Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

Forgo.js is a lightweight JavaScript framework that provides an alternative to React with just 4 kilobytes of code. It builds on plain JavaScript and browser DOM APIs rather than introducing a custom abstraction layer.… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Forgo.js – a 4kb React alternative based on plain JS and DOM APIs launched in 2021; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Blitz.js▲270

   Rails-like framework for React apps, built on Next.js

   2020 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   htmgo - build simple and scalable systems with golang + htmx▲166

   Hey all, I just wanted to share a project I've been working on for the past month. After years of heavy frameworks, I really like the idea of using htmx, but it’s a little too low level for me and needs a thin layer above it to facilitate things like components, better syntax with complex JS inside of an attribute, etc To try and solve this problem with a very minimal stack (golang + htmx) that I've been really enjoying, I'm building this project to cater to my needs and was thinking it would be useful for other developers.

   2024 · htmgo.dev · its alternatives →

3. 3
   1 KB JavaScript framework for building front-end applications▲216

   1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Swap.js – a JavaScript micro-framework (HTML fragments over the wire)▲127

   Hi HN! I created this lib in the need of a simple and tiny framework to easily do AJAX-style navigation / replacement of fragments in the page, in a web application. For people who don't want to use client-side-rendering and complex frameworks à la React, there are nowadays a few "HTML-over-the-wire" libraries, like HTMX, Unpoly or this super-tiny one Swap.js :) One other key thing is that no external tool is needed: no bundler, no webpack, no TypeScript compiler, no minification needed. Just write HTML, JS (+ your preferred server-side language: PHP, Python, etc.) and it works. The…

   2023 · github.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   1 KB JavaScript library for building front end apps▲242

   1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   DisplayJS▲210

   A simple JavaScript framework for building ambitious UIs 😊

   2017 · display.js.org · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Fast.js – faster reimplementations of native JavaScript functions▲323

   Faster user-land reimplementations for several common builtin native JavaScript functions. - codemix/fast.js

   2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

8. 8AI
   An Isomorphic JavaScript Framework Faster Than React▲337

   2015 · jsblocks.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Mizu.js – Lightweight HTML templating library for any-side rendering▲225

   Hey HN, I'd like to share a fun project I've been working on: mizu.js. It's a js library that add functional attributes support into your html, designed to be a simple and flexible alternative to fully-fledged web frameworks (such as Vue, React, and Angular), while offering more capabilities than other lightweight options (like Alpine.js and htmx). As it's written using modern ES features and due to its isomorphic nature, it can be run in both browsers and runtimes (Node, Deno, Bun) without any changes. This makes it ideal for client-side and server-side rendering, as well as static site…

   2024 · mizu.sh · its alternatives →

10. 10
    HyperApp – 1k JavaScript framework for building web applications▲303

    1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    1kb JavaScript library for building front end applications▲187

    1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Million.js v2.0.0▲98

    An extremely fast virtual DOM - React up to 70% faster

    2023 · millionjs.org · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Nextless.js: Full-Stack React SaaS Boilerplate with Auth and Payment▲80

    Serverless SaaS Boilerplate for building faster with Next.js and Node.js on AWS. React SaaS Starter kit with Express.js including authentication, payment and teams.

    2021 · nextlessjs.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Nerv – A fast React alternative, compatible with IE8 and React 16▲133

    A blazing fast React alternative, compatible with IE8 and React 16. - NervJS/nerv

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    1 KB JavaScript library for building applications▲116

    1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    FastDom – Lightweight replacement of React and MobX▲41

    Full reactivity JS/TS framework. Lightweight replacement of React + MobX + React Router. Very small and fast !! - PxyUp/Revact

    2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Fast 2kB date library alternative to Moment.js with the same API▲122

    ⏰ Day.js 2kB immutable date-time library alternative to Moment.js with the same modern API - iamkun/dayjs

    2018 · github.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    CalDOM: An agnostic, reactive and minimalist JavaScript UI library▲107

    An agnostic, reactive & minimalist (3kb) JavaScript UI library with direct access to native DOM.

    2021 · caldom.org · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Minified.js – a fully-featured, 4K alternative to jQuery and MooTools▲158

    2013 · minifiedjs.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Million.js▲153

    A fast, <1kb virtual DOM

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

21. 21UG
    Use Go's HTML/template to write React-like code▲106

    Hi all, I'm currently working on my hobby project, and one of the fun constraints I put in was to build using as less dependencies as possible. I chose Go as it has a really good standard library, and all went well for building backend. But for frontend, I was wondering whether I should break the constraint and go for React. I tried options like Web Components, but I really didn't like the ergonomics and I didn't want to use jQuery either. Out of curiosity, I was exploring Go's html&#x2F;template package to see if I can write UIs in a React-like manner. I found most of the online docs using…

    2024 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Astrum▲172

    A lightweight pattern library for any web project

    2016 · astrum.nodividestudio.com · its alternatives →

23. 23IM
    I made React with a faster Virtual DOM▲109

    Hi! I made a React compatibility library for a Virtual DOM library (https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;aidenybai&#x2F;million). The idea is to have much faster rendering (a compiler optimizes virtual DOM beforehand) while ensuring the same developer experience React provides. This is very, VERY early stage, so be prepared for weird bugs &#x2F; plugin incompatibility &#x2F; etc. If you have any suggestions, I'd be more than happy if you replied in a comment with it! You can spin up the demo here >> https:&#x2F;&#x2F;stackblitz.com&#x2F;github&#x2F;aidenybai&#x2F;million-react-compat

    2022 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Store.js v2.0 – Cross-browser storage for all use cases▲162

    Cross-browser storage for all use cases, used across the web. - marcuswestin/store.js

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →