vue-i18n vs i18next-vue | Internationalization Libraries for Vue.js Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

vue-i18n	1,668,962	2,442	1.55 MB	158	2 days ago	MIT
i18next-vue	49,756	83	12.6 kB	0	24 days ago	MIT

Package

Downloads

Stars

Size

Issues

Publish

License

vue-i18n

1,668,962

2,442

1.55 MB

158

2 days ago

MIT

i18next-vue

49,756

12.6 kB

24 days ago

MIT

Integration

vue-i18n:
vue-i18n is designed specifically for Vue.js, offering a straightforward integration process. It leverages Vue's reactivity system, making it easy to bind translations to components and ensuring that updates are reflected in real-time.
i18next-vue:
i18next-vue integrates with the i18next framework, allowing for extensive configuration options and support for various backends. It provides a powerful API that can be used in both Vue 2 and Vue 3, making it versatile for different project setups.

Feature Set

vue-i18n:
vue-i18n provides essential i18n features such as translation management, date and number formatting, and support for dynamic locale switching. While it may not have as many advanced features as i18next-vue, it covers the fundamental needs of most applications.
i18next-vue:
i18next-vue comes with a rich set of features, including support for nested translations, pluralization, and context-based translations. It also supports language detection and fallback mechanisms, making it suitable for complex applications with diverse localization needs.

Performance

vue-i18n:
vue-i18n is lightweight and designed for optimal performance within Vue.js applications. It efficiently updates the UI when language changes occur, ensuring minimal re-rendering and maintaining a smooth user experience.
i18next-vue:
i18next-vue is optimized for performance, allowing for lazy loading of translations and efficient handling of large translation files. It minimizes the impact on application performance, especially in large-scale applications with extensive localization requirements.

Community and Ecosystem

vue-i18n:
vue-i18n has a dedicated community within the Vue.js ecosystem, providing ample documentation and support. However, it may not have as many third-party plugins compared to i18next, which could limit extensibility for specific use cases.
i18next-vue:
i18next-vue benefits from the larger i18next ecosystem, which includes numerous plugins and integrations for various frameworks and libraries. This extensive community support can be advantageous for developers looking for additional resources and tools.

Learning Curve

vue-i18n:
vue-i18n is generally easier to learn for developers already familiar with Vue.js. Its API is straightforward, making it accessible for those who need basic internationalization features without the complexity of advanced configurations.
i18next-vue:
i18next-vue has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set and configuration options. Developers may need to invest time in understanding the i18next framework to fully leverage its capabilities.

Which dist file to use?

From CDN or without a Bundler

vue-i18n(.runtime).global(.prod).js:

For direct use via <script src="..."> in the browser. Exposes the VueI18n global
Note that global builds are not UMD builds. They are built as IIFEs and is only meant for direct use via <script src="...">
In-browser locale messages compilation:
- vue-i18n.global.js is the "full" build that includes both the compiler and the runtime so it supports compiling locale messages on the fly
- vue-i18n.runtime.global.js contains only the runtime and requires locale messages to be pre-compiled during a build step
Inlines internal the bellow packages - i.e. it’s a single file with no dependencies on other files. This means you must import everything from this file and this file only to ensure you are getting the same instance of code
- @intlify/shared
- @intlify/message-compiler
- @intlify/core
Contains hard-coded prod/dev branches, and the prod build is pre-minified. Use the *.prod.js files for production

vue-i18n(.runtime).esm-browser(.prod).js:

For usage via native ES modules imports (in browser via <script type="module">)
Shares the same runtime compilation, dependency inlining and hard-coded prod/dev behavior with the global build

With a Bundler

vue-i18n(.runtime).esm-bundler.js:

For use with bundlers like webpack, rollup and parcel
Leaves prod/dev branches with process.env.NODE_ENV guards (must be replaced by bundler)
Does not ship minified builds (to be done together with the rest of the code after bundling)
Imports dependencies (e.g. @intlify/core-base, @intlify/message-compiler)
- Imported dependencies are also esm-bundler builds and will in turn import their dependencies (e.g. @intlify/message-compiler imports @intlify/shared)
- This means you can install/import these deps individually without ending up with different instances of these dependencies, but you must make sure they all resolve to the same version
In-browser locale messages compilation:
- vue-i18n.runtime.esm-bundler.js (default) is runtime only, and requires all locale messages to be pre-compiled. This is the default entry for bundlers (via module field in package.json) because when using a bundler templates are typically pre-compiled (e.g. in *.json files)
- vue-i18n.esm-bundler.js: includes the runtime compiler. Use this if you are using a bundler but still want locale messages compilation (e.g. templates via inline JavaScript strings)

For Node.js (Server-Side)

vue-i18n.cjs(.prod).js:

For CommonJS usage in Node.js
For use in Node.js via require()
If you bundle your app with webpack with target: 'node' and properly externalize vue-i18n, this is the build that will be loaded
The dev/prod files are pre-built, but the appropriate file is automatically required based on process.env.NODE_ENV

vue-i18n(.runtime).node.mjs:

For ES Moudles usage in Node.js
For use in Node.js via import
The dev/prod files are pre-built, but the appropriate file is automatically required based on process.env.NODE_ENV
This module is proxy module of vue-i18n(.runtime).mjs
- vue-i18n.runtime.node.mjs: is runtime only
- vue-i18n.node.mjs: includes the runtime compiler

NOTE: ES Modules will be the future of the Node.js module system. The vue-i18n.cjs(.prod).js will be deprecated in the future. We recommend you would use vue-i18n(.runtime).node.mjs. 9.3+

For Bundler feature flags

Build Feature Flags

The esm-bundler builds now exposes global feature flags that can be overwritten at compile time:

__VUE_I18N_FULL_INSTALL__ (enable/disable, in addition to vue-i18n APIs, components and directives all fully support installation: true)

__VUE_I18N_LEGACY_API__ (enable/disable vue-i18n legacy style APIs support, default: true)

__INTLIFY_DROP_MESSAGE_COMPILER__ (enable/disable whether to tree-shake message compiler when we will be bundling)

The build will work without configuring these flags, however it is strongly recommended to properly configure them in order to get proper tree shaking in the final bundle. To configure these flags:

webpack: use DefinePlugin

Rollup: use @rollup/plugin-replace

Vite: configured by default, but can be overwritten using the define option

Note: the replacement value must be boolean literals and cannot be strings, otherwise the bundler/minifier will not be able to properly evaluate the conditions.