Reactotron vs Redux DevTools
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 desktop debugger for inspecting React and React Native apps: state, network requests, and logs.
Open source · MIT
Browser and standalone debugging tools for watching Redux state changes over time.
The short answer
Choose Reactotron if you need…
- React Native developers who want to see app state and network calls while debugging
- Teams working on Redux-based apps who want to inspect and dispatch actions
- Developers who want console-style messages and global error traces in a separate window
- Developers working on small personal projects or large apps alike, per the README
Choose Redux DevTools if you need…
- Developers building React or other apps that use Redux
- Teams who want to inspect state changes while debugging
- Developers who want to embed a state inspector inside their own app
- People working with apps that use other state-change architectures that the README says are supported via integrations
Side-by-side
| Reactotron | Redux DevTools | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dev tool | Dev tool |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 15.6k | 14.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 3 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Reactotron
Reactotron is a debugging app for React and React Native projects. You add a small client library to your app as a dev dependency, and the app shows what is happening inside it, such as application state, network requests, performance benchmarks, and console-style messages. The README says it is used at Infinite Red to build client apps and that it is free and open source under the MIT license.
Redux DevTools
Redux DevTools is a set of debugging tools for apps that manage state with Redux or similar architectures. It is available as a browser extension for Chrome, Edge and Firefox, as a standalone app, and as a React component you can embed in your own app. The README describes features such as hot reloading, action replay and a customizable UI.
Best for
Reactotron
- React Native developers who want to see app state and network calls while debugging
- Teams working on Redux-based apps who want to inspect and dispatch actions
- Developers who want console-style messages and global error traces in a separate window
- Developers working on small personal projects or large apps alike, per the README
Redux DevTools
- Developers building React or other apps that use Redux
- Teams who want to inspect state changes while debugging
- Developers who want to embed a state inspector inside their own app
- People working with apps that use other state-change architectures that the README says are supported via integrations
Strengths
Reactotron
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Covers state, network, benchmarks, errors, and logs in one tool
- Desktop builds are listed for macOS, Linux, and Windows
Redux DevTools
- Available in several forms: browser extension, standalone app and React component
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Actively maintained, with a recent push and a large community of stars
Not ideal for
Reactotron
- People who only need a plain browser devtools workflow, since Reactotron requires adding a client library to the app
- Teams who cannot add a dev dependency to their project
- Anyone looking for a production monitoring tool; the README describes it as a development dependency that adds nothing to production builds
Redux DevTools
- People who do not write code or use Redux, since the tools target developers
- Projects that do not manage application state with Redux or a compatible architecture
- Users who need a production monitoring product, as the README frames this as a development workflow aid
Trade-offs
Reactotron
- You must install and configure a client library in your app before it shows anything
- The README does not spell out a full setup procedure; it links to external docs for that
- Release page lists app builds for each platform, but the latest npm release notes only reference the client package, so check the Releases page for the desktop app version
Redux DevTools
- The README is truncated and gives few concrete setup details, so setup depends on linked docs
- It is a monorepo that requires pnpm and a build step for contributors, which adds complexity
- Some features are described only at a high level in the excerpt provided
Getting started
Reactotron
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/infinitered/reactotronRedux DevTools
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/reduxjs/redux-devtoolsInstall dependencies (monorepo, per README)
pnpm installFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Reactotron and Redux DevTools?
Reactotron: A desktop debugger for inspecting React and React Native apps: state, network requests, and logs. Redux DevTools: Browser and standalone debugging tools for watching Redux state changes over time. Reactotron suits react native developers who want to see app state and network calls while debugging, while Redux DevTools suits developers building react or other apps that use redux.
Are Reactotron and Redux DevTools free?
Reactotron: Free and open source. Redux DevTools: Free and open source.
Is Reactotron or Redux DevTools more popular?
Reactotron has more GitHub stars (15.6k) than Redux DevTools (14.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
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.