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Alexandra Mendes
Octávio Rodrigues

Min Read

April 15, 2025

Top 10 Best Front End Frameworks in 2025 Compared

Illustration of a developer coding on a laptop with multiple browser windows, representing front end frameworks.

Front end frameworks have become essential tools for building web applications. They provide developers with pre-built components, libraries, and tools that make creating responsive and interactive user interfaces more accessible. Using frontend frameworks can also improve the overall performance of your application and save time in the development process.

In this article, we will discuss the top front-end frameworks to use in 2025, their features, benefits, use cases, pros and cons, and the famous brands using them. We will also compare them based on performance, ease of use, learning curve, community support, popularity, and adoption. Lastly, we will guide you on choosing the right frontend framework for your project.

What are front-end frameworks?

Frontend development is creating the visual and interactive elements of a website or web application. It involves making the user interface that visitors see and interact with using a variety of programming languages, frameworks, and tools.

Frontend developers are in charge of ensuring that the website or application is user-friendly and intuitive to use. They use web languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. So they specialise in developing and designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of websites and web applications.

Frontend web development has several benefits:

  • Creates an attractive and engaging user interface that attracts and retains visitors. A well-designed frontend makes it easier and more enjoyable for visitors to navigate the site and find what they need.
  • Optimises page load speeds and reduces server requests to display content. This can speed up user experience and boost search engine rankings.
  • Makes websites responsive for desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Responsive designs are essential for making websites accessible and easy to use as mobile internet use rises.
  • It lets developers add animations, sliders, forms, and other dynamic content to websites and web apps. This improves user experience and adds value.

So frontend developers collaborate closely with backend developers to ensure that the frontend and backend systems are integrated and work smoothly together. In essence, frontend development is concerned with creating a seamless and engaging user experience for visitors to a website or application.

A framework is a software that makes it easier to build and keep up with big projects. Frameworks are groups of basic software modules with ready-to-use code that developers can use to solve common programming problems. They also tell you how to build the architecture of the app. You start with a basic structure you must add to and change based on the requirements.

Front end frameworks include utility programs, code libraries, scripting languages, and other types of software that make it easier to build and deploy a large software product. With frameworks, developers don't have to start projects from scratch. Instead, they have a base to build other features specific to the project.

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Top 10 Front-End Frameworks for Web Development

Here are the top 10 frontend frameworks:

1. React

React logo

React is a popular frontend framework developed by Facebook. It is a declarative, efficient, and flexible JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React's key features include JSX, a syntax extension that allows you to write HTML-like code in JavaScript, and virtual DOM, a lightweight in-memory representation of the real DOM that improves performance by minimising updates.

React is suitable for building large and complex applications, including single-page applications (SPAs), e-commerce, and social media platforms.

When to use:

  • For building large-scale applications with dynamic, high-performing user interfaces.
  • When you need a robust ecosystem of tools and community support.
  • If you want to leverage server-side rendering for SEO benefits and faster page loads.

When not to use:

  • If you prefer a framework that dictates architecture and best practices, React is more of a library than a full-fledged framework.
  • When you need a lightweight application, the size of the library might be a concern.

Famous brands using React:
Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, Uber, and Instagram.

2. Angular

Angular logo

Angular is a powerful front-end framework developed by Google. It is a TypeScript-based open-source framework for building web applications. Angular's key features include two-way data binding, dependency injection, and a modular architecture that allows you to organise your application into reusable components.

Angular is suitable for building complex enterprise-level applications, including large-scale e-commerce platforms and financial and healthcare systems.

When to use:

  • For enterprise-level applications that require a full framework with solid opinions on architecture and development.
  • When your project benefits from TypeScript's strong typing out of the box.
  • If you need a comprehensive solution with most of the tools included without relying on third-party libraries.

When not to use:

  • For small, simple projects that don't require the overhead of a full framework.
  • If you aim for a project with a quick learning curve for new developers.

Famous brands using Angular:
Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Intel.

3. Vue.js

vuejs logo

Vue.js is a progressive frontend framework developed by Evan You. It is a lightweight and easy-to-learn JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Vue's key features include reactive and composable data bindings, a virtual DOM, and a component-based architecture.

Vue is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications, including blogs, forums, and personal websites.

