Lexical vs Tiptap
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 headless rich text editor framework for JavaScript apps, with no built-in look.
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 Tiptap if you need…
- Developers building a custom text editor into a web product
- Teams using Vue, React, or plain JavaScript who want one editor across frameworks
- Projects that need full control over the editor's design
- Developers who want to add their own custom blocks or nodes
Side-by-side
| Lexical | Tiptap | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 24k | 38.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| 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.
Tiptap
Tiptap is an editor component you add to a web app so users can write formatted text, such as bold, lists, and headings. It is headless, meaning it ships without a ready-made user interface, so you design the look yourself. It is built on the ProseMirror library and extended through add-ons called extensions.
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
Tiptap
- Developers building a custom text editor into a web product
- Teams using Vue, React, or plain JavaScript who want one editor across frameworks
- Projects that need full control over the editor's design
- Developers who want to add their own custom blocks or nodes
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
Tiptap
- Headless design gives full control over appearance and behavior
- Built on the established ProseMirror library and works across frameworks
- Large extension ecosystem with over 100 extensions listed in the docs
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+
Tiptap
- Non-developers who want a ready-made editor with no coding, because it requires building the interface yourself
- Projects that need the advanced paid features, since Pro Extensions require a valid subscription
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
Tiptap
- Advanced features such as collaboration, commenting, and AI are in paid Pro Extensions that need a subscription
- Without a UI, you must write more code to get a finished editor
- Setup details beyond the README are only in the external documentation
Getting started
Lexical
Install Lexical with React bindings
npm install lexical @lexical/reactInstall dependencies for development
pnpm installTiptap
Install the agent skill (optional, from README)
npx skills add ueberdosis/tiptap --skill tiptapFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Lexical and Tiptap?
Lexical: An extensible text editor framework for building rich text editors in web apps. Tiptap: A headless rich text editor framework for JavaScript apps, with no built-in look. Lexical suits developers adding a rich text editor to a web app, while Tiptap suits developers building a custom text editor into a web product.
Are Lexical and Tiptap free?
Lexical: Free and open source. Tiptap: Free and open source.
Is Lexical or Tiptap more popular?
Tiptap has more GitHub stars (38.9k) than Lexical (24k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Lexical and Tiptap?
Other options people compare them with include Slate, Milkdown, Vditor, Trix, pell.
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.