Uncovering the Best DataTables Alternative for Your Web Projects
DataTables has long been a go-to jQuery plugin for adding advanced interaction controls to HTML tables. It's renowned for its flexibility and progressive enhancement approach. However, depending on your project's specific needs, framework preferences, or desire for more modern, vanilla JavaScript solutions, you might be seeking a robust DataTables alternative. This article explores top alternatives that offer similar, or even enhanced, functionalities for building interactive and dynamic data grids.
Top DataTables Alternatives
Whether you're looking for open-source flexibility, specific feature sets like grouping or real-time updates, or compatibility with different frameworks, this list has a strong contender for your next project. We've compiled 13 apps similar to DataTables, allowing you to filter by license to discover free or open-source options.
jQuery Dynatable
jQuery Dynatable is a semantic, interactive table plugin that leverages jQuery, HTML5, and JSON. It's a versatile choice not just for tables, offering a Free Personal license and Self-Hosted options. While it doesn't boast a long list of explicit features, its focus on semantics and ease of use makes it a compelling, lighter alternative for jQuery users.
List.js
List.js is a tiny, powerful, and incredibly fast vanilla JavaScript library that enhances plain HTML lists and tables with search, sort, filters, and flexibility. It's a Free and Open Source Web solution, making it an excellent DataTables alternative for those who prefer to avoid jQuery or need a lightweight, high-performance option for basic list and table manipulation.
ag-Grid
ag-Grid is a feature-rich datagrid available in both free and enterprise versions, offering extensive capabilities like Grouping, React integration, and advanced table controls. As an Open Source solution available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it's a powerful DataTables alternative for complex data display and manipulation, particularly for those working with React or needing robust enterprise-grade features.
Webix DataTable
Webix DataTable is a powerful JS grid control built with an innovative HTML5 approach. It's a Freemium and Open Source Web and Self-Hosted solution that keeps up with the latest web development trends, offering features like React integration and comprehensive table management. This makes it a strong DataTables alternative for modern web applications requiring a robust and flexible data grid component.
ZingGrid
ZingGrid is an interactive, mobile-friendly JavaScript library for data grids and tables, packed with built-in features and out-of-the-box functionality. It's a Free Personal Web solution offering impressive features like Column types, Conditional styles, Content Filtering, DataGrid capabilities, Expandable content, Infinite scroll, and Server-side rendering. For those needing a feature-rich and modern DataTables alternative with excellent mobile responsiveness, ZingGrid is a top contender.
FancyGrid
FancyGrid is a professional, plugin-free library designed for complex business analytics, CRUD applications, and live data editing, making it a robust Commercial Self-Hosted DataTables alternative. It has no dependencies but integrates seamlessly with jQuery and AngularJS, focusing on chart integration (data binding of grid with chart, sparklines columns) and efficient server data communication.
Essential JS 2 for JavaScript by Syncfusion
Essential JS 2 by Syncfusion provides over 60+ cross-platform, responsive, and lightweight JavaScript/HTML5 UI controls for building modern web applications. As a Commercial solution for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it offers a comprehensive suite of features including DataGrid, Charts, Tree Grid, Autocompletion, Batch Editing, Circular Gauge, Gantt-charts, ListBox, Pivot tables, and Stock Chart. Its modular design makes it an excellent, powerful DataTables alternative for large-scale enterprise applications.
Frappe DataTable
Frappe DataTable is a simple, modern, and interactive datatable library for displaying tabular data. It's a Commercial and Open Source solution available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Web platforms. Unlike many data grids, it does not require jQuery, making it a performance-oriented DataTables alternative capable of rendering large amounts of rows efficiently. It includes basic data grid features like inline editing and keyboard navigation.
jExcel
jExcel is a lightweight vanilla JavaScript plugin designed to create amazing web-based interactive tables and spreadsheets that are compatible with Excel. As a Free and Open Source Web and SaaS solution, you can create online spreadsheets from JS arrays, JSON, CSV, or XLSX files, with full copy-paste compatibility with Excel. Its focus on spreadsheet-like functionality makes it a unique and powerful DataTables alternative, especially for applications requiring spreadsheet-centric data entry and display.
Choosing the best DataTables alternative depends on your specific project requirements, team's technical stack, and desired features. Whether you need a simple, vanilla JavaScript solution, a feature-rich enterprise grid, or something in between, the options above provide a comprehensive starting point for finding the perfect fit to enhance your web applications.