Vite is the default for new frontend projects in 2026. That doesn't mean your Webpack app is broken.
The 30-second version:
Why Vite feels so fast
Vite serves your source as native ES modules and transforms files on demand. Webpack bundles the app before it serves anything, so its startup time grows as the app grows. The same pattern shows up in hot module replacement: Vite's HMR stays near-instant as the app grows, while Webpack's slows down.
Configuration
Vite ships sensible defaults and needs very little config for React, Vue or Svelte. Webpack is extremely configurable, and in complex setups that config becomes something only one person on the team understands.
Ecosystem
This is where Webpack still earns its place: more than a decade of plugins and loaders. Vite's ecosystem is smaller but has matured quickly and covers most modern projects.
So which one?
- New project: Vite.
- Large existing app with heavy Webpack config, or a must-have Webpack-only plugin: stay on Webpack.
- Don't migrate a working Webpack setup just for dev-server speed. The migration cost is real, and so is the risk.
The full comparison and FAQ: Vite vs Webpack — full breakdown.
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