MobX 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 JavaScript library that tracks state changes automatically and updates the parts of your UI that depend on t
Open source · MIT
Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components.
The short answer
Choose MobX if you need…
- Frontend developers building React apps with complex or frequently changing state
- Teams who want state logic kept outside UI components so it is easier to test
- Developers who prefer plain JavaScript assignment over action-dispatch boilerplate
- TypeScript projects that want typed reactive 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
| MobX | React Redux | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 28.2k | 23.4k |
| 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 | 5 days ago | 9 days ago |
What each one is
MobX
MobX is a JavaScript and TypeScript library for managing application state. You mark data as observable, and it automatically records which parts of your code read that data, so only the dependent computations or UI components re-run when a value changes. The README says it is used with React through the mobx-react-lite package and that it is not tied to any UI framework.
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
MobX
- Frontend developers building React apps with complex or frequently changing state
- Teams who want state logic kept outside UI components so it is easier to test
- Developers who prefer plain JavaScript assignment over action-dispatch boilerplate
- TypeScript projects that want typed reactive 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
MobX
- Updates are tracked automatically at runtime, so developers do not write manual memoization or selectors according to the README
- State can be changed with normal JavaScript assignment
- Independent of any UI framework, which makes state code portable and testable
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
MobX
- Beginners who want a minimal first project, since the reactivity model takes time to learn
- Projects with very simple state that a plain useState hook or a few variables already handle
- Teams that want a framework-specific, opinionated structure, because the README describes MobX as unopinionated
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
MobX
- The automatic tracking model is a concept new users must learn before it feels natural
- The README excerpt is truncated, so details on advanced APIs and edge cases are not verified here
- Its value depends on how much state complexity the project has; simple apps may not need it
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 MobX and React Redux?
MobX: A JavaScript library that tracks state changes automatically and updates the parts of your UI that depend on t. React Redux: Official React bindings that connect Redux state management to React components. MobX suits frontend developers building react apps with complex or frequently changing state, while React Redux suits react developers whose apps need shared state across many components.
Are MobX and React Redux free?
MobX: Free and open source. React Redux: Free and open source.
Is MobX or React Redux more popular?
MobX has more GitHub stars (28.2k) than React Redux (23.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to MobX and React Redux?
Other options people compare them with include Redux, Zustand, Jotai, redux-form.
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.