Solid vs Svelte
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 JavaScript library for building user interfaces that updates only the parts of the page that change.
Open source · MIT
A web UI framework whose compiler turns components into plain JavaScript that updates the page directly.
The short answer
Choose Solid if you need…
- Developers who want fine-grained control over what re-renders in a web UI
- Developers already comfortable with JSX and TypeScript
- Teams building client-rendered single-page apps or server-rendered apps
- People who want to inspect rendered output directly with browser devtools
Choose Svelte if you need…
- Developers who want to build interactive websites with less boilerplate
- Teams building web apps who prefer a compiler-based approach
- Learners exploring how modern component frameworks work
Side-by-side
| Solid | Svelte | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 36.2k | 88.5k |
| 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 | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Solid
Solid is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Instead of using a Virtual DOM, it compiles templates into real DOM nodes and updates just the pieces that depend on changed state. Developers use it to build interactive web apps that can also be rendered on the server.
Svelte
Svelte is a compiler for building web applications. You write components in a declarative style, and Svelte converts them ahead of time into efficient JavaScript that updates the page's DOM directly. It is aimed at making web interfaces simpler to write while keeping the output lightweight.
Best for
Solid
- Developers who want fine-grained control over what re-renders in a web UI
- Developers already comfortable with JSX and TypeScript
- Teams building client-rendered single-page apps or server-rendered apps
- People who want to inspect rendered output directly with browser devtools
Svelte
- Developers who want to build interactive websites with less boilerplate
- Teams building web apps who prefer a compiler-based approach
- Learners exploring how modern component frameworks work
Strengths
Solid
- Updates only the code that depends on changed state, avoiding whole-component re-renders
- Built-in primitives for state, context, stores, and async data reduce the need for extra libraries
- Renders to real DOM nodes, so standard browser devtools work for inspection
Svelte
- MIT licensed and open source
- Compiles components to JavaScript that surgically updates the DOM, per the README
- Large community with an active Discord chat and a public roadmap
Not ideal for
Solid
- Complete beginners with no JavaScript background, since the README assumes familiarity with components and state
- Projects that require a specific ecosystem of ready-made component libraries, since the README does not describe its ecosystem size
- Anyone who needs a framework with a large, established track record of production use, as the README does not discuss adoption beyond its own benchmarks
Svelte
- People who need a no-code tool, since Svelte requires writing code
- Projects that must rely only on long-established tooling, because the README gives little detail on ecosystem maturity for this use
Trade-offs
Solid
- The README describes concepts like fine-grained reactivity that take time to learn compared with simpler templating
- Setup for JSX outside the starter templates requires configuring Babel or TypeScript, per the README
- Performance claims rely on the README's links to external benchmarks rather than independent analysis here
Svelte
- The README is short and defers most detail to the external website and docs
- Some setup details and requirements are not stated in the provided README
- Being a compiler-based approach, understanding the build step takes some learning
Getting started
Solid
Create a new JavaScript app from the starter template
npx degit solidjs/templates/js my-appCreate a new TypeScript app from the starter template
npx degit solidjs/templates/ts my-appSvelte
Install the svelte package (per the npm package reference in the README badges)
npm install svelteFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Solid and Svelte?
Solid: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces that updates only the parts of the page that change. Svelte: A web UI framework whose compiler turns components into plain JavaScript that updates the page directly. Solid suits developers who want fine-grained control over what re-renders in a web ui, while Svelte suits developers who want to build interactive websites with less boilerplate.
Are Solid and Svelte free?
Solid: Free and open source. Svelte: Free and open source.
Is Solid or Svelte more popular?
Svelte has more GitHub stars (88.5k) than Solid (36.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Solid and Svelte?
Other options people compare them with include React, Preact, Leptos, Inferno.
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.