Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Plain.js

fast and lite JS tools, to drop jQuery and its cousins

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Plain.js launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1
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 →
2
hasty.dev▲146
A JS Perfomance Tool
2021 · hasty.dev · its alternatives →
3
Umbrella JS, a 2.5kb jQuery alternative▲132
:umbrella: Lightweight javascript library for DOM manipulation and events
2018 · umbrellajs.com · its alternatives →
4
Faster.js – a micro-optimizing JavaScript compiler▲89
faster.js is a Babel plugin that compiles idiomatic Javascript to faster, micro-optimized Javascript. - vzhou842/faster.js
2018 · github.com · its alternatives →
5
Turntable.js▲134
A responsive JQuery slider
2016 · polarnotion.github.io · its alternatives →
6
Fast DOM manipulation with jQuery-like syntax▲31
fasterDOM.js - faster DOM manipulation. Contribute to bndr/fasterDOM.js development by creating an account on GitHub.
2013 · github.com · its alternatives →
7
Minified.js – a fully-featured, 4K alternative to jQuery and MooTools▲158
2013 · minifiedjs.com · its alternatives →
8
Tiny jQuery alternative with inline Locality of Behavior▲30
🗿 Mini jQuery alternative. Dependency-free animations. Locality of Behavior. Use one element or arrays transparently. Pairs with htmx. Vanilla querySelector() but better! - gnat/surreal
2023 · github.com · its alternatives →
9
Unheap▲128
A nice repository of jQuery plugins
2014 · unheap.com · its alternatives →
10
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 →
11
Next.js▲19
A small framework for server-rendered universal JS webapps
2016 · vercel.com · its alternatives →
12
ramd.js▲2
Minimal standalone JS library for building web applications.
2018 · github.com · its alternatives →
13
DevTools▲18
Collection of free online tools to help in web development
2025 · onlinewebdevtools.com · its alternatives →
14
Polished js▲6
A lightweight toolset for writing styles in JavaScript
2017 · polished.js.org · its alternatives →
15
NoobScroll▲8
A simple scrolling library for jQuery
2017 · noobscroll.js.org · its alternatives →
16SJ
selected.js, a dependency free replacement▲6
The pointless ramblings of Nick Barrett, a (mostly web) hacker.
2015 · pointlessramblings.com · its alternatives →
17
TransformJS▲1
Fast, private and modern developer tools
May 2026 · transformjs.com · its alternatives →
18
SimpleSyntaxJs▲5
A lightweight syntax highlighting JS library for textareas
2024 · github.com · its alternatives →
19
DevTools▲2
Fast, private, and client-side developer tools in one hub
May 2026 · dev-tools-tan.vercel.app · its alternatives →
20
Fuse.js▲10
A lightweight JavaScript fuzzy-search tool
2016 · fusejs.io · its alternatives →
21
textytools.dev▲9
Free browser tools for developers
Nov 2025 · textytools.dev · its alternatives →
22MJ
Medium.js: A tiny JS library for making content-editable beautiful▲16
Medium.js is a tiny JavaScript library for making HTML5
2013 · jakiestfu.github.io · its alternatives →
23
Free Tools for Developers▲12
Essential free tools for developers, all in one place
2024 · its alternatives →
24
Jalendar 2▲6
jquery, plugin
2017 · bqra.github.io · its alternatives →

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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 →