SolidJS vs. Qwik

ImageBy SW Habitation
SolidJS

SolidJS

vs
Qwik

Qwik

So, you know when you want to build a website or app, but doing everything from scratch feels kinda overwhelming? That’s where web frameworks come in. They’re like a ready-made set of tools and building blocks that help you get things up and running way faster. Instead of figuring out every little piece yourself, a framework gives you a solid base to build on, and lets you focus on making something cool.

What is SolidJS?

SolidJS is a modern reactive JavaScript library for building fast, declarative user interfaces. Inspired by React, it focuses on fine-grained reactivity and compiles templates to efficient JavaScript code, making applications both lightweight and performant.

Unlike React, SolidJS doesn’t use a virtual DOM. Instead, it updates only the parts of the DOM that change, resulting in better performance and smaller bundle sizes.

Key Features of SolidJS

Key Features of SolidJS

  • Fine-grained reactivity: Updates DOM precisely where needed, without re-rendering entire components.
  • JSX support: Uses JSX syntax, making it easy for React developers to learn.
  • No Virtual DOM: Direct DOM updates for better performance and lower memory usage.
  • Small bundle size: Lightweight, leading to faster load times.
  • Component-based: Similar to React, it uses reusable, composable components.
  • TypeScript support: First-class TypeScript support for type safety.
  • Simple learning curve: Easy for developers familiar with React or modern frontend frameworks.

Advantages of SolidJS

  • Performance: Outperforms most frameworks thanks to fine-grained reactivity and DOM compilation.
  • React-Like Syntax: Easy for React developers to adopt.
  • Small & Lightweight: Tiny runtime with minimal overhead.
  • Flexible State Management: Built-in signals and stores reduce the need for external libraries.
  • SSR Ready: Great for SEO-driven apps like blogs or e-commerce.

Disadvantages of SolidJS

  • Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer libraries, tools, and community packages compared to React or Vue.
  • Learning Curve: React developers may need to unlearn Virtual DOM patterns.
  • Evolving Framework: Still relatively young, so some integrations (like CMS or UI libraries) may require custom solutions.
  • Smaller Community: Less support and fewer tutorials compared to React.

What is Qwik?

Qwik is a next-generation JavaScript framework designed for instant-loading web apps by using resumability instead of hydration. Unlike React, Vue, or Solid, which re-render components on the client, Qwik ships minimal JavaScript and resumes execution exactly where the server left off.

This makes Qwik ideal for ultra-fast, SEO-friendly apps with near-instant Time-to-Interactive (TTI), even on slow networks or devices.

Key Features of Qwik

Key features of Qwik
  • Resumability: No hydration,resumes app state instantly on the client.
  • Zero JS by Default: Ships only the JavaScript needed for interaction.
  • Streaming SSR: Server-rendered HTML streams for faster load times.
  • Lazy Loading by Design: Every component is lazy-loaded automatically.
  • Edge Optimized: Runs efficiently on modern edge platforms.
  • TypeScript Support: Works seamlessly with TypeScript.
  • Qwik City: Official meta-framework with routing, SSR, and middleware.

Advantages of Qwik

  • Blazing Fast: Instant interactivity without hydration.
  • Minimal JavaScript: Loads only what’s necessary.
  • SEO-Friendly: Pre-rendered HTML with resumability.
  • Qwik City: Built-in file-based routing and full-stack features.
  • Future-Proof: Designed for edge-first and low-bandwidth devices.

Disadvantages of Qwik

  • New Ecosystem: Still growing, fewer libraries compared to React/Vue.
  • Learning Curve: Resumability and lazy-loading model may feel new.
  • Tooling Maturity: Some integrations (like CMS/auth) need custom setup.
  • Smaller Community: Not as large as React or Angular yet.

Comparison Between SolidJS vs Qwik

FeaturesSolidJSQwik
Ease of UseEasy if you know React/JSXEasy if you know JS/TS; new concepts to learn
Page ManagementComponent-based architectureFile-based routing with Qwik City
Multi-Language SupportSupported (via i18n libraries)Supported (via i18n libs)
PerformanceExtremely fast – fine-grained reactivityExtremely fast – resumability, zero hydration
IntegrationsWorks with npm ecosystemWorks with npm, edge APIs, Qwik City
PricingFree (open-source)Free; hosting depends on provider
Best ForHigh-performance web appsUltra-fast web apps, SEO-driven sites

Use Cases of SolidJS

  • E-commerce Apps: High-performance, dynamic UIs with fast updates.
  • Blogs & Portfolios: SEO-friendly with SSR support.
  • Dashboards: Real-time data updates with fine-grained reactivity.
  • Interactive SPAs: Complex applications with minimal overhead.
  • Cross-Platform Apps: With Solid Start (meta-framework), you can build full-stack apps.

Use Cases of Qwik

  • Landing Pages: Instant-loading, SEO-friendly marketing sites.
  • E-commerce: Fast product pages with lazy-loaded interactivity.
  • Dashboards: Data-heavy apps that benefit from resumability.
  • PWAs: Progressive Web Apps with instant interactivity.
  • Edge-Native Apps: Apps deployed on edge networks like Vercel or Netlify.

Conclusion

Web frameworks make building websites and apps a whole lot easier. Whether you’re working on a personal project or something big for work, they help with the heavy lifting—like routing, design structure, and how everything connects.

With support for things like server-side rendering, optimized performance, and developer-friendly features, these tools let you create faster, smarter, and cleaner websites. Just pick the one that fits your style, and start building something awesome 🚀

You can also compare
vs

Frequently asked questions

Is SolidJS better than React?

Does SolidJS use JSX?

Can I use SolidJS with TypeScript?

Can I use npm packages with SolidJS?

Does SolidJS support SSR?

Is Qwik better than React?

Does Qwik use JSX?

Can I use Qwik with TypeScript?

Is Qwik production-ready?

What is Qwik City?

When should I use Qwik?