When building modern web apps with Laravel, one of the biggest questions developers face is:
“Should I use Laravel with React or Laravel Livewire?”
Both are powerful tools that can help you build dynamic, responsive applications — but they serve different purposes, suit different developer skill sets, and offer different workflows.
In this post, we’ll break down the differences, pros and cons, and when to use each approach.
🧠 What Are They?
🔹 Laravel + React
This setup uses Laravel as your backend framework (routing, models, controllers, APIs) and React as your frontend framework (components, state, views).
- Frontend: React (JavaScript)
- Backend: Laravel (PHP)
- Communication: API (or Inertia.js for tighter integration)
🔸 Laravel Livewire
Livewire is a full-stack framework for Laravel that allows you to build dynamic interfaces using only PHP. It automatically handles AJAX requests and DOM updates.
- Frontend + Backend: Laravel (PHP)
- Communication: AJAX (handled by Livewire)
- JavaScript Knowledge: Optional
⚖️ Laravel + React vs Laravel Livewire
| Feature | Laravel + React | Laravel Livewire |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Steeper (PHP + JS + React) | Easier (PHP only) |
| Development Speed | Slower setup, high scalability | Fast to build, great for MVPs |
| Performance | High (SPA behavior) | Good for most use cases |
| Reactivity | Excellent with full control | Good for moderate interactivity |
| SEO | Requires extra setup (SSR) | Server-rendered by default |
| UI Flexibility | Maximum flexibility with React | Limited to what Livewire supports |
| Team Experience Needed | PHP + React (JavaScript-heavy) | PHP-focused |
🚀 When to Choose Laravel + React
Choose Laravel + React if:
✅ You’re building a highly interactive app (e.g., real-time dashboards, chat apps)
✅ Your team knows or wants to use modern JavaScript
✅ You need complex state management or frontend routing
✅ You’re building a single-page application (SPA)
✅ You want to tap into the larger React ecosystem
Ideal For:
- SaaS apps
- Real-time collaboration tools
- Public-facing apps with a rich UI
⚡ When to Choose Laravel Livewire
Choose Laravel Livewire if:
✅ You want to stay in the Laravel ecosystem (no heavy JS)
✅ Your team prefers PHP over JavaScript
✅ You’re building a CRUD app, admin dashboard, or business tool
✅ You need to build quickly (MVP, prototype)
✅ You want to avoid writing complex JavaScript
Ideal For:
- Admin panels
- Internal dashboards
- Form-heavy apps
- Content management systems
🔄 Can I Use Both?
Absolutely. Many developers use Livewire for most of the app and integrate React (or Vue) only where needed — for example, in complex components like chat boxes, maps, or graphs.
Laravel plays well with both approaches, so you’re not locked in.
🧩 Final Thoughts
So, Laravel + React or Laravel Livewire? Here’s a quick summary:
- 🧠 Use Laravel + React if you need scalability, interactivity, and frontend flexibility.
- ⚡ Use Laravel Livewire if you want rapid development with minimal JavaScript.
🎯 Pro Tip: If you’re building something fast for internal use or an MVP — Livewire is gold.
For a more polished, highly dynamic user experience — React is worth the investment.
✍️ TL;DR
- Laravel + React = Best for complex, interactive, frontend-heavy apps.
- Laravel Livewire = Best for Laravel-centric, CRUD-style, or internal tools.
Choose the stack that fits your project goals, timeline, and team skills.
Got questions or want help choosing a tech stack for your Laravel app?
Drop a comment below or reach out — let’s build smarter, not harder.
