dva vs Redux Toolkit
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A lightweight React and Redux framework that organizes app state in an Elm-like style.
Open source · MIT
Official toolset that makes writing Redux state logic simpler and less error-prone.
The short answer
Choose dva if you need…
- React developers already familiar with Redux who want less boilerplate
- Teams maintaining admin dashboards or enterprise-style web apps
- Developers who want built-in hot module replacement for components, routes, and models
- Projects that want a plugin system, such as the dva-loading plugin for loading states
Choose Redux Toolkit if you need…
- Developers already using or learning Redux for app state
- Teams that want the officially recommended Redux setup
- TypeScript projects that need typed state logic
Side-by-side
| dva | Redux Toolkit | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 16.1k | 11.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 15 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
dva
dva is a front-end framework built on top of redux, redux-saga, and react-router. It groups app logic into models that contain reducers, effects, and subscriptions, which is meant to make state handling in React apps simpler. The README says it is inspired by Elm and choo.
Redux Toolkit
Redux Toolkit is the official, opinionated set of tools for building Redux state management in JavaScript and TypeScript apps. Its description calls it batteries-included, meaning it bundles common Redux needs into one package. Developers use it to write less boilerplate code when managing shared application state.
Best for
dva
- React developers already familiar with Redux who want less boilerplate
- Teams maintaining admin dashboards or enterprise-style web apps
- Developers who want built-in hot module replacement for components, routes, and models
- Projects that want a plugin system, such as the dva-loading plugin for loading states
Redux Toolkit
- Developers already using or learning Redux for app state
- Teams that want the officially recommended Redux setup
- TypeScript projects that need typed state logic
Strengths
dva
- The README describes only six APIs, which keeps the surface area small for Redux users
- Models separate reducers, effects, and subscriptions in a clear, Elm-inspired way
- Includes HMR support for components, routes, and models, and a plugin system
Redux Toolkit
- Official project maintained alongside Redux itself
- Reduces repetitive Redux boilerplate
- Open-source under the MIT license with 11,235 stars and recent activity
Not ideal for
dva
- Beginners who are new to React and Redux, since the concepts stack up quickly
- Projects that need to support IE8, which the README explicitly says is not supported
- Developers starting a new project who want a framework with current, active documentation, since the README points to a docs directory and older blog posts rather than a detailed guide
Redux Toolkit
- Projects with very simple state needs, where Redux itself may be more machinery than required
- Non-developers, since it is a code library rather than an end-user tool
- Anyone needing details the README does not cover, since the provided README text was truncated and empty
Trade-offs
dva
- The README's Quick Start only links to a docs directory, so setup detail is limited in the README itself
- The README notes the project was built around Alibaba's internal use, and the Redux/saga stack adds concepts to learn
- Last push date is 2025-08-06, but the README does not state the current maintenance status or supported React versions
Redux Toolkit
- The README text provided was truncated, so detailed features could not be verified here
- Adds a dependency on Redux concepts that new developers must learn first
- Best value depends on whether an app actually needs global state management
Getting started
Redux Toolkit
Install with npm
npm install @reduxjs/toolkitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between dva and Redux Toolkit?
dva: A lightweight React and Redux framework that organizes app state in an Elm-like style. Redux Toolkit: Official toolset that makes writing Redux state logic simpler and less error-prone. dva suits react developers already familiar with redux who want less boilerplate, while Redux Toolkit suits developers already using or learning redux for app state.
Are dva and Redux Toolkit free?
dva: Free and open source. Redux Toolkit: Free and open source.
Is dva or Redux Toolkit more popular?
dva has more GitHub stars (16.1k) than Redux Toolkit (11.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to dva and Redux Toolkit?
Other options people compare them with include Zustand, MobX, redux-saga, Iced, Jotai.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.