Slate vs Tiptap
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 customizable framework for building rich text editors in the browser.
Open source · MIT
A headless rich text editor framework for JavaScript apps, with no built-in look.
The short answer
Choose Slate if you need…
- Developers building a custom rich text editor inside a web app
- Teams who need control over the editor's data model and behavior
- React developers, since the topics and release name point to slate-react
Choose Tiptap if you need…
- Developers building a custom text editor into a web product
- Teams using Vue, React, or plain JavaScript who want one editor across frameworks
- Projects that need full control over the editor's design
- Developers who want to add their own custom blocks or nodes
Side-by-side
| Slate | Tiptap | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 31.7k | 38.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Advanced | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 8 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Slate
Slate is a TypeScript framework for building rich text editors on the web, such as editors with bold, lists, links, or custom blocks. It is described as completely customizable, so developers can define their own document model and behavior rather than using a fixed editor. The project is currently in beta, according to its description.
Tiptap
Tiptap is an editor component you add to a web app so users can write formatted text, such as bold, lists, and headings. It is headless, meaning it ships without a ready-made user interface, so you design the look yourself. It is built on the ProseMirror library and extended through add-ons called extensions.
Best for
Slate
- Developers building a custom rich text editor inside a web app
- Teams who need control over the editor's data model and behavior
- React developers, since the topics and release name point to slate-react
Tiptap
- Developers building a custom text editor into a web product
- Teams using Vue, React, or plain JavaScript who want one editor across frameworks
- Projects that need full control over the editor's design
- Developers who want to add their own custom blocks or nodes
Strengths
Slate
- Described as completely customizable, which suits unusual editor designs
- Written in TypeScript, with an MIT license that allows broad reuse
- Large community interest, with about 31,700 stars on GitHub
Tiptap
- Headless design gives full control over appearance and behavior
- Built on the established ProseMirror library and works across frameworks
- Large extension ecosystem with over 100 extensions listed in the docs
Not ideal for
Slate
- People who just want a ready-made editor without writing code, since Slate is a framework to build with
- Projects that need a stable, non-beta dependency, since the description says it is currently in beta
- Simple text input needs, where a plain textarea or a lighter editor is enough
Tiptap
- Non-developers who want a ready-made editor with no coding, because it requires building the interface yourself
- Projects that need the advanced paid features, since Pro Extensions require a valid subscription
Trade-offs
Slate
- Described as currently in beta, so APIs may change
- Building an editor requires real development work, not a drop-in setup
- The README was truncated here, so detailed setup and API information could not be verified
Tiptap
- Advanced features such as collaboration, commenting, and AI are in paid Pro Extensions that need a subscription
- Without a UI, you must write more code to get a finished editor
- Setup details beyond the README are only in the external documentation
Getting started
Slate
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ianstormtaylor/slateTiptap
Install the agent skill (optional, from README)
npx skills add ueberdosis/tiptap --skill tiptapFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Slate and Tiptap?
Slate: A customizable framework for building rich text editors in the browser. Tiptap: A headless rich text editor framework for JavaScript apps, with no built-in look. Slate suits developers building a custom rich text editor inside a web app, while Tiptap suits developers building a custom text editor into a web product.
Are Slate and Tiptap free?
Slate: Free and open source. Tiptap: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Slate or Tiptap?
Tiptap is easier to get started with (rated intermediate); Slate is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Slate or Tiptap more popular?
Tiptap has more GitHub stars (38.9k) than Slate (31.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Slate and Tiptap?
Other options people compare them with include Lexical, Next.js, ice.js, Blitz.js, Milkdown.
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.