redux-persist vs WatermelonDB
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
Saves a Redux store to storage and restores it when the app starts.
Open source · MIT
A database library for React and React Native apps that loads data lazily and updates the UI when data changes
The short answer
Choose redux-persist if you need…
- Web developers who want Redux state to survive a page reload
- React Native developers who need state saved with AsyncStorage
- Teams already using Redux or Redux Toolkit who want persistence without a new state system
- Apps that need to choose which top-level state keys are saved
Choose WatermelonDB if you need…
- React Native developers building apps with thousands or more records
- Teams building offline-first apps that need to sync with their own backend
- Developers who want UI components to update automatically when data changes
Side-by-side
| redux-persist | WatermelonDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.9k | 11.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 29 days ago | 51 days ago |
What each one is
redux-persist
redux-persist is a library for Redux apps. It saves your app's state to storage as it changes, such as localStorage on the web or AsyncStorage in React Native, and loads it back into the store when the app starts. You wrap your root reducer with persistReducer and create a persistor with persistStore.
WatermelonDB
WatermelonDB is a database layer for React and React Native apps, built on top of SQLite. It loads records only when they are requested, so apps with large amounts of data can start quickly. When a record changes, the parts of the interface that depend on it update automatically.
Best for
redux-persist
- Web developers who want Redux state to survive a page reload
- React Native developers who need state saved with AsyncStorage
- Teams already using Redux or Redux Toolkit who want persistence without a new state system
- Apps that need to choose which top-level state keys are saved
WatermelonDB
- React Native developers building apps with thousands or more records
- Teams building offline-first apps that need to sync with their own backend
- Developers who want UI components to update automatically when data changes
Strengths
redux-persist
- Drop-in setup: wrap the root reducer and call persistStore, with the README stating Redux Toolkit needs no extra setup
- Works with many storage backends, including localStorage, sessionStorage, AsyncStorage, IndexedDB and the filesystem
- Supports migrations so stored state can be upgraded when its shape changes
WatermelonDB
- Lazy loading keeps app launch fast as data grows, according to the README
- Queries run directly on SQLite on a separate native thread
- Has been used in production by Nozbe since 2017, per the README
Not ideal for
redux-persist
- Projects that do not use Redux, since the library is built for Redux stores
- Apps that need to store very large or sensitive data without extra work, because the README points to recipes like encryption rather than providing it by default
- Teams that cannot take time to decide how stored state merges with initial state, since the README says every app must make this choice
WatermelonDB
- Simple apps with little data, where the README suggests Redux or MobX with a persistence adapter is easier
- Projects that do not use React or JavaScript, since the README describes it as React-focused, though it offers a JS API for other frameworks
Trade-offs
redux-persist
- You must choose a state reconciler strategy, and the default merges only one level deep, so it needs careful reading before shipping
- The README shows v7 is in beta and the stable release shown is v6.0.0, so APIs may change for v7 users
- Stored data needs care during changes; the README says to read CONTRIBUTING before touching stored data formats
WatermelonDB
- Sync with your own backend is a feature you must set up yourself; the README only links to documentation for it
- Requires learning its model and decorator-based API before it is productive
- Less useful for small apps where a simpler state library is enough
Getting started
WatermelonDB
Install the npm package
npm install @nozbe/watermelondbFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between redux-persist and WatermelonDB?
redux-persist: Saves a Redux store to storage and restores it when the app starts. WatermelonDB: A database library for React and React Native apps that loads data lazily and updates the UI when data changes. redux-persist suits web developers who want redux state to survive a page reload, while WatermelonDB suits react native developers building apps with thousands or more records.
Are redux-persist and WatermelonDB free?
redux-persist: Free and open source. WatermelonDB: Free and open source.
Is redux-persist or WatermelonDB more popular?
redux-persist has more GitHub stars (12.9k) than WatermelonDB (11.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to redux-persist and WatermelonDB?
Other options people compare them with include store.js, lowdb, Formily, SWR, React Native Elements.
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.