Preact — Fast 3kB React Alternative with Same Modern API

What it is

Preact is a fast 3kB alternative to React that provides the same modern API: Virtual DOM, functional components, hooks, and context. It achieves this by focusing on the core rendering engine and dropping rarely-used features. For full React compatibility, preact/compat provides a drop-in layer that works with most React libraries.

Preact targets developers building performance-critical web applications where bundle size matters. It is ideal for widgets, embedded UIs, progressive web apps, and any project where loading speed is a priority.

How it saves time or tokens

Preact's 3kB gzip size means faster page loads, especially on mobile networks and low-powered devices. The React-compatible API means you do not need to learn a new framework; existing React knowledge transfers directly. preact/compat lets you use React ecosystem libraries (React Router, React Query, etc.) without modifications. Migration from React to Preact is often a matter of aliasing imports.

How to use

1. Create a new Preact project:

npm init preact

1. Or add Preact to an existing project:

npm install preact

1. Write components using familiar React patterns:

import { render } from 'preact';
import { useState } from 'preact/hooks';

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </button>
  );
}

render(<Counter />, document.getElementById('app'));

Example

// Using preact/compat for React library compatibility
// vite.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vite';

export default defineConfig({
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      'react': 'preact/compat',
      'react-dom': 'preact/compat',
      'react/jsx-runtime': 'preact/jsx-runtime'
    }
  }
});

// Now React libraries work with Preact
import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
import { BrowserRouter, Route } from 'react-router-dom';

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This tool integrates with standard development workflows and requires minimal configuration to get started. It is available as open-source software with documentation and community support through the official repository. The project follows semantic versioning for stable releases.

For teams evaluating this tool, the key advantage is reducing manual work in repetitive tasks. The automation provided by the built-in features means less custom code to maintain and fewer integration points to manage. This translates directly to lower maintenance costs and faster iteration cycles.

Common pitfalls

• Not all React libraries work with preact/compat; libraries that rely on React internals or concurrent mode features may break. Test compatibility before committing to a migration.
• Preact's event system has minor differences from React (e.g., synthetic events); most code works unchanged, but edge cases in event handling may surface.
• The 3kB size applies to Preact core; adding preact/compat increases the bundle, though it remains smaller than React.