React Localization Libraries Comparison
react-i18next vs react-intl vs react-intl-universal
1 Year
react-i18nextreact-intlreact-intl-universalSimilar Packages:
What's React Localization Libraries?

Localization libraries in React are essential for building applications that cater to a global audience. These libraries provide tools and functionalities to manage translations and adapt the user interface to different languages and cultural norms. They help developers create a seamless user experience by ensuring that text, dates, numbers, and other locale-specific elements are displayed correctly based on the user's language preferences. By leveraging these libraries, developers can enhance accessibility and inclusivity in their applications, making them more appealing to diverse user bases.

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react-i18next4,094,1819,346325 kB242 days agoMIT
react-intl1,667,06114,343233 kB265 days agoBSD-3-Clause
react-intl-universal14,6921,34259.9 kB5612 days agoBSD-3-Clause
Feature Comparison: react-i18next vs react-intl vs react-intl-universal

Translation Management

  • react-i18next:

    react-i18next offers a powerful translation management system that supports features like namespaces and dynamic loading of translation files. It allows developers to organize translations effectively and provides tools for handling pluralization and context-based translations, making it suitable for large applications with extensive localization needs.

  • react-intl:

    react-intl focuses on providing a straightforward API for managing translations, but it does not support advanced features like lazy loading out of the box. It is best suited for applications with a more static set of translations where the emphasis is on formatting rather than dynamic content.

  • react-intl-universal:

    react-intl-universal provides a simple API for managing translations and supports both synchronous and asynchronous loading of translation files. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to integrate, making it suitable for projects that prioritize simplicity in translation management.

Formatting Capabilities

  • react-i18next:

    react-i18next excels in formatting capabilities, allowing developers to format dates, numbers, and currencies according to the user's locale. It integrates well with libraries like moment.js for date handling, providing a comprehensive solution for applications that require detailed formatting.

  • react-intl:

    react-intl is built around the ECMAScript Internationalization API, providing extensive formatting capabilities for dates, numbers, and strings. It ensures that all formatted outputs adhere to the conventions of the specified locale, making it ideal for applications that need precise formatting.

  • react-intl-universal:

    react-intl-universal offers basic formatting capabilities but is not as extensive as react-intl. It provides essential formatting functions, making it suitable for applications that do not require complex formatting but still need to display localized content.

Ease of Use

  • react-i18next:

    react-i18next is known for its flexibility and ease of use, especially for developers familiar with React. Its integration with React's component lifecycle makes it intuitive to implement and manage translations, allowing for quick setup and deployment in projects.

  • react-intl:

    react-intl has a moderate learning curve, as it requires understanding the formatting APIs. However, once developers grasp the concepts, it offers a straightforward approach to localization, making it manageable for most teams.

  • react-intl-universal:

    react-intl-universal is designed for simplicity, making it easy for developers to get started with localization. Its lightweight nature and minimal setup requirements make it an attractive option for projects that need quick localization without extensive configuration.

Community and Ecosystem

  • react-i18next:

    react-i18next has a large and active community, providing a wealth of resources, plugins, and extensions. This strong ecosystem makes it easier for developers to find support and enhance their applications with additional features.

  • react-intl:

    react-intl is part of the FormatJS ecosystem, which is well-established and widely used in the React community. This backing ensures that developers have access to a variety of tools and resources to aid in their localization efforts.

  • react-intl-universal:

    react-intl-universal has a smaller community compared to the other two libraries, which may result in fewer resources and plugins. However, it is still a viable option for projects that prioritize lightweight solutions and straightforward integration.

Performance

  • react-i18next:

    react-i18next is optimized for performance with features like lazy loading of translations, which helps reduce the initial load time of applications. This makes it suitable for large-scale applications that require efficient resource management.

  • react-intl:

    react-intl's performance is generally good, but it may not be as optimized for large applications compared to react-i18next. The reliance on the ECMAScript Internationalization API can introduce some overhead, particularly in applications with extensive localization requirements.

