DELETE request when you mouse over it? Go for it. You want a button to fetch some new content and slot it into a specific part of your page without a full reload? A couple of simple hx- attributes, and you’re done.
Here’s what that looks like in the real world. Imagine a simple “subscribe to newsletter” form. With HTMX, your code is just… HTML.
You look at that, and it just makes sense. There’s no build step. No npm install. You drop a script tag in your and you start writing HTML. Your backend doesn’t need to learn anything new, either—it just sends back a little snippet of HTML, not a blob of JSON.
This feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a philosophy that says, “Let’s keep the logic on the server, where it’s always been, and let the front-end be simple again.” It’s a godsend for backend developers who want to add a bit of modern flair without diving headfirst into the JavaScript deep end.
React: The UI Factory
And then there’s React. React is the established power. It’s the engine behind countless complex applications, and it’s built on a brilliant and powerful idea: build your UI out of tiny, reusable, self-contained bricks called components.
React’s philosophy is to treat your UI as a separate application. The server’s job is to provide data (usually JSON), and the client’s job is to take that data and render the UI. It’s a clean separation of concerns that allows front-end specialists to build incredibly sophisticated experiences.
To do this, React gives us some powerful tools:
- JSX: It looks like HTML, but it’s really JavaScript. This lets you mix your logic and your markup in a way that feels natural once you get used to it.
- The Virtual DOM: This is React’s secret weapon for performance. Instead of touching the real, slow browser DOM every time something changes, React builds a virtual copy in memory. It figures out the most efficient way to update the real DOM, making your app feel incredibly snappy.
Here’s that same “subscribe” form in React.
function NewsletterForm() {
const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
const [message, setMessage] = useState('');
const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
const response = await fetch('/api/subscribe', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ email }),
});
const data = await response.json();
setMessage(data.message);
};
return (
<>
{message}
>
);
}
You can immediately see the difference. The complexity isn’t gone; it’s just in a different place. It’s in the client-side state (useState), the explicit API call (fetch), and the JavaScript logic that ties it all together.
The Head-to-Head: Where It Really Matters
So, how do you choose? It comes down to a few key battlegrounds.
The Big One: State Management
This is the absolute heart of the debate.
HTMX: The Server Holds the State
Your database is your source of truth. The user does something, you tell the server, the server updates the database and sends back the new HTML. It’s simple, predictable, and eliminates a whole class of client-side bugs. The downside? Every little thing requires a trip back to the server. That can feel slow if you need instant feedback.
React: Managing Complexity on the Client
State lives in the browser, right next to the UI. This is what lets you build those incredibly rich, fluid interfaces where everything happens instantly. But it’s also React’s biggest headache. Managing client-side state is hard. Keeping it in sync with the server is even harder. This is where you run into that “decision fatigue” of choosing between Redux, Zustand, Jotai, or a dozen other tools.
The choice here is about where you want your complexity to live. Do you want the latency of the network, or the complexity of managing state on the client?
Performance: A Tale of Two Speeds
This isn’t a simple “which is faster” question. They’re fast at different things.
Initial Page Load: HTMX’s Speed Advantage
HTMX wins the sprint. Because it sends pre-rendered HTML from the server and has a tiny JavaScript footprint, HTMX sites have a lightning-fast initial load. This is huge for SEO and for users on slow connections. But after that initial load, every interaction is limited by the speed of your user’s network.
Interactive Updates: Where React’s Virtual DOM Shines
React wins the marathon. React apps can have a slower, heavier initial load. You have to download the framework, your app code, and a bunch of libraries. But once it’s loaded? It’s magic. The Virtual DOM makes UI updates feel instantaneous. This is why it’s the right tool for things that feel like desktop apps in the browser, like Figma or Google Docs.
A great way to think about it is the “widget factory” analogy. To show you a new widget, React ships the entire widget factory to your browser and builds it on your front lawn. HTMX just sends you the finished widget from its factory on the server. HTMX uses more server resources; React uses more of the user’s.
The Ecosystem: A Double-Edged Sword
- React’s ecosystem is a metropolis. There is a mature, battle-tested library for anything you can possibly imagine. This is its superpower. It’s also the direct cause of JavaScript Fatigue. The sheer number of choices is overwhelming.
- HTMX’s ecosystem is a quiet town. It’s intentionally small and dependency-free. This is liberating! You don’t have to make as many decisions. But if you hit a wall and need something HTMX doesn’t do out of the box, the path can be less clear. You might find yourself reaching for a little vanilla JavaScript or a micro-framework like Alpine.js (external link), which is great, but you have to be careful not to accidentally rebuild the complexity you were trying to escape.
So, What’s the Right Tool for the Job?
The truth is, the rise of HTMX is less about it “killing” React and more about it forcing a much-needed conversation. Even the React team seems to agree. With React Server Components (external link), they are essentially acknowledging that the pure client-side model has its limits and that the server has a huge role to play.
When you’re starting your next project, forget about the hype and ask yourself some honest questions:
- What am I actually building? Is it a blog, an e-commerce store, or a dashboard? Something where the server-rendered simplicity and SEO benefits of HTMX would shine? Or is it a complex, interactive tool like a photo editor, where the client-side power of React is non-negotiable?
- Who is on my team? Are you a backend developer who just wants to add some zip to your UI without becoming a front-end expert? HTMX was made for you. Do you have a team of dedicated front-end specialists? They’ll be able to leverage the full power of the React ecosystem.
- What’s my tolerance for complexity? Do you want to just git init and start writing code? Or are you willing to invest time in setting up a robust toolchain because you know you’ll need its power down the line?
The best part is that this doesn’t have to be a religious war. You can use both! You can have a mostly server-rendered app that uses HTMX for 90% of its interactivity, and then drop in a React component for one specific, highly complex “island” on the page.
For me, the renewed debate is the real win. It’s pushing us to question the assumptions we’ve made and to remember that simplicity is a feature. The best tool is the one that lets you build for your users without burning out your team. And now, we have more—and more interesting—choices than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is HTMX replacing React?
No, not at all. HTMX is an alternative, not a replacement. React is deeply entrenched and is the better tool for building complex, app-like experiences. HTMX provides a simpler solution for more traditional web applications and content-focused sites
Can you use HTMX and React together?
Yes, and it can be a great strategy. You can use HTMX for the majority of a server-rendered site and then introduce a React component as an “island of interactivity” for a specific, complex feature on a page.
Is HTMX good for SEO?
Yes, it’s excellent for SEO by default. Because content is rendered on the server and sent as plain HTML, search engine crawlers can easily read and index your site without having to execute JavaScript.
What is the learning curve for HTMX vs. React?
HTMX has a much lower learning curve, especially for developers with a backend or traditional web development background. If you know HTML, you can be productive with HTMX in minutes. React has a steeper learning curve, requiring you to understand JSX, the component model, state management, and its broader ecosystem.
