React Color vs react-dates
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 React library of ready-made color picker components modeled on popular design and browser tools.
Open source · MIT
A React datepicker component that supports internationalization and works on mobile.
The short answer
Choose React Color if you need…
- React developers who need a color selection control in a web interface
- Teams wanting a picker that resembles familiar tools like Sketch or Photoshop
- Developers who want to assemble a custom picker from provided building blocks
Choose react-dates if you need…
- React developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app
- Projects that need the picker to work in multiple languages and locales
- Teams that want to style the calendar by overriding CSS classes
- Developers who want to see live examples in the Storybook demo before adopting it
Side-by-side
| React Color | react-dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 12.3k | 12.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 3 years ago | 3 years ago |
What each one is
React Color
React Color is a JavaScript library that provides color picker components for React apps. It includes 13 pickers styled after tools such as Sketch, Photoshop, and Chrome, and you can drop one into a page with a single import. The README also says it offers building-block components for making your own picker.
react-dates
react-dates is a JavaScript library of date-picker components for React web apps. It provides single-date and date-range pickers, plus a calendar controller, that you add to your own interface. The README describes it as internationalizable, accessible, and mobile-friendly.
Best for
React Color
- React developers who need a color selection control in a web interface
- Teams wanting a picker that resembles familiar tools like Sketch or Photoshop
- Developers who want to assemble a custom picker from provided building blocks
react-dates
- React developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app
- Projects that need the picker to work in multiple languages and locales
- Teams that want to style the calendar by overriding CSS classes
- Developers who want to see live examples in the Storybook demo before adopting it
Strengths
React Color
- Offers 13 picker styles out of the box
- Installs through npm with a single import
- Includes building-block components for custom designs
react-dates
- Provides multiple components: DateRangePicker, SingleDatePicker, and DayPickerRangeController
- Includes a live demo and Storybook for seeing props in action
- Uses the MIT license and has a large following (12,163 stars)
Not ideal for
React Color
- People who are not writing React code, since the library is a React component package
- Projects that need a picker outside React, because the README describes only React usage
- Anyone needing a non-inline styling approach, since the README states it uses 100% inline styles
react-dates
- Projects not using React, since the components are built for React
- Teams that need a long-term supported version, because the README does not state a current release and the last push shown is 2024-04-09
- Apps that want a zero-dependency solution, because it requires peer packages such as moment and react
Trade-offs
React Color
- Styling is done with inline styles via ReactCSS, which can be harder to override with a stylesheet
- The README excerpt provides limited detail on configuration options
- Last push date shown is January 2024, so maintenance activity may be limited
react-dates
- The README does not state a current release, and the repository shows no latest release
- Setup requires extra steps, including an initialize import and a CSS import
- Date handling relies on peer dependencies that must match versions
Getting started
React Color
Install the package
npm install react-color --savereact-dates
Install the package
npm install --save react-datesInstall peer dependencies automatically
npx install-peerdeps react-datesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between React Color and react-dates?
React Color: A React library of ready-made color picker components modeled on popular design and browser tools. react-dates: A React datepicker component that supports internationalization and works on mobile. React Color suits react developers who need a color selection control in a web interface, while react-dates suits react developers who need a date or date-range picker in a web app.
Are React Color and react-dates free?
React Color: Free and open source. react-dates: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, React Color or react-dates?
React Color is easier to get started with (rated beginner); react-dates is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is React Color or react-dates more popular?
React Color has more GitHub stars (12.3k) than react-dates (12.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to React Color and react-dates?
Other options people compare them with include react-sketchapp, React-Toastify, flatpickr, Luxon, FullCalendar.
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.