When to use:

  • For small to medium-sized projects due to its simplicity and gentle learning curve.
  • When you need a progressive framework that is easy to integrate into existing projects.
  • If you want a balance between a full-fledged framework and a lightweight library.

When not to use:

  • For projects where you anticipate needing many third-party libraries, Vue's ecosystem is less extensive than React's or Angular's.

Famous brands using Vue:
Alibaba, Xiaomi, GitLab, and Xiaomi.

4. Svelte

Svelte logo

Svelte is a modern and innovative frontend framework developed by Rich Harris, the graphics editor at The New York Times. It is a component-based framework that compiles your code into highly optimised JavaScript code that runs faster than traditional frameworks. Svelte's key features include reactive data binding, virtual DOM, and simple syntax.

Svelte is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require excellent performance, including mobile applications and simple e-commerce websites.

When to use:

  • For applications where you want to compile your code to highly optimized vanilla JavaScript.
  • When you need a reactive framework that eliminates the virtual DOM overhead.

When not to use:

  • If you rely on a large community and ecosystem, Svelte's is smaller compared to other frameworks.

Famous brands using Svelte:
The New York Times, Netflix, and Square.

5. Ember

ember logo

Ember is a frontend framework developed by Yehuda Katz. It is a robust and opinionated JavaScript framework for building ambitious web applications. Ember's key features include two-way data binding, a component-based architecture, and a powerful CLI for generating code and managing dependencies.

Ember is suitable for building complex applications that require high scalability, including enterprise-level systems and business applications.

When to use:

  • For large-scale applications where you want a convention-over-configuration approach.
  • When you need strong stability and long-term support.

When not to use:

  • For small projects that would not benefit from Ember's extensive feature set and structure.

Famous brands using Ember:
Microsoft, Square, and LinkedIn.

6. Next.js

Nextjs logo

Next.js is a React-based frontend framework developed by Vercel. It enables server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and hybrid approaches out of the box. Next.js is known for its exceptional developer experience, automatic routing, built-in image optimisation, and fast performance.

It is ideal for building scalable web applications that require SEO, rapid page loads, and rich user experiences.

When to use:

  • For React-based applications where SEO and performance are key.
  • When you need SSR, SSG, or incremental static regeneration.

When not to use:

  • For projects that don’t require SSR or static site generation and can be handled by basic React setups.

Famous brands using Next.js:
Twitch, TikTok, Notion, Hulu, Nike

7. Nuxt.js

Nuxtjs logo

Nuxt.js is a Vue-based framework designed for server-side rendered and statically generated applications. Built on top of Vue 3 and Vite (or Webpack), Nuxt offers a modular architecture, intuitive routing, and out-of-the-box SSR and SSG capabilities.

Nuxt is ideal for building fast, SEO-friendly Vue applications with minimal configuration.

When to use:

  • When building Vue applications that require server-side rendering or static generation.
  • For content-heavy sites where SEO and performance matter.

When not to use:

  • For small projects that don’t require SSR or benefit from Nuxt’s advanced features.

Famous brands using Nuxt.js:
Louis Vuitton, Upwork, GitLab

8. SolidJS

SOLIDjs logo

SolidJS is a high-performance declarative JavaScript framework created by Ryan Carniato. It uses fine-grained reactivity and compiles to efficient DOM operations without a virtual DOM. Solid offers the flexibility of React with performance that rivals vanilla JS, making it ideal for reactive, performant interfaces and real-time applications.

When to use:

  • For performance-critical UIs where minimal overhead is essential.
  • When building modern, reactive web apps with a need for fast rendering.

When not to use:

  • When you need a mature ecosystem or large developer community support.
  • For teams unfamiliar with fine-grained reactivity concepts.

Famous brands using SolidJS:
Hacker News experimental projects, community-driven open source projects

9. Qwik

Qwik logo

Qwik is a cutting-edge web framework created by the team at Builder.io, focused on ultra-fast page loads via resumability and partial hydration. Its innovative architecture allows it to pause and resume application execution on the client side, enabling lightning-fast Time to Interactive (TTI).

When to use:

  • For performance-first applications that require instant loading.
  • When building modern websites where user experience and speed are top priorities.

When not to use:

  • For projects that require a mature ecosystem or traditional component models.
  • If your team prefers conventional SSR/CSR approaches.