  • react-intl-universal:

    react-intl-universal is lightweight and designed for performance, making it a good choice for applications that need to load quickly. Its simplicity helps maintain a fast user experience, especially in smaller projects.

How to Choose: react-i18next vs react-intl vs react-intl-universal
  • react-i18next:

    Choose react-i18next if you need a robust solution with support for features like lazy loading of translations, interpolation, and pluralization. It is highly customizable and integrates well with React's component lifecycle, making it ideal for complex applications that require dynamic language switching.

  • react-intl:

    Select react-intl if you are looking for a library that adheres closely to the ECMAScript Internationalization API. It provides a rich set of features for formatting dates, numbers, and strings, making it suitable for applications that need comprehensive internationalization support and a focus on formatting rather than just translation.

  • react-intl-universal:

    Opt for react-intl-universal if you want a lightweight solution that supports both server-side and client-side rendering. It is designed for simplicity and ease of use, making it a good choice for projects that require quick integration without the overhead of more complex libraries.

README for react-i18next

react-i18next Tweet

CI Code Climate Coverage Status Quality npm

IMPORTANT:

Master Branch is the newest version using hooks (>= v10).

$ >=v10.0.0
npm i react-i18next

react-native: To use hooks within react-native, you must use react-native v0.59.0 or higher

For the legacy version please use the v9.x.x Branch

$ v9.0.10 (legacy)
npm i react-i18next@legacy

Documentation

The documentation is published on react.i18next.com and PR changes can be supplied here.

The general i18next documentation is published on www.i18next.com and PR changes can be supplied here.

What will my code look like?

Before: Your react code would have looked something like:

...
<div>Just simple content</div>
<div>
  Hello <strong title="this is your name">{name}</strong>, you have {count} unread message(s). <Link to="/msgs">Go to messages</Link>.
</div>
...

After: With the trans component just change it to:

...
<div>{t('simpleContent')}</div>
<Trans i18nKey="userMessagesUnread" count={count}>
  Hello <strong title={t('nameTitle')}>{{name}}</strong>, you have {{count}} unread message. <Link to="/msgs">Go to messages</Link>.
</Trans>
...

📖 What others say

Why i18next?

  • Simplicity: no need to change your webpack configuration or add additional babel transpilers, just use create-react-app and go.
  • Production ready we know there are more needs for production than just doing i18n on the clientside, so we offer wider support on serverside too (nodejs, php, ruby, .net, ...). Learn once - translate everywhere.
  • Beyond i18n comes with locize bridging the gap between development and translations - covering the whole translation process.

ecosystem

Localization workflow

Want to learn more about how seamless your internationalization and translation process can be?

video

watch the video

Installation

Source can be loaded via npm or downloaded from this repo.

# npm package
$ npm install react-i18next
  • If you don't use a module loader it will be added to window.reactI18next

Do you like to read a more complete step by step tutorial?

Here you'll find a simple tutorial on how to best use react-i18next. Some basics of i18next and some cool possibilities on how to optimize your localization workflow.

Examples

v9 samples

Requirements

  • react >= 16.8.0
  • react-dom >= 16.8.0
  • react-native >= 0.59.0
  • i18next >= 10.0.0 (typescript users: >=17.0.9)

v9

Core Contributors

Thanks goes to these wonderful people (emoji key):


Jan Mühlemann

💻 💡 👀 📖 💬

Adriano Raiano

💻 💡 👀 📖 💬

Pedro Durek

💻 💡 👀 💬

Tiger Abrodi

💻 👀

This project follows the all-contributors specification. Contributions of any kind are welcome!


Gold Sponsors


localization as a service - locize.com

Needing a translation management? Want to edit your translations with an InContext Editor? Use the original provided to you by the maintainers of i18next!

locize

By using locize you directly support the future of i18next and react-i18next.