Redux Toolkit vs Valtio
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 toolset that makes writing Redux state logic simpler and less error-prone.
Open source · MIT
A small state library for React and plain JavaScript where you change state like a normal object.
The short answer
Choose Redux Toolkit if you need…
- Developers already using or learning Redux for app state
- Teams that want the officially recommended Redux setup
- TypeScript projects that need typed state logic
Choose Valtio if you need…
- React developers who want simple shared state without a lot of boilerplate
- Developers who prefer mutating state directly instead of writing reducers or immutable updates
- Projects that need state outside components, subscribed to by plain JavaScript code
- Teams using React 19 who want to read async data with the use hook inside Suspense
Side-by-side
| Redux Toolkit | Valtio | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.2k | 10.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
Redux Toolkit
Redux Toolkit is the official, opinionated set of tools for building Redux state management in JavaScript and TypeScript apps. Its description calls it batteries-included, meaning it bundles common Redux needs into one package. Developers use it to write less boilerplate code when managing shared application state.
Valtio
Valtio lets you wrap a JavaScript object in a proxy, then change its properties directly from anywhere in your code. React components that read the state re-render only when the specific parts they use have changed. It works with React and also with plain JavaScript through a vanilla entry point.
Best for
Redux Toolkit
- Developers already using or learning Redux for app state
- Teams that want the officially recommended Redux setup
- TypeScript projects that need typed state logic
Valtio
- React developers who want simple shared state without a lot of boilerplate
- Developers who prefer mutating state directly instead of writing reducers or immutable updates
- Projects that need state outside components, subscribed to by plain JavaScript code
- Teams using React 19 who want to read async data with the use hook inside Suspense
Strengths
Redux Toolkit
- Official project maintained alongside Redux itself
- Reduces repetitive Redux boilerplate
- Open-source under the MIT license with 11,235 stars and recent activity
Valtio
- Mutations look like normal JavaScript, so there is little new syntax to learn
- Components re-render only for the state they actually read, according to the README
- Works in React and in vanilla JavaScript from the same core idea
Not ideal for
Redux Toolkit
- Projects with very simple state needs, where Redux itself may be more machinery than required
- Non-developers, since it is a code library rather than an end-user tool
- Anyone needing details the README does not cover, since the provided README text was truncated and empty
Valtio
- Developers who want strictly immutable, reducer-based state, since Valtio uses mutation and snapshots instead
- Beginners who are not yet comfortable with proxies, as the README notes the snapshot and proxy split can be confusing at first
- Apps that need Suspense with useTransition to work smoothly, because the README says that pattern suffers from de-opt issues
Trade-offs
Redux Toolkit
- The README text provided was truncated, so detailed features could not be verified here
- Adds a dependency on Redux concepts that new developers must learn first
- Best value depends on whether an app actually needs global state management
Valtio
- Its TypeScript types for useSnapshot can be stricter than some users want, and the README points to a workaround
- The README notes that this in methods can behave unexpectedly, so arrow functions are recommended
- Suspense with use still has a de-opt issue that affects useTransition, with a third-party library suggested as a workaround
Getting started
Redux Toolkit
Install with npm
npm install @reduxjs/toolkitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Redux Toolkit and Valtio?
Redux Toolkit: Official toolset that makes writing Redux state logic simpler and less error-prone. Valtio: A small state library for React and plain JavaScript where you change state like a normal object. Redux Toolkit suits developers already using or learning redux for app state, while Valtio suits react developers who want simple shared state without a lot of boilerplate.
Are Redux Toolkit and Valtio free?
Redux Toolkit: Free and open source. Valtio: Free and open source.
Is Redux Toolkit or Valtio more popular?
Redux Toolkit has more GitHub stars (11.2k) than Valtio (10.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Redux Toolkit and Valtio?
Other options people compare them with include Zustand, Jotai, MobX, XState.
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.