redux vs zustand vs jotai vs mobx vs recoil | State Management Libraries Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

redux	14,976,053	61,328	290 kB	46	2 years ago	MIT
zustand	11,063,873	54,596	92.4 kB	5	23 days ago	MIT
jotai	2,108,779	20,488	494 kB	7	3 days ago	MIT
mobx	2,086,666	28,037	4.33 MB	78	6 months ago	MIT
recoil	519,386	19,585	2.21 MB	323	3 years ago	MIT

State Management Approach

redux:
redux follows a unidirectional data flow model with a single source of truth (the store). State is updated through actions and reducers, which ensures that state changes are predictable and traceable. This approach is particularly useful for large applications where maintaining a clear and consistent state is crucial.
zustand:
zustand takes a more straightforward approach to state management by using hooks to create a global store. It allows for both local and global state management without the need for a complex setup. This makes it easy to use and understand, especially for smaller applications or teams looking for a simple solution.
jotai:
jotai uses atomic state management, where each piece of state is managed independently. This allows for fine-grained updates, meaning only the components that depend on a specific atom will re-render when that atom's state changes. This approach minimizes unnecessary re-renders and improves performance, especially in large applications.
mobx:
mobx employs a reactive programming model, where state is stored in observable objects. When the state changes, any components or functions that observe that state automatically update. This creates a more dynamic and intuitive way to manage state, as changes are reflected in the UI automatically without needing to manually trigger updates.
recoil:
recoil introduces a more React-centric approach to state management by using atoms (units of state) and selectors (functions that derive state). Atoms are similar to jotai's atoms, but Recoil also allows for derived state through selectors, which can compute values based on one or more atoms. This allows for more complex state relationships while still keeping the API simple and intuitive.

Boilerplate Code

redux:
redux is known for its boilerplate, as it requires defining actions, reducers, and the store. This can lead to a lot of repetitive code, especially in large applications. However, many developers appreciate the structure and predictability that Redux provides, which can make the initial investment in boilerplate worth it for complex projects.
zustand:
zustand has very little boilerplate. You create a store using a simple function and access the state directly in your components. There are no actions or reducers to define, which makes it quick and easy to set up.
jotai:
jotai has minimal boilerplate, especially compared to Redux. You define atoms (units of state) and use them directly in your components. There are no reducers, actions, or complex setup required, making it quick to implement and easy to understand.
mobx:
mobx also minimizes boilerplate by allowing you to define observable state directly in your components or stores. The reactive nature of MobX means you don’t need to write additional code to handle state updates; the library takes care of it for you.
recoil:
recoil requires some setup to define atoms and selectors, but it is still relatively low compared to Redux. The API is designed to be intuitive, and once you understand the concept of atoms and selectors, it’s easy to manage state with minimal code.

Performance

redux:
redux performance can be impacted by how state updates are handled. Since state is updated in a single store, all components that depend on that state will re-render when it changes. This can be mitigated by using techniques like memoization and shouldComponentUpdate, but it requires additional effort to optimize performance.
zustand:
zustand is lightweight and performs well, especially for small to medium-sized applications. Its simple design means that state updates are quick and efficient, with minimal overhead. However, like any state management solution, performance can be affected by how the state is structured and accessed.
jotai:
jotai is designed for performance, especially with its atomic state model. Since only the components that use a specific atom re-render when that atom’s state changes, it minimizes unnecessary renders and keeps the UI responsive. This is particularly beneficial in large applications where state changes are frequent.
mobx:
mobx is also highly performant due to its reactive nature. It tracks which components depend on which pieces of state and only re-renders those components when the relevant state changes. This fine-grained reactivity can lead to significant performance improvements, especially in applications with complex state relationships.
recoil:
recoil offers good performance, but it can vary depending on how atoms and selectors are used. Since atoms are updated independently, re-renders are limited to components that use the updated atom. However, poorly designed selectors can lead to unnecessary re-renders, so it’s important to use them judiciously.

Community and Ecosystem

redux:
redux has one of the largest communities in the state management ecosystem. It is well-established, with a vast ecosystem of middleware, tools, and libraries. The documentation is extensive, and there are countless tutorials and resources available for developers of all skill levels.
zustand:
zustand is gaining popularity for its simplicity and minimalism. It has an active community and is well-documented, but it is smaller compared to more established libraries like Redux and MobX. As it grows, more resources and third-party integrations are likely to emerge.
jotai:
jotai is a relatively new library but has quickly gained popularity and has an active community. Its simplicity and modern approach to state management have attracted many developers, and it is well-documented, making it easy to learn and use.
mobx:
mobx has a large and established community with a wealth of resources, tutorials, and third-party libraries. It is a mature library that has been around for many years, and its reactive programming model is well-understood and widely adopted.
recoil:
recoil is developed by Facebook and has a growing community. It is still relatively new, but it has strong backing and is actively maintained. The documentation is comprehensive, and there are many resources available for learning and using Recoil effectively.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

redux:

State management with redux

import { createStore } from 'redux';
import { Provider, useSelector, useDispatch } from 'react-redux';

// Define initial state
const initialState = { count: 0 };

// Define a reducer
const counterReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {
  switch (action.type) {
    case 'INCREMENT':
      return { ...state, count: state.count + 1 };
    default:
      return state;
  }
};

// Create a Redux store
const store = createStore(counterReducer);

function Counter() {
  const count = useSelector((state) => state.count);
  const dispatch = useDispatch();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => dispatch({ type: 'INCREMENT' })}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

function App() {
  return (
    <Provider store={store}>
      <Counter />
    </Provider>
  );
}

zustand:

Simple state management with zustand

import create from 'zustand';

// Create a store
const useStore = create((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
}));

function Counter() {
  const count = useStore((state) => state.count);
  const increment = useStore((state) => state.increment);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={increment}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

jotai:

Simple state management with jotai

import { atom, useAtom } from 'jotai';

// Define an atom
const countAtom = atom(0);

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useAtom(countAtom);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

mobx:

Reactive state management with mobx

import { observable } from 'mobx';
import { observer } from 'mobx-react';

// Define an observable state
const counter = observable({ count: 0 });

const increment = () => {
  counter.count++;
};

const Counter = observer(() => (
  <div>
    <p>Count: {counter.count}</p>
    <button onClick={increment}>Increment</button>
  </div>
));

recoil:

State management with recoil

import { atom, selector, useRecoilState } from 'recoil';

// Define an atom
const countAtom = atom({
  key: 'countAtom', // unique ID (with respect to other atoms)
  default: 0,
});

// Define a selector
const doubleCountSelector = selector({
  key: 'doubleCountSelector',
  get: ({ get }) => {
    const count = get(countAtom);
    return count * 2;
  },
});

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useRecoilState(countAtom);
  const doubleCount = useRecoilValue(doubleCountSelector);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <p>Double Count: {doubleCount}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}