React Redux vs Zustand
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
Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components.
Open source · MIT
A small React state-management library built on hooks, with no providers needed.
The short answer
Choose React Redux if you need…
- React developers whose apps need shared state across many components
- Teams already using Redux who want the officially supported React connection
- Developers starting a new Vite or Next.js app who want Redux configured from the start
Choose Zustand if you need…
- React developers who want simpler shared state than Redux
- Apps that need state shared across many components without wrapping them in providers
- Projects that need to read or update state outside components via getState and setState
- Developers who want fine control over which state changes trigger re-renders
Side-by-side
| React Redux | Zustand | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.4k | 58.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 9 days ago | 15 days ago |
What each one is
React Redux
React Redux is the official library that connects the Redux state store to React user interfaces. It lets React components read data from a central store and dispatch changes to it. The README describes it as performant and flexible, and links to docs and background articles on how it works.
Zustand
Zustand lets React apps keep shared state in a store that components read through a hook. Components subscribe to just the pieces they select and re-render only when those pieces change. The README says it needs no context providers and has a small API, and it can also be used without React.
Best for
React Redux
- React developers whose apps need shared state across many components
- Teams already using Redux who want the officially supported React connection
- Developers starting a new Vite or Next.js app who want Redux configured from the start
Zustand
- React developers who want simpler shared state than Redux
- Apps that need state shared across many components without wrapping them in providers
- Projects that need to read or update state outside components via getState and setState
- Developers who want fine control over which state changes trigger re-renders
Strengths
React Redux
- Official project maintained alongside Redux itself
- MIT licensed and available on npm
- README points to templates and documentation for quick setup
Zustand
- Small, simple API based on hooks, with no providers required
- Components re-render only when the selected state they read changes
- Works with async actions and can be used outside React
Not ideal for
React Redux
- Small React apps with little shared state, where Redux adds more setup than it saves
- Projects not using React (the README covers React bindings only)
- Developers who need a browser-only drop-in with no npm or bundler, since the README says the UMD build is not recommended for serious applications
Zustand
- Teams that require Redux's conventions, tooling, and strict structure, since the README describes zustand as un-opinionated
- Projects not using React or JavaScript, since the README focuses on JavaScript and React usage and the vanilla core is only a secondary option
- Adding state inside React Server Components, which the README explicitly advises against because it can cause bugs and privacy issues
Trade-offs
React Redux
- Requires React 18 or later for version 9.x, per the README
- Requires separately installing Redux and setting up a store
- The README is truncated, so details of the API are only available on the external docs site
Zustand
- The README says to set state immutably and be careful when replacing state, which takes care to get right
- Some patterns, such as fetching everything or using custom equality, can cause extra re-renders or require extra setup
- Documentation for the migration to v5 and TypeScript usage is referenced but not included in the truncated README
Getting started
React Redux
Install with npm
npm install react-reduxInstall with Yarn
yarn add react-reduxFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between React Redux and Zustand?
React Redux: Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components. Zustand: A small React state-management library built on hooks, with no providers needed. React Redux suits react developers whose apps need shared state across many components, while Zustand suits react developers who want simpler shared state than redux.
Are React Redux and Zustand free?
React Redux: Free and open source. Zustand: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, React Redux or Zustand?
Zustand is easier to get started with (rated beginner); React Redux is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is React Redux or Zustand more popular?
Zustand has more GitHub stars (58.9k) than React Redux (23.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to React Redux and Zustand?
Other options people compare them with include Jotai, MobX, redux-form, Redux, Valtio.
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.