React Query vs SWR: Which Is Better for Real Projects?

I personally recommend React Query. Its caching and refetching logic is really systematic, and the Devtools are a huge help when debugging. SWR is also good, but if you need complex state management, React Query is better.

I use SWR. When the project is small or API calls are simple, SWR is much lighter and the code is cleaner. React Query has a lot of configuration, so it sometimes feels like overengineering.

I've tried both, and in the end, it comes down to the team's preference and the nature of the project. React Query excels in mutations and optimistic updates, while SWR's strength lies in its React-like simplicity.

React Query's automatic refetching and window focus features were really convenient. However, there was a bit of an initial learning curve, so it took time for team members to adapt. SWR, on the other hand, was intuitive and could be adopted quickly.

I chose SWR because of its bundle size and simplicity. React Query has a lot of features, but I found myself using less than 30% of them in practice. SWR covers most of what I need.

I switched from React Query to SWR. The reason was that the official documentation is more beginner-friendly and it has better compatibility with Next.js. However, I've also seen opinions that React Query has better TypeScript support.

Both are good, but as the project grows, React Query's ecosystem becomes more stable. The community is active and maintenance is consistent, so for the long term, I recommend React Query.

If API error handling is important, React Query is better. It officially supports error boundaries and retry logic. SWR requires a lot of manual handling.

I use SWR for personal projects and React Query for company projects. React Query has a lot of features, making it great for setting clear rules when collaborating, while SWR is the best for quickly building prototypes.