Summernote vs wangEditor
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 that adds a simple rich-text (WYSIWYG) editor to web pages.
Open source · MIT
Open-source web rich text editor that works out of the box, with JS, Vue and React support.
The short answer
Choose Summernote if you need…
- Web developers adding a simple formatted-text editor to an existing site
- Teams already using jQuery or Bootstrap who want a drop-in editor
- Admin panels or CMS-style forms where users write formatted content
- Projects that need an MIT-licensed editor with no fees
Choose wangEditor if you need…
- Developers adding a rich text input to a website
- Teams using Vue or React who want an embeddable editor
- Projects that need a simple, quick-to-configure editor
Side-by-side
| Summernote | wangEditor | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.8k | 18.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 7 months ago | 2 years ago |
What each one is
Summernote
Summernote is a JavaScript library that lets a website show a rich-text editor, the kind with bold, lists and formatting buttons, in place of a plain text box. You add a script and a stylesheet to a page, place an empty div, and call one function to turn it into an editor. It is built on jQuery and works with Bootstrap 3, 4 and 5.
wangEditor
wangEditor is a rich text editor you can embed in a web page, so users can write formatted text (bold, lists, and similar) directly in the browser. The README describes it as ready to use with simple configuration, and says it supports plain JavaScript, Vue and React. It is aimed at developers who want an editing box inside their own website or app.
Best for
Summernote
- Web developers adding a simple formatted-text editor to an existing site
- Teams already using jQuery or Bootstrap who want a drop-in editor
- Admin panels or CMS-style forms where users write formatted content
- Projects that need an MIT-licensed editor with no fees
wangEditor
- Developers adding a rich text input to a website
- Teams using Vue or React who want an embeddable editor
- Projects that need a simple, quick-to-configure editor
Strengths
Summernote
- Simple setup: include JS and CSS, add a div, and initialize it
- MIT licensed and free to use
- Works with Bootstrap 3, 4 and 5 and has a plugin ecosystem listed in a companion repository
wangEditor
- The README describes it as ready to use with simple configuration
- Supports plain JavaScript, Vue and React according to the README
- Open source under the MIT license, with a live demo and documentation linked from the README
Not ideal for
Summernote
- Projects that do not use jQuery, since the README says Summernote is built on it and that adds a dependency
- Anyone needing built-in server-side HTML sanitizing, since the README warns that the server must filter the HTML itself
- Non-developers looking for a finished writing app; this is a component to embed, not a standalone program
wangEditor
- People who want a finished end-user application rather than a component to embed (it is a library for developers)
- Projects needing features not described in the README, since the README gives little detail on feature scope
- Non-developers without any coding background, since integration requires writing code
Trade-offs
Summernote
- Depends on jQuery, which may be unwanted in modern projects
- The README warns that user-entered HTML can contain scripts, so you must sanitize content on the server
wangEditor
- The README provided is truncated and gives little detail on specific features or APIs
- The latest release listed is v4.7.13 while the README describes wangEditor 5, so users should confirm which version fits their needs
- Last code push was 2024-10-11, so recent maintenance activity is uncertain
Getting started
Summernote
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/summernote/summernote.gitwangEditor
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/wangeditor-team/wangEditorFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Summernote and wangEditor?
Summernote: A JavaScript library that adds a simple rich-text (WYSIWYG) editor to web pages. wangEditor: Open-source web rich text editor that works out of the box, with JS, Vue and React support. Summernote suits web developers adding a simple formatted-text editor to an existing site, while wangEditor suits developers adding a rich text input to a website.
Are Summernote and wangEditor free?
Summernote: Free and open source. wangEditor: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Summernote or wangEditor?
Summernote is easier to get started with (rated beginner); wangEditor is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Summernote or wangEditor more popular?
wangEditor has more GitHub stars (18.3k) than Summernote (11.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Summernote and wangEditor?
Other options people compare them with include Trix, Tiptap, pell, Milkdown, Vditor.
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.