Electron vs Wails: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Electron and Wails side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Electron
Build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Best for you if:
- • You want leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
Wails
Build cross-platform desktop applications with web technologies and Go.
Best for you if:
- • You want combines Go's performance with web UI flexibility
| At a Glance | Electron | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | UI/UX Design Developer Tools | Developer Tools UI/UX Design |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Electron or Wails?
Choose Electron if
- You want leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
- You want enables single codebase for multiple operating systems
- You work in UI/UX design, not developer tools
Choose Wails if
- You want combines Go's performance with web UI flexibility
- You want creates applications with native UI elements
- You work in developer tools, not UI/UX design
In-Depth Analysis
Electron
Build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Strengths
- Pro: Leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
- Pro: Enables single codebase for multiple operating systems
- Pro: Access to a vast ecosystem of npm packages
- Pro: Provides stable and secure rendering with bundled Chromium
- Pro: Simplifies complex desktop features like updates and installers
Weaknesses
- Con: Applications can have a larger memory footprint compared to native apps
- Con: Can result in larger application bundle sizes
- Con: Performance might not always match fully native applications for highly demanding tasks
Key features
Wails
Build cross-platform desktop applications with web technologies and Go.
Strengths
- Pro: Combines Go's performance with web UI flexibility
- Pro: Creates applications with native UI elements
- Pro: Leverages existing web development skills
- Pro: Fast project setup and deployment with CLI
Key features
Key Takeaways
Electron
- Choose if you want build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Wails
- Choose if you want build cross-platform desktop applications with web technologies and Go
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Electron and Wails compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Both have a free plan.
What are Electron and Wails used for?
Electron: Build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Wails: Build cross-platform desktop applications with web technologies and Go.
What does Electron cost vs Wails?
Electron is free. Wails is free.
What's the main difference between Electron and Wails?
Electron's main strength: leverages existing web development skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS). Wails's main strength: combines Go's performance with web UI flexibility.