i18next vs intl-messageformat vs react-intl vs vue-i18n vs @messageformat/core | Internationalization (i18n) Libraries for JavaScript

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

i18next	9,903,387	8,367	559 kB	14	6 days ago	MIT
intl-messageformat	7,836,041	14,617	223 kB	39	a month ago	BSD-3-Clause
react-intl	2,233,548	14,617	236 kB	39	a month ago	BSD-3-Clause
vue-i18n	1,872,278	2,591	1.56 MB	169	2 months ago	MIT
@messageformat/core	479,973	1,747	302 kB	19	a year ago	MIT

Framework Integration

i18next:
i18next is designed to work with multiple frameworks, including React, Vue, and Angular. It provides plugins and components for seamless integration, making it versatile for cross-framework projects.
intl-messageformat:
intl-messageformat is a standalone library for formatting messages according to the ECMAScript Internationalization API. It does not provide framework-specific features but can be used in any JavaScript environment.
react-intl:
react-intl is specifically built for React applications. It provides React components and hooks for internationalization, making it easy to integrate i18n into React projects.
vue-i18n:
vue-i18n is tailored for Vue.js applications. It integrates with Vue’s reactivity system and provides a simple API for managing translations and locales.
@messageformat/core:
@messageformat/core is framework-agnostic and can be used with any JavaScript application. It focuses on message formatting rather than providing integration with specific frameworks.

Pluralization Support

i18next:
i18next supports pluralization out of the box, allowing developers to define plural forms in translation files. It provides a simple API for handling pluralization based on the count value.
intl-messageformat:
intl-messageformat supports pluralization as defined by the ECMAScript Internationalization API. It allows developers to create messages with multiple plural forms, making it suitable for languages with complex pluralization rules.
react-intl:
react-intl supports pluralization through the FormattedPlural component and the Intl.Plural API. It allows developers to define plural rules in their messages, making it easy to handle pluralization in React applications.
vue-i18n:
vue-i18n supports pluralization by allowing developers to define plural forms in their translation messages. It provides a simple syntax for handling pluralization, making it easy to implement in Vue applications.
@messageformat/core:
@messageformat/core provides advanced pluralization support, allowing developers to define plural rules for different languages. It supports multiple plural forms and can handle complex pluralization scenarios.

Message Formatting

i18next:
i18next provides flexible message formatting with support for interpolation, nesting, and pluralization. It allows developers to create dynamic and context-aware messages, making it suitable for applications with complex translation needs.
intl-messageformat:
intl-messageformat focuses on formatting messages according to the Internationalization API standards. It supports interpolation, pluralization, and gender formatting, providing a standardized way to handle messages in multilingual applications.
react-intl:
react-intl offers comprehensive message formatting capabilities, including support for interpolation, pluralization, and rich text. It provides a set of components and APIs that make it easy to format messages in a React context.
vue-i18n:
vue-i18n provides message formatting features with support for interpolation, pluralization, and dynamic translations. It allows for flexible and reactive message rendering, making it easy to implement i18n in Vue applications.
@messageformat/core:
@messageformat/core specializes in message formatting, providing features like interpolation, pluralization, and gender-based formatting. It allows for highly customizable message structures, making it suitable for applications that require precise control over how messages are displayed.

Size and Performance

i18next:
i18next is a feature-rich library that may have a larger footprint due to its extensive capabilities. However, it is designed to be efficient, and developers can optimize performance by using features like lazy loading and code splitting.
intl-messageformat:
intl-messageformat is a lightweight library that provides efficient message formatting. Its compliance with the Internationalization API ensures that it performs well while handling complex formatting tasks.
react-intl:
react-intl has a moderate size, but its performance is optimized for use in React applications. Developers can minimize performance impacts by using the library’s features efficiently and avoiding unnecessary re-renders.
vue-i18n:
vue-i18n is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it suitable for Vue applications. Its performance is optimized for reactive updates, ensuring smooth rendering of translations.
@messageformat/core:
@messageformat/core is a lightweight library focused on message formatting. Its small size and efficient algorithms make it suitable for performance-sensitive applications that require fast message processing.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

i18next:

Simple Example with i18next

import i18next from 'i18next';
i18next.init({
  lng: 'en',
  resources: {
    en: { welcome: 'Welcome, {name}!', },
    fr: { welcome: 'Bienvenue, {name}!', },
  },
});

const welcomeMessage = i18next.t('welcome', { name: 'Alice' });
console.log(welcomeMessage); // Output: Welcome, Alice!

intl-messageformat:

Message Formatting with intl-messageformat

import { IntlMessageFormat } from 'intl-messageformat';
const message = new IntlMessageFormat(`Hello, {name}. You have {count, plural, =0 {no messages} =1 {one message} other {# messages}}.`, 'en');
const formattedMessage = message.format({ name: 'Alice', count: 2 });
console.log(formattedMessage); // Output: Hello, Alice. You have 2 messages.

react-intl:

Message Formatting with react-intl

import { IntlProvider, FormattedMessage } from 'react-intl';
const messages = {
  en: { greeting: 'Hello, {name}!', },
  fr: { greeting: 'Bonjour, {name}!', },
};

const App = () => (
  <IntlProvider locale='en' messages={messages.en}>
    <FormattedMessage id='greeting' values={{ name: 'Alice' }} />
  </IntlProvider>
);

vue-i18n:

Simple Example with vue-i18n

import { createApp } from 'vue';
import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n';

const i18n = createI18n({
  locale: 'en',
  messages: {
    en: { hello: 'Hello, {name}!', },
    fr: { hello: 'Bonjour, {name}!', },
  },
});

const app = createApp({
  template: `<div>{{ $t('hello', { name: 'Alice' }) }}</div>`,
});
app.use(i18n);
app.mount('#app');

@messageformat/core:

Message Formatting with @messageformat/core

import { MessageFormat } from '@messageformat/core';
const mf = new MessageFormat('en');
const message = mf.compile`Hello, {name}. You have {count, plural, =0 {no messages} =1 {one message} other {# messages}}.`;
console.log(message({ name: 'Alice', count: 2 })); // Output: Hello, Alice. You have 2 messages.

Framework Integration

Pluralization Support

Message Formatting

Size and Performance

Ease of Use: Code Examples

i18next: learn once - translate everywhere

Documentation

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