Famous brands using Qwik:
Builder.io

10. Alpine.js

Alpine.js logo

Alpine.js is a lightweight JavaScript framework that brings declarative reactivity to HTML. It offers many of Vue’s reactive features in a much smaller footprint, making it perfect for enhancing server-rendered pages without a full JavaScript framework.

When to use:

  • For simple interactivity on static or server-rendered sites.
  • When you want reactivity without the overhead of a full SPA.

When not to use:

  • For building full-scale applications with complex routing or state needs.
  • When the project requires extensive tooling or scalability.

Famous brands using Alpine.js:
Laravel ecosystem (Livewire), Statamic, Tailwind Labs

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Comparison of top frontend frameworks

Performance

Some frameworks are built for speed, others for structure. Here's how they differ:

  • Svelte, Qwik, and SolidJS lead in performance thanks to compile-time optimisation and zero virtual DOM.
  • React, Vue, and Next.js offer strong performance with modern rendering techniques and fine-tuned ecosystems.
  • Angular and Ember.js are more heavyweight, ideal for apps that prioritise tooling and scale over raw speed.
  • Alpine.js delivers quick results in static environments, while Nuxt.js optimises Vue apps for SEO and load times.

Ease of Use

Ease of use refers to how fast developers can get productive:

  • Vue, Svelte, and Alpine.js are highly approachable with intuitive syntax.
  • Next.js and Nuxt.js simplify the development experience with built-in routing and conventions.
  • React has a moderate curve — straightforward once JSX and state management are understood.
  • Angular and Ember.js require developers to adapt to stricter patterns and more boilerplate.
  • Qwik and SolidJS may introduce new paradigms that take some adjusting to.

Learning Curve

How much time and experience do you need to get proficient?

  • Low learning curve: Vue, Alpine.js, Svelte
  • Moderate: React, Next.js, Nuxt.js, SolidJS
  • Steep: Angular, Ember.js, Qwik

Frameworks like Vue and Alpine are beginner-friendly, while Angular and Ember reward advanced developers with full-featured tooling.

Community Support

A larger, active community means better resources, libraries, and issue resolution:

  • Massive support: React, Angular, Vue
  • Growing and solid: Next.js, Nuxt.js, Svelte
  • Emerging but active: SolidJS, Qwik, Alpine.js
  • Niche but stable: Ember.js

React and Vue have the broadest range of tutorials, plugins, and community-driven support.

Popularity and Adoption

Adoption trends shape long-term relevance, hiring ease, and community momentum:

  • Most adopted: React, Vue, Angular
  • Rapidly growing: Next.js, Svelte, Nuxt.js
  • Emerging interest: SolidJS, Qwik, Alpine.js
  • Enterprise hold: Ember.js

Frameworks like SolidJS and Qwik are gaining traction for their performance benefits, while Vue and React remain industry staples.

Here's a frontend frameworks comparison:

Front End Framework Comparison Table
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What makes an excellent frontend framework?

Consider these factors when choosing a frontend framework for your project:

  • Features: You should be able to choose the best framework based on your application development and documentation. Which frameworks handle validation, processing, communication, templates, and more, and which are most important to your project?
  • Community: Help and resources come from a strong community.
  • Learning curve: Assess your team's framework expertise and learning curve.
  • Compatibility: Your tech stack should work with your framework.
  • Performance: Optimised framework performance ensures fast load times and a smooth user experience.
  • Flexibility: The framework must adapt to the changing project requirements.
  • Easy of use: You must be comfortable with your framework's ability to launch any app or web tool quickly. Check a framework's ease of use and deployment if you haven't used it before. It's not the right platform if it's hard to use or requires special knowledge.
  • Customisation: Each framework should be customisable to match your branding. It must be customisable and configurable to provide a seamless, on-brand end tool.
  • Integration: You must be able to integrate external features or implement outside operators even with the best frontend framework. Data manipulation, formatting, and editing often require additional tools and libraries.
  • Mobile development: Frontend development must address the mobile market's growth. Your framework must support mobile development with easy-to-use tools and options.
  • Rendering: Server-side rendering is essential with so many mobile users. Your site won't rank well if your frontend framework doesn't support server-side rendering.
  • Support: Few frameworks are easy to learn, so choose one with lots of support: documentation, a healthy community, and tool maintenance and upgrades.
  • Popularity: We want you to use the best tool for your project, so choosing a framework because everyone else does isn't good science.

