Comparing Svelte and Vue: Making the Right Choice for Your Upcoming Business Project

Top front-end frameworks comparison article, guide comparing Svelte vs Vue for making the the right choice for your upcoming business project

By Claudio Pires
Updated on October 2, 2023
Comparing Svelte and Vue: Making the Right Choice for Your Upcoming Business Project

Vue and Svelte emerged among the Top 5 most sought-after choices. In a previous comparison, we explored React vs. Svelte. Today, we delve into Svelte.js vs. Vue.js, aiming to guide your decision when developing a digital product for your business project next year. In this top front-end frameworks comparison article, we’ll guide you on the decision comparing Svelte vs Vue .js for making the the right choice for your upcoming business project

No Clear-Cut Answer Comparing Svelte vs Vue

Let’s be upfront: the Svelte vs. Vue debate isn’t black and white, with one definitive answer. The choice between these frameworks depends on your specific goals and requirements. In this article, we compile relevant information to help you make an informed decision.

Introducing Vue.js

Vue.js is a robust JavaScript framework tailored for building user interfaces (UI) and single-page applications (SPA). It stands as one of the most popular options, boasting substantial support from major companies. Vue was created by Evan You in February 2014, leveraging his experience with Angular at Google. With a large developer community, Vue is suitable for SPAs, MVPs, progressive web apps, and dynamic landing pages.

Pros:

  • Highly flexible with universal applicability
  • Accessible library and abundant community resources
  • Coherent documentation
  • Promotes reusable code
  • Cross-platform compatibility, facilitating mobile development
  • Backed by a sizable developer community

Cons:

  • Excessive code flexibility may become more confusing than helpful
  • Two-way binding can be challenging (further details ahead)
  • Mobile support can pose challenges
  • Scalability limitations
  • Difficulty in finding experienced developers

Exploring Svelte

In contrast, Svelte distinguishes itself as a compiler among frontend frameworks. Born in November 2016, it has experienced substantial growth and garnered an active community.

Svelte shines in the development of MVPs, fast statistical web apps, reactive web apps with minimal code, separate components, and customized code for web applications. Its lightweight nature makes handling large-scale projects more manageable using the top front-end frameworks comparison.

Pros:

  • Remarkable speed, often considered the fastest framework available
  • Minuscule bundle size
  • Eliminates the overhead associated with a virtual DOM
  • Promotes reusable components
  • Facilitates straightforward implementation of two-way data binding
  • Operates as a compiler, translating code into vanilla JavaScript
  • Features an intuitive syntax, fostering the creation of concise, clean, and easily manageable code

Cons:

  • Fewer pre-made libraries available due to a smaller community
  • Lack of cross-platform compatibility
  • A relatively newer software
  • Limited backing from major companies
  • Potential routing challenges during development

Performance Comparison 

Now, let’s delve into essential performance aspects when comparing Svelte vs. Vue.

Performance Comparison  Top Front-End Frameworks Comparison

Bundle Size: Comparing Svelte vs Vue

Svelte’s latest version boasts a bundle size of just 4.5kb, compressing to a mere 1.7kb, as per Bundlephobia. In contrast, Vue’s bundle size reaches 94.6kb, with a compact size of no less than 33.9kb. This substantial difference matters because bundle size directly influences website performance.

Bulky bundles can lead to prolonged loading times, sluggish webpage rendering, hindered user interactions, or frustrating delays in page scrolling. This ultimately contributes to a poor user experience. While neither Svelte nor Vue guarantees catastrophe, considering that you have mere seconds to capture a client’s attention, bundle size can significantly impact your website’s success.

DOM Handling

Understanding the Document Object Model (DOM) is essential. It represents a website’s logical tree-like structure, loaded in a browser, governing how a web page is accessed and manipulated.

Frameworks’ handling of the DOM is crucial and contributes to the differences in Svelte vs. Vue speed, favoring Svelte. Most frontend frameworks create and employ a virtual DOM to manage website changes. Notably, Svelte does away with the virtual DOM entirely.

Instead, it surgically integrates changes directly into the real DOM during compilation, eliminating the need for a virtual DOM. This choice makes Svelte stand out by enhancing its speed.

Reactivity Comparing Svelte vs Vue

Reactivity is a pivotal aspect of both Svelte and Vue. So, reactivity enables changes in response to user actions, a critical feature for MVPs, SPAs, and SaaS websites. Two-way binding is central to achieving this reactivity, a capability both Svelte and Vue excel at using the top front-end frameworks comparison.

Modifying data in one location results in automatic updates elsewhere, facilitating data sharing between templates and classes. In this context, Svelte emerges as a preferred option due to its efficiency.

Community and Popularity

Vue enjoys higher popularity, ranking 6th with an 18.82% share in Stack Overflow’s 2022 survey. In the “most wanted” metric, Vue secures 3rd place with a 14.6% share, while Svelte closely follows in 5th place with 9.34%. Google Trends data demonstrates Vue’s broader recognition, with more search results compared to Svelte, signifying that Svelte remains a less explored option in the community.

Community Reception

Surprisingly, popularity doesn’t equate to community reception. Stack Overflow evaluates tech on the “loved vs. dreaded” metric among developers. In terms of being well-received, Svelte takes the 2nd place with 75.28% positive responses, whereas Vue occupies the 10th place with 63.16% positive responses using the top front-end frameworks comparison.

Future Prospects

The promise of a framework’s future largely depends on the support from significant companies. Vue is well-positioned in this regard, with support from global giants like Netflix, Up Work, and Nintendo. Svelte, while initially lacking such backing, gained traction when its creator, Rich Harris, joined Vercel, a major cloud platform service provider. This recent development suggests a bright future for Svelte.

Final Thoughts Comparing Svelte vs. Vue

In the Svelte vs. Vue debate, neither framework is definitively superior. They cater to distinct needs. Vue stands as a reliable choice with substantial company support, while Svelte excels in performance and efficiency, making it particularly suitable for MVPs and fast-paced projects. Consider your project’s requirements and, if they align, give Svelte a chance.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.