Testing and quality · Comparison
Vitest vs Jest
Two JavaScript test runners with nearly the same API. Jest is the long-standing default; Vitest is the newer option built on Vite, with TypeScript and ES modules working out of the box.
2 options · 7 questions side by side · updated
| Compare | Vitest | Jest |
|---|---|---|
| Built on | Vite and its plugins | Its own runtime, with Babel transforms |
| TypeScript and ES modules | Work with no setup | Need ts-jest, Babel or SWC; ESM is experimental |
| Speed | Fast start-up and watch mode | Slower to start in large projects |
| API | Jest-compatible (vi.fn, expect) | The original (jest.fn, expect) |
| Real browser | Browser Mode built in | No built-in browser mode; jsdom instead |
| Ecosystem | Growing quickly | Very large and mature |
| Common in | Vite, Vue, Nuxt and SvelteKit projects | React Native and established React apps |
How to choose between Vitest and Jest
- Pick Vitest for new projects, especially anything built with Vite or written in TypeScript.
- Stay on Jest for React Native, or for a large existing suite that works well.
- Moving from Jest to Vitest is usually straightforward because the APIs match.
The options
- VitestA fast test runner for JavaScript and TypeScript built on Vite, with a Jest-compatible API, and a common choice for new web projects.
- JestA long-established JavaScript test runner, originally from Meta, with mocking, snapshots and coverage built in, used by a very large number of existing projects.
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