React vs Vue Size Comparison: Which Framework Is Lighter?

When deciding which JavaScript framework to master for your next web project, React and Vue often top the list. Both frameworks are popular, performant, and boast thriving communities. But for many developers—particularly those focusing on web performance and minimal bundle sizes—the weight of the framework plays a pivotal role in the decision-making process. That’s why the debate around React vs Vue size comparison is more significant than ever in 2024.

This detailed guide will unravel how React and Vue stack up in size, why these differences matter, and how real-world factors like ecosystem and tooling weigh in. By the end, you’ll have a clear perspective on which framework is lighter and better suited to your specific project.

Why Framework Size Matters More Than Ever

Modern users expect lightning-fast load times and seamless interactions. Google’s Core Web Vitals have raised the stakes, making performance and load speed key ranking signals. In this context, the framework’s footprint can critically affect:

Initial page load speed
Time-to-interactive (TTI)
Mobile user experience
Bandwidth usage on limited connections

While the React vs Vue size comparison may seem like splitting hairs, those kilobytes quickly add up. In Single Page Applications (SPAs) or content-heavy sites, even small reductions in bundle size can translate into measurable improvements for both users and SEO.

Core Library Size: React vs Vue Size Comparison

Let’s start with the published sizes of the core libraries, as these form the foundation of every app.

React’s Core Library

As of version 18.x, the minified and gzipped size of React itself (the react and react-dom packages) is approximately 42 KB. React is intentionally split into:

react (core library): handles component rendering
react-dom: manages interactions with the DOM

Most React projects require both, resulting in a combined baseline.

Vue’s Core Library

Vue 3’s core library, when minified and gzipped, weighs in around 33 KB. This package includes both the reactivity system and the rendering engine with built-in support for most app needs.

Breakdown Table: React vs Vue Bundle Size

Framework	Min+Gzipped Size	Notes
React	~42 KB	Includes react + react-dom
Vue 3	~33 KB	Single core library

Naturally, these figures can fluctuate based on the exact versions and build tool optimizations. Still, the trend is clear: Vue offers a lighter baseline compared to React.

The Bigger Picture: Framework Ecosystem Overhead

While the React vs Vue size comparison in core libraries gives a starting point, real-world projects rely on more than just the core. Let’s consider ecosystem dependencies and commonly integrated packages.

Routing

Both frameworks maintain official router solutions:

React: React Router (~7.6 KB gzipped for v6)
Vue: Vue Router (~7 KB gzipped for v4)

No game-changer here, but worth factoring into aggregate bundle sizes.

State Management

React: Many reach for Redux, Zustand, or Context API. Redux adds ~6.6 KB gzipped, but Context API’s cost is negligible.
Vue: Vuex (~6.2 KB) is the traditional go-to (with Pinia as a modern alternative at ~2 KB).

Either way, state management does not create a major delta in the React vs Vue size comparison, but Vue’s Pinia is impressively lean for modern projects.

Additional Utilities

Let’s not forget form handling, HTTP clients, and UI libraries. Patterns vary, but Vue’s integrated approach (with native support for transitions and forms) can further minimize the need for extra packages.

Tree-Shaking Efficiency and Dead Code Elimination

Tree-shaking is the process by which unused code is stripped out of final builds. Both React and Vue support tree-shaking, but their architectures lead to different real-world impacts.

React: Most commonly used via Create React App, Vite, or Next.js—all enabling effective dead code elimination. Yet, dependencies like react-dom must always be present.
Vue: Designed with tree-shaking in mind from the outset, especially in Vue 3 with its Composition API. Features unused in your app are less likely to remain in your final bundle.

From a React vs Vue size comparison standpoint, Vue often has a slight edge, especially for projects where only a slice of framework features is used.

Impact of Build Tools and Configurations

Framework size is not the whole story—how you build your app determines the actual footprint delivered to users.

Webpack/Babel: Both frameworks benefit from minification and modern code splitting.
Vite: Now popular in both ecosystems, Vite outputs highly efficient ES modules and is optimized for tree-shaking.
Next.js/Nuxt.js: For server-side rendering and static site generation, both tools offer their own optimizations but may add some baseline weight for routing and hydration.

So, while the React vs Vue size comparison generally tilts in Vue's favor, real-world outcomes depend on the thoroughness of your build setup.

Real-World Example: Hello World Applications

Theory is great, but how do these frameworks stack up in the simplest possible application?

React Hello World: Using Create React App or Vite, the initial bundle (beyond minimal config) usually sits around 50 KB gzipped.
Vue Hello World: With Vite, a basic app comes in just about 40 KB gzipped.

While only a few kilobytes apart, the smaller size of Vue is consistent in minimal setups.

Component Libraries and Add-ons

Many projects don’t stop with basics—they include UI kits and utility libraries. The React ecosystem boasts Material-UI, Ant Design, and Chakra UI, while Vue features Vuetify, Quasar, and Element Plus.

