Redux vs Zustand : Which is Better?

State management is a crucial part of modern web applications, especially in React. Redux has been the industry standard for years, but newer libraries like Zustand offer a simpler and more lightweight alternative.

In this article, we’ll compare Redux and Zustand, their differences, advantages, and which one you should use for your next project.

1. What is Redux?

Redux is a predictable state container for JavaScript applications. It follows a unidirectional data flow where the application’s state is managed in a single store and updated through actions and reducers.

How Redux Works

Store: The single source of truth for the application’s state.
Actions: Objects that describe state changes ({ type: "ADD_TODO", payload: "Learn Redux" }).
Reducers: Pure functions that modify the state based on actions.
Dispatch: The function used to send actions to the store.

Problems with Redux

✔ Requires boilerplate code (actions, reducers, types).
✔ Complex setup with middleware like Thunk or Saga.
✔ Immutability handling using spread operators (...state).

Because of these challenges, Redux Toolkit (RTK) was introduced to simplify Redux, but it’s still more complex than Zustand.

2. What is Zustand?

Zustand is a lightweight state management library that provides a simpler and more intuitive alternative to Redux. It eliminates boilerplate and allows direct state mutations without needing reducers or actions.

How Zustand Works

Uses a simple hook-based API (useStore) to access and update state.
No need for reducers, actions, or types.
Supports middleware, persistence, and async actions easily.

Why Developers Love Zustand

✔ Super simple API – No reducers, no actions.
✔ No boilerplate – Just a single function to create a store.
✔ Direct state updates – Uses Immer.js for immutability.
✔ Built-in persistence – Save state to localStorage easily.

3. Key Differences Between Redux and Zustand

Feature	Redux	Zustand
Boilerplate	High (actions, reducers, store setup)	Minimal (single function for store)
Learning Curve	Steep (complex concepts)	Easy (hook-based API)
State Mutation	Requires reducers and immutable updates	Directly mutate state
Asynchronous Logic	Needs middleware (Thunk/Saga)	Built-in async support
Performance	Good, but re-renders frequently	Optimized re-renders
Persistence	Needs external libraries	Built-in support
Library Size	~15 KB (Redux + Toolkit)	~1 KB (Zustand)
Scalability	Good for large apps	Better for small/medium apps

4. Code Comparison: Redux vs Zustand

Redux Example (Counter Feature)

Here’s how you would implement a simple counter in Redux:

Step 1: Install Redux and Redux Toolkit

shCopyEditnpm install @reduxjs/toolkit react-redux

Step 2: Define Slice (Redux Toolkit Approach)

import { createSlice, configureStore } from "@reduxjs/toolkit";

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: "counter",
  initialState: { count: 0 },
  reducers: {
    increment: (state) => { state.count += 1; },
    decrement: (state) => { state.count -= 1; },
  }
});

export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions;

const store = configureStore({ reducer: counterSlice.reducer });

export default store;

Step 3: Use in a React Component

import { useSelector, useDispatch } from "react-redux";
import { increment, decrement } from "./store";

const Counter = () => {
  const count = useSelector((state) => state.count);
  const dispatch = useDispatch();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => dispatch(increment())}>+</button>
      <button onClick={() => dispatch(decrement())}>-</button>
    </div>
  );
};

Zustand Example (Counter Feature)

With Zustand, the same counter can be implemented in a few lines.

Step 1: Install Zustand

npm install zustand

Step 2: Create Store

import { create } from "zustand";

const useCounterStore = create((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
  decrement: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count - 1 })),
}));

export default useCounterStore;

Step 3: Use in a React Component

jsCopyEditimport useCounterStore from "./store";

const Counter = () => {
  const { count, increment, decrement } = useCounterStore();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={increment}>+</button>
      <button onClick={decrement}>-</button>
    </div>
  );
};

✅ Why is Zustand Better Here?

No need for reducers, actions, or store configuration.
Directly mutates state without extra syntax.
Uses a simple hook instead of useSelector and useDispatch.

5. When to Use Redux vs Zustand?

Use Redux If:

✔ You are building a large-scale enterprise application.
✔ Your app requires complex state logic with middleware.
✔ You need strict state immutability and predictable debugging.
✔ You are working in a team with Redux experience.

Use Zustand If:

✔ You want a lightweight state management library.
✔ Your app has simple or medium-level state management needs.
✔ You prefer direct state updates without reducers.
✔ You need easy localStorage persistence.

6. Performance Considerations

Redux Performance Issues

Redux re-renders frequently because state updates trigger a full re-render.
Needs memoization (useMemo, useCallback) to optimize performance.
Complex applications require selectors and reselect library.

Zustand Performance Benefits

Zustand re-renders only when needed.
It tracks which components use which part of the state and updates them selectively.
Built-in shallow state comparison reduces unnecessary re-renders.

7. Conclusion: Which One is Better?

🔹 Redux is better for large-scale applications where complex state logic is needed.
🔹 Zustand is better for small/medium apps that need a simple and lightweight solution.

Final Recommendation

If you’re working on a React app with a small to medium state ➝ Use Zustand.
If you’re building a scalable, enterprise-grade application ➝ Use Redux (or Redux Toolkit).

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