@tanstack/react-query vs zustand

@tanstack/react-query is downloaded 1.5× more often than zustand (225,327,948 vs 150,795,509 per month), so it has the larger community and more answered questions online. zustand ships 96% less gzipped JavaScript (0.5 kB vs 13.3 kB), which matters if bundle size is a priority. Both projects are actively maintained.

Metric@tanstack/react-queryzustand
Weekly downloads51,850,189✓36,354,284
Monthly downloads225,327,948✓150,795,509
GitHub stars49,54258,154✓
Minified size45.1 kB844 B✓
Minified + gzipped13.3 kB485 B✓
Dependencies10✓
Open issues1724✓
Last commit2026-06-02✓2026-05-29
Latest version5.100.145.0.14
LicenseMITMIT

When to choose which

@tanstack/react-query

Async server-state: caching, refetching and mutations.

Choose it when: Managing data from an API — caching, background refetch, pagination, mutations. It complements (not replaces) a client store.

  • + Best-in-class server cache
  • + Great devtools
  • + Handles refetch/stale data
  • - Not for client/UI state
  • - More config than SWR

zustand

A small, fast store with a hook-based API and no providers.

Choose it when: You want global state with almost no boilerplate, no context provider, and a tiny bundle.

  • + Minimal boilerplate
  • + Tiny
  • + No provider needed
  • - Fewer guardrails than Redux
  • - Async patterns are DIY

Feature comparison

Feature@tanstack/react-queryzustand
ParadigmAsync server cacheHook store
First-class TypeScript✓ Yes✓ Yes
Works outside ReactPartial✓ Yes
Dedicated devtools✓ Yes✓ Yes
Built-in async / server state✓ YesManual
BoilerplateLowLow

@tanstack/react-query

Hooks for managing, caching and syncing asynchronous and remote data in React

DetailsGitHubnpm

zustand

🐻 Bear necessities for state management in React

DetailsGitHubnpm

Related comparisons

@reduxjs/toolkit vs zustand@reduxjs/toolkit vs @tanstack/react-queryredux vs zustandredux vs @tanstack/react-queryreact-redux vs zustandreact-redux vs @tanstack/react-queryjotai vs zustandrecoil vs zustand

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Data from npm, Bundlephobia and GitHub. Last updated 2026-06-02.