React UI Libraries: These are robust but sometimes heavy, often >100 KB gzipped for a full set.
Vue UI Libraries: Generally lighter, with Quasar and Element Plus offering modular imports and better tree-shaking.

When third-party libraries are involved, Vue’s superior tree-shaking and modularity frequently result in lower total bundle sizes.

CDN Sizes for Quick Reference

For landing pages and widgets loaded via CDN, size is even more critical.

React (unpkg): ~9.7 KB minified (react) + ~34.2 KB minified (react-dom)
Vue 3 (unpkg): ~33 KB total minified

Again, the React vs Vue size comparison reveals Vue as the slightly leaner candidate for CDN-based injections.

Performance Beyond Just Size

Focusing solely on byte count risks missing the forest for the trees. Framework size impacts performance, but so do:

Virtual DOM efficiency: Both React and Vue employ a virtual DOM, but Vue’s optimized patching can make some workloads faster.
Initial vs. runtime performance: Some larger frameworks may parse and execute JavaScript more efficiently thanks to optimizations.
Resource loading strategy: Lazy loading, code splitting, and SSR (Server Side Rendering) can mitigate large initial JS payloads.

However, the consistent marginal size advantage in the React vs Vue size comparison means Vue gives you a bit more breathing room for your own code and assets.

Advanced Techniques for Size Reduction

Regardless of your chosen framework, there are several steps you can take to minimize the final bundle:

Use dynamic imports: Lazy-load components and routes.
Analyze bundles: Tools like Webpack Bundle Analyzer highlight what’s taking up space.
Purge unused dependencies: Audit with npm ls or similar tools.
Prefer composition over heavy libraries: Write custom hooks/composables rather than installing large packages.
Leverage CDN and long-term caching: Only update users with necessary changes.

Vue offers a slight edge here, as its modular architecture makes it simple to import only the features you need.

Is Lighter Always Better? A Nuanced Perspective

The React vs Vue size comparison generally sees Vue winning by a slim margin. But does lighter always equal better? Not necessarily.

React benefits from an enormous ecosystem, battle-tested patterns (especially in enterprise), and unmatched flexibility.
Vue shines with simplicity, a gentle learning curve, and a first-party curated feature set that keeps dependencies minimal.

If your absolute priority is minimal JavaScript footprint—say, in a performance-critical micro-app or widget—Vue probably fits best. Otherwise, the differences are small enough that developer experience and team expertise could matter more.

How Vue Achieves Its Lightweight Status

The reason Vue often comes out ahead in the React vs Vue size comparison stems from its design choices:

Single, consolidated core: All essentials are included, no need for additional libraries to handle basics.
Optional features: Vue supports multiple build targets (runtime-only or full), letting you ship only what’s necessary.
Out-of-the-box optimizations: Features like template compilation at build time mean less overhead during runtime.

React’s modular philosophy, while powerful, inevitably means projects adopt larger numbers of supporting packages, subtly increasing bundle size.

Summing Up: Which Framework Is Lighter?

If the crux of your decision rests on which framework is lighter, the React vs Vue size comparison tips the scales in Vue’s favor across nearly every metric:

Core library size: Vue 3 is lighter than React + ReactDOM.
Ecosystem add-ons: Vue’s native tools (like Pinia, Router) tend to be as light or lighter.
Tree-shaking efficacy: Vue is architected with minimal builds in mind.
Initial app bundle: “Hello World” apps confirm Vue’s consistent size advantage.

Still, the margin isn’t massive—so if your team excels in React and your performance goals are reasonable, either can deliver fast, modern experiences.

Making Your Choice

Before you commit, ask yourself:

Will your app be split across many small micro-frontends, or is it a large, complex SPA?
Does your performance budget demand every last saved kilobyte?
Does your team’s familiarity or existing codebase favor one framework?
Will you use a static site generator or SSR platform that might add its own weight?

For most projects, the size difference in the React vs Vue size comparison is only one of several deciding factors. Vue certainly wins the “lighter framework” battle, but in practice, both competitors have reached a point where performance depends more on your architecture and discipline than the framework alone.

Final Thoughts

In today’s web ecosystem, every kilobyte counts—and the lighter your framework, the more resources remain for your own code and features. The React vs Vue size comparison consistently puts Vue ahead in terms of library weight, ecosystem overhead, and tree-shaking friendliness. However, this head start doesn’t eclipse React’s unmatched popularity, vast community support, and flexible design.

If your project hinges on minimal JavaScript and optimal first-load performance, Vue is the clear lightweight champion. But for many teams, the nuanced trade-offs—ranging from maturity to tooling—should guide your decision.

Whichever you pick, keep optimizing. Bundle analysis, code splitting, and judicious dependency management will yield greater speed gains than framework choice alone. Stay attentive to your build’s real-world impact, and your users (and Google) will thank you.