component that supports internationalization and works on mobile.
Open source · MIT
A React library that shows pop-up notification messages (toasts) in your app.
The short answer
Choose react-dates if you need…
- React developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app
- Projects that need the picker to work in multiple languages and locales
- Teams that want to style the calendar by overriding CSS classes
- Developers who want to see live examples in the Storybook demo before adopting it
Choose React-Toastify if you need…
- React developers who need simple on-screen notifications
- Apps that want to show several stacked messages at once
- Teams that want to customize notification styling or animation
- Projects that need right-to-left (RTL) language support
Side-by-side
| react-dates | React-Toastify | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.2k | 13.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 3 years ago | 8 days ago |
What each one is
react-dates
react-dates is a JavaScript library of date-picker components for React web apps. It provides single-date and date-range pickers, plus a calendar controller, that you add to your own interface. The README describes it as internationalizable, accessible, and mobile-friendly.
React-Toastify
React-Toastify is a JavaScript library for React apps that shows small, temporary notification messages called toasts. You add a ToastContainer component once, then call toast() from anywhere in your code to display a message. It is used to give users quick feedback such as confirmations or errors without interrupting what they are doing.
Best for
react-dates
- React developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app
- Projects that need the picker to work in multiple languages and locales
- Teams that want to style the calendar by overriding CSS classes
- Developers who want to see live examples in the Storybook demo before adopting it
React-Toastify
- React developers who need simple on-screen notifications
- Apps that want to show several stacked messages at once
- Teams that want to customize notification styling or animation
- Projects that need right-to-left (RTL) language support
Strengths
react-dates
- Provides multiple components: DateRangePicker, SingleDatePicker, and DayPickerRangeController
- Includes a live demo and Storybook for seeing props in action
- Uses the MIT license and has a large following (12,163 stars)
React-Toastify
- Setup is short: the README example needs only a container and a toast() call
- Many listed features, including swipe to close, progress bar, dark mode and stacking
- Actively maintained, with a recent push and a CI badge in the README
Not ideal for
react-dates
- Projects not using React, since the components are built for React
- Teams that need a long-term supported version, because the README does not state a current release and the last push shown is 2024-04-09
- Apps that want a zero-dependency solution, because it requires peer packages such as moment and react
React-Toastify
- Non-React projects, since the library is built for React (the README shows only React usage)
- People who need a finished app rather than a code library
- Projects that need notifications with complex built-in workflows beyond what the README describes
Trade-offs
react-dates
- The README does not state a current release, and the repository shows no latest release
- Setup requires extra steps, including an initialize import and a CSS import
- Date handling relies on peer dependencies that must match versions
React-Toastify
- Feature list is long and the README is brief, so details depend on the external documentation site
- Styling and behavior options beyond the basics require reading the docs
- Dependent on React, so it does not help outside that ecosystem
Getting started
react-dates
Install the package
npm install --save react-datesInstall peer dependencies automatically
npx install-peerdeps react-datesReact-Toastify
Install with npm
npm install --save react-toastifyInstall with yarn
yarn add react-toastifyFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between react-dates and React-Toastify?
react-dates: A React datepicker component that supports internationalization and works on mobile. React-Toastify: A React library that shows pop-up notification messages (toasts) in your app. react-dates suits react developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app, while React-Toastify suits react developers who need simple on-screen notifications.
Are react-dates and React-Toastify free?
react-dates: Free and open source. React-Toastify: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, react-dates or React-Toastify?
React-Toastify is easier to get started with (rated beginner); react-dates is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is react-dates or React-Toastify more popular?
React-Toastify has more GitHub stars (13.4k) than react-dates (12.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to react-dates and React-Toastify?
Other options people compare them with include React Color, flatpickr, Luxon, FullCalendar, react-native-calendars.
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.