Lexical vs Milkdown
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
An extensible text editor framework for building rich text editors in web apps.
Open source · MIT
A plugin-based markdown editor framework where you type rich text and see formatted output.
The short answer
Choose Lexical if you need…
- Developers adding a rich text editor to a web app
- React teams who want official bindings and a documented quick start
- Projects that need real-time collaboration through Yjs integration
- Teams that want import/export to JSON, Markdown, or HTML
Choose Milkdown if you need…
- Developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app
- Teams that want an editor extended through plugins
- TypeScript developers comfortable with ProseMirror-style editors
Side-by-side
| Lexical | Milkdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 24k | 12k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Advanced |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Lexical
Lexical is a framework from Meta for building text editors inside web applications. It is a toolkit rather than a finished editor, so developers use it to create editing experiences with features like lists, tables, code blocks, and undo/redo. The README says it works with any UI framework and offers official React bindings.
Milkdown
Milkdown is a TypeScript framework for building WYSIWYG markdown editors, meaning the text looks formatted as you write it instead of showing raw markdown symbols. It is built on ProseMirror and remark and is organized around plugins. The README says it is inspired by the Typora editor. It is aimed at developers who want to add a markdown-style editor to their own web application.
Best for
Lexical
- Developers adding a rich text editor to a web app
- React teams who want official bindings and a documented quick start
- Projects that need real-time collaboration through Yjs integration
- Teams that want import/export to JSON, Markdown, or HTML
Milkdown
- Developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app
- Teams that want an editor extended through plugins
- TypeScript developers comfortable with ProseMirror-style editors
Strengths
Lexical
- Built-in accessibility support and WCAG compliance, per the README
- Framework-agnostic core with official React bindings
- Written in TypeScript with type definitions
Milkdown
- Plugin-driven design lets you add or swap features
- Built on established libraries ProseMirror and remark
- MIT licensed with an active repository and about 12,000 stars
Not ideal for
Lexical
- Non-developers looking for a ready-made word processor, since it is a framework with no standalone end-user app described in the README
- Projects that must support very old browsers, since it lists Chrome 86+, Firefox 115+, and Safari 15+
Milkdown
- Non-programmers wanting a ready-made note-taking app, since this is a framework rather than an end-user app
- Projects needing a simple drop-in widget with minimal setup, since the plugin model adds a learning curve
Trade-offs
Lexical
- Requires building your own editor UI from plugins and components, which takes development effort
- Browser support is limited to the listed recent versions
Milkdown
- README is brief on setup details; most guidance is on the external documentation site
- Requires familiarity with TypeScript and editor concepts to use effectively
Getting started
Lexical
Install Lexical with React bindings
npm install lexical @lexical/reactInstall dependencies for development
pnpm installMilkdown
Install core package (from npm package names in README badges)
npm install @milkdown/coreFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Lexical and Milkdown?
Lexical: An extensible text editor framework for building rich text editors in web apps. Milkdown: A plugin-based markdown editor framework where you type rich text and see formatted output. Lexical suits developers adding a rich text editor to a web app, while Milkdown suits developers adding a rich markdown editing box to a web app.
Are Lexical and Milkdown free?
Lexical: Free and open source. Milkdown: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Lexical or Milkdown?
Lexical is easier to get started with (rated intermediate); Milkdown is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Lexical or Milkdown more popular?
Lexical has more GitHub stars (24k) than Milkdown (12k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Lexical and Milkdown?
Other options people compare them with include Slate, Tiptap, Trix, pell, Vditor.
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.