Jotai vs React Redux
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 small React state library where you manage state as independent 'atoms'.
Open source · MIT
Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components.
The short answer
Choose Jotai if you need…
- React developers who want simple shared state without heavy setup
- Teams that find a single large store too rigid and want state split into small pieces
- TypeScript projects that want typed state
- Apps that need derived values or async data fetched from state
Choose React Redux if you need…
- React developers whose apps need shared state across many components
- Teams already using Redux who want the officially supported React connection
- Developers starting a new Vite or Next.js app who want Redux configured from the start
Side-by-side
| Jotai | React Redux | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 21.3k | 23.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 14 days ago | 9 days ago |
What each one is
Jotai
Jotai is a state management library for React apps. You store pieces of state as small units called atoms, and components read and update them much like React's useState. Atoms can also be derived from other atoms, so values stay in sync automatically. The README says the core API is about 2kb and that it scales from simple use to larger TypeScript applications.
React Redux
React Redux is the official library that connects the Redux state store to React user interfaces. It lets React components read data from a central store and dispatch changes to it. The README describes it as performant and flexible, and links to docs and background articles on how it works.
Best for
Jotai
- React developers who want simple shared state without heavy setup
- Teams that find a single large store too rigid and want state split into small pieces
- TypeScript projects that want typed state
- Apps that need derived values or async data fetched from state
React Redux
- React developers whose apps need shared state across many components
- Teams already using Redux who want the officially supported React connection
- Developers starting a new Vite or Next.js app who want Redux configured from the start
Strengths
Jotai
- Minimal core API, which the README describes as about 2kb
- Works like React's useState, so the learning curve is small for basic use
- Derived and async atoms let state logic live alongside the data
React Redux
- Official project maintained alongside Redux itself
- MIT licensed and available on npm
- README points to templates and documentation for quick setup
Not ideal for
Jotai
- Non-React projects, since the README only shows React usage
- People who are new to programming, since concepts like derived and async atoms take some learning
- Teams that prefer a single central store with strict conventions, since Jotai favors small independent atoms
React Redux
- Small React apps with little shared state, where Redux adds more setup than it saves
- Projects not using React (the README covers React bindings only)
- Developers who need a browser-only drop-in with no npm or bundler, since the README says the UMD build is not recommended for serious applications
Trade-offs
Jotai
- The README's async examples note that they need React Suspense, which adds setup considerations
- Atom-based design differs from single-store libraries, so existing patterns may need rethinking
- The README is truncated here, so advanced features and their limits are not covered in this entry
React Redux
- Requires React 18 or later for version 9.x, per the README
- Requires separately installing Redux and setting up a store
- The README is truncated, so details of the API are only available on the external docs site
Getting started
React Redux
Install with npm
npm install react-reduxInstall with Yarn
yarn add react-reduxFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Jotai and React Redux?
Jotai: A small React state library where you manage state as independent 'atoms'. React Redux: Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components. Jotai suits react developers who want simple shared state without heavy setup, while React Redux suits react developers whose apps need shared state across many components.
Are Jotai and React Redux free?
Jotai: Free and open source. React Redux: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Jotai or React Redux?
Jotai is easier to get started with (rated beginner); React Redux is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Jotai or React Redux more popular?
React Redux has more GitHub stars (23.4k) than Jotai (21.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Jotai and React Redux?
Other options people compare them with include Zustand, Redux Toolkit, Valtio, XState, MobX.
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.