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Neutralino

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Build lightweight cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies.

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Reviews onSourceForge
67 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Significantly smaller app size compared to Chromium-based frameworks

Biggest con

May have a smaller community and fewer resources compared to more established frameworks

TL;DR - Neutralino

  • Build desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
  • Extremely lightweight and fast, with small app sizes.
  • Cross-platform support for Linux, Windows, macOS, Web, and Chrome.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
4.3/5 across review platforms

What is Neutralino?

Editorial review
Neutralino is a framework that allows developers to create lightweight, cross-platform desktop applications using familiar web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Unlike other Chromium-based frameworks, Neutralino is designed to be extremely small and fast, with uncompressed app sizes around 2MB and compressed sizes as low as 0.5MB. It achieves this by not bundling Chromium, resulting in significantly lower memory and storage consumption. It provides a JavaScript API to access operating system-level functions, including file manipulation, command execution, and native dialog boxes. The framework supports development for Linux, Windows, macOS, Web, and Chrome, enabling a single codebase to target multiple platforms. Neutralino is ideal for developers looking to build desktop applications with a minimal footprint and no external dependencies, offering flexibility with any frontend framework and the ability to extend its API with any backend language.

Available on: Linux, Windows, macOS, Web, Chrome

how we evaluateSourceneutralino.js.org ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Significantly smaller app size compared to Chromium-based frameworks
  • Low memory and storage consumption
  • No external dependencies required to run apps
  • Develop for all platforms from one platform without compilers
  • Flexible with choice of frontend and backend technologies

Cons

  • May have a smaller community and fewer resources compared to more established frameworks
  • Specific limitations or capabilities of the native API might be less extensive than full native development

Ratings Across the Web

4.3(67 reviews)
SourceForge67 reviews
4.3/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Native JavaScript API for OS functionsPortable and zero dependency applicationsCross-platform support (Linux, Windows, macOS, Web, Chrome)Lightweight and fast (~0.5MB compressed app size)Simple and flexible development interfacesSupports any frontend frameworkExtendable with any backend language via IPCPortable auto-updater

Pricing

Free

Neutralino is completely free to use with no hidden costs.

View pricing

Reviews

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4.3/5

Across 67 verified user reviews on SourceForge

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Best Neutralino Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Flutter logo
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4.6
Tauri logo
TauriFree

Build small, fast, secure, and cross-platform applications with web technologies.

4.9
Capacitor logo
CapacitorFree

Native mobile apps with web tech

Electron logo
ElectronFree

Build cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Neutralino vs FlutterHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsNeutralino vs TauriHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsNeutralino vs CapacitorHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Neutralino FAQ

How does Neutralino enable cross-platform development?

Neutralino allows developers to build applications for Linux, Windows, macOS, Web, and Chrome from a single codebase. This is achieved by using web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which are inherently cross-platform.

What kind of user benefits most from Neutralino?

Developers who prioritize minimal application size and low resource consumption will find Neutralino particularly beneficial. It is ideal for those who want to build desktop applications without bundling heavy dependencies like Chromium.

How does Neutralino compare to Electron in terms of application size?

Neutralino applications are significantly smaller than those built with Electron because Neutralino does not bundle Chromium. Neutralino apps have uncompressed sizes around 2MB and compressed sizes as low as 0.5MB, leading to much lower memory and storage consumption.

Does Neutralino include a free tier?

Neutralino is free to use, meaning there is no paid plan required to develop and deploy applications with the framework. This makes it accessible for all developers without licensing costs.

Which teams would find Neutralino suitable for UI/UX design?

Teams focused on UI/UX design can leverage Neutralino to create desktop applications using familiar web technologies. Its flexibility with any frontend framework allows designers to implement their vision without being restricted to specific tools.

What are the main trade-offs when choosing Neutralino?

A primary trade-off for Neutralino is that it may have a smaller community and fewer resources compared to more established frameworks. Additionally, its native API capabilities might be less extensive than full native development options.

Can Neutralino applications interact with the operating system?

Yes, Neutralino provides a JavaScript API that enables applications to access operating system-level functions. This includes capabilities such as file manipulation, command execution, and displaying native dialog boxes.

Source: neutralino.js.org

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