Preact Consulting

Faster loads, especially on mobile. Preact's 3 kB footprint means it downloads and parses in a fraction of the time of larger frameworks. On mobile networks, where every kilobyte counts, this difference can be the deciding factor between a user staying or bouncing. Your application becomes usable sooner — often in under a second.

Smoother interactions. Preact's lightweight virtual DOM and efficient diffing algorithm mean updates are processed faster. Users experience less lag when interacting with your UI — typing in forms, filtering lists, navigating tabs. The interface feels snappy and responsive.

Lower memory usage. A smaller framework means less memory consumed by the runtime. This is especially important on lower-end devices, where every megabyte of memory matters. Your application runs smoothly on a wider range of hardware — including budget smartphones and older computers.

React ecosystem compatibility. Preact's compatibility layer (preact/compat) means you can use thousands of existing React packages — from UI component libraries to state management solutions. You don't sacrifice ecosystem access for performance.

Client-side rendering. Preact runs in the browser, managing the DOM through its virtual DOM diffing algorithm. Components are defined as functions using hooks, with state and effects managed through the familiar React API.

Within Astor pages. We embed Preact components inside Astro pages for interactive islands. Astro renders the initial HTML server-side, then Preact "hydrates" the interactive components on the client. This gives you fast initial loads with rich interactivity where needed.

Standalone SPAs. For more interactive applications — dashboards, design tools, collaborative workspaces — Preact can power the entire frontend. Pair it with a .NET backend API for a modern, high-performance architecture.

Complementary to HTMX and Hydro. Preact fits naturally alongside HTMX and Hydro. Use HTMX for document-heavy pages, Hydro for moderately interactive sections, and Preact for components that need rich client-side state and complex interactivity.

The choice between Preact, React, and other component frameworks depends on your specific performance requirements, team expertise, and ecosystem needs.

Start with performance requirements. If your application needs to load fast on mobile networks, run on low-end devices, or stay within a strict performance budget, Preact's 3 kB footprint gives you a significant head start. The smaller bundle means faster parsing and execution.

Consider your ecosystem dependencies. Most React libraries work with Preact through the compat layer. However, some React-specific features (like Server Components) don't have Preact equivalents. Audit your library dependencies before committing.

Think about the long term. Preact has been actively maintained for over 7 years and has a strong community. It's used in production by companies like Uber, Apple, and Lyft. It's not a gamble — it's a proven, stable choice.

Prototype both, then measure. When the decision is close, build a representative component in both Preact and React. Measure bundle size, time-to-interactive, and rendering performance. The data will make the decision clear.