Jotai vs 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
A JavaScript library for keeping an app's shared state predictable and easy to test.
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 Redux if you need…
- Developers building larger front-end apps where many components share the same data
- Teams that want state changes to follow a consistent, testable pattern
- Projects that already use React and want the official React-Redux integration
- People who want a time-travel debugger via Redux DevTools
Side-by-side
| Jotai | Redux | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 21.3k | 61.4k |
| 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 | 16 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.
Redux
Redux is a JavaScript library for managing global state, the data many parts of an app need to share. You store that state in one place and change it by dispatching plain action objects that describe what happened, handled by pure reducer functions. The README says the core is small (about 2kB) and works with React or other view libraries, and that Redux Toolkit is the official recommended way to write Redux code.
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
Redux
- Developers building larger front-end apps where many components share the same data
- Teams that want state changes to follow a consistent, testable pattern
- Projects that already use React and want the official React-Redux integration
- People who want a time-travel debugger via Redux DevTools
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
Redux
- The README describes a predictable, single-store data flow that is easy to reason about
- The core is small and the ecosystem of addons is large, according to the README
- Official docs, tutorials, and a Discord community are linked from the README
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
Redux
- Small apps with little shared state, since the README itself suggests Redux may be unnecessary there
- Beginners who only need local component state, which the README suggests keeping simple
- Anyone wanting a zero-boilerplate setup without Redux Toolkit, since the README recommends Toolkit for most tasks
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
Redux
- The README stresses that Redux adds structure and may not be needed for every app
- Most modern usage goes through Redux Toolkit, so you need to learn both layers
- The README excerpt is truncated, so detailed API and version compatibility are not covered here
Getting started
Redux
Install Redux core
npm install reduxInstall Redux Toolkit and React-Redux
npm install @reduxjs/toolkit react-reduxFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Jotai and Redux?
Jotai: A small React state library where you manage state as independent 'atoms'. Redux: A JavaScript library for keeping an app's shared state predictable and easy to test. Jotai suits react developers who want simple shared state without heavy setup, while Redux suits developers building larger front-end apps where many components share the same data.
Are Jotai and Redux free?
Jotai: Free and open source. Redux: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Jotai or Redux?
Jotai is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Redux is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Jotai or Redux more popular?
Redux has more GitHub stars (61.4k) 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 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.