What are the most used frontend frameworks?

What are the most used frontend frameworks? Some of the most popular frontend frameworks include React by Facebook, Angular by Google, Vue.js, and Svelte. These frameworks help developers create interactive and dynamic web applications with modern user interfaces more efficiently.

But let's take a closer look at some of the most popular frontend frameworks on the market today to help you make an informed decision when selecting the best tool for your next project.

According to the State of JS 2024, the leading frameworks regarding frontend developers' usage are React and Angular.

Graph showing Frontend frameworks usage ratio over time, with React and Angular and Vue taking the lead.

Here we can also notice which frontend frameworks are more interesting to developers:

Graph showing that Svelte and Solid are the frontend frameworks with more developers' interest.

Moreover, here are the front end framework downloads per year. Hint: React, Vue and Svelte have the most downloads in 2025:

Graph showing frontend framework downloads per year: React, Svelte and Vue have the most downloads in 2025.
Graph showing frontend framework downloads per year: React, jQuery and Vue have the most downloads in 20253.
Frontend framework downloads per year. Source: npm-stat
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Front-end framework recommendations

Your frontend framework should adapt to user needs as technology advances. Your frontend framework should do these:

  • Scalability: Your framework should handle large, complex, and smaller applications.
  • Performance: It should load quickly to provide a smooth user experience.
  • Accessibility: Your framework should support disabled users.
  • Security: It should protect your application from attacks with built-in features.
  • Mobile-first: Your framework should be mobile-friendly since mobile devices use most of the internet.
  • Clean UI, great UX: You won't make sales without a smooth, fast digital experience that meets all customer needs. That requires flawless user experience and interface.
  • Code efficiently: Reusing code and web elements across multiple projects saves time and resources during development.
  • Optimise navigation: Intuitive frontend development guides visitors to the right place on the website, often without their knowledge.
  • Increase engagement: An intelligent, intuitive website provides everything users need for easy conversions, building brand trust and loyalty.
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Conclusion

The best front end framework depends on your project’s goals, team skills, and scalability needs. React, Vue, and Angular remain strong choices for most applications, while Svelte, SolidJS, and Qwik offer cutting-edge performance. For SEO-focused projects, choose Next.js or Nuxt.js; for lightweight interactivity, Alpine.js is a great fit.

There’s no one-size-fits-all. The right choice is the one that fits your use case, now and in the future.

Need help choosing or implementing the right stack? Talk to our experts and future-proof your frontend.

Here you can discover some of the projects where Imaginary Cloud worked with front-end development.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a front-end framework?

A frontend framework is a collection of pre-written code that provides a structure for building web applications. It includes tools, libraries, and design patterns that enable developers to create interactive and responsive user interfaces for web applications.

Which framework is better for frontend?

The best frontend framework depends on your project. React is highly flexible and widely adopted, Vue is beginner-friendly, and Svelte offers unmatched performance. For SEO-focused apps, Next.js is a top choice.

What is the most wanted front end framework?

According to recent developer surveys like the State of JS, React remains the most wanted frontend framework, closely followed by Svelte and Vue due to their developer experience and performance.

What is the highest paid frontend framework?

Frontend developers skilled in React and Next.js typically earn the highest salaries, especially in enterprise environments and startups focused on performance and scalability.

Which front-end framework is best in 2025?

In 2025, the best front-end frameworks are React, Vue, Svelte, SolidJS, and Next.js, depending on the use case. Choose based on performance, community support, and project complexity.

How do I choose the right frontend framework for my project?

Choosing the right frontend framework depends on several factors, such as project requirements, developer expertise, future scalability, and community support. Consider your project's needs and constraints, such as the size and complexity of the application and the required level of interactivity and responsiveness. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each framework and choose the one that best meets your project's specific needs.

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Alexandra Mendes
Alexandra Mendes

Content writer with a big curiosity about the impact of technology on society. Always surrounded by books and music.

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Octávio Rodrigues
Octávio Rodrigues

Web developer focused on the front-end side of things, but I am also interested in RESTful application programming interfaces.

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