Gradio vs Reflex
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Gradio | Reflex |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 43,611 | ★ 28,909 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Retool | Streamlit, Retool |
What are Gradio and Reflex?
Gradio
Gradio is a Python library for quickly creating web-based interfaces and demos for machine learning models and data pipelines. Apps can be self-hosted and embedded anywhere.
- Instant ML demo UIs
- Automatic REST API
- Component library
- Self-hostable apps
Reflex
Reflex is an open-source framework for building and deploying full-stack web applications entirely in Python without writing JavaScript. The compiled apps can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure.
- Pure Python web apps
- No JavaScript needed
- Built-in components
- Self-hostable deploys
Gradio vs Reflex: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Gradio is the more established project (first released 2019), while Reflex arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose Gradio if…
- UI in few lines
- Great for ML demos
- Easy shareable links
Watch out for
- Limited layout control
- Not for complex apps
Choose Reflex if…
- Pure Python full stack
- No JavaScript needed
- Compiles to React
Watch out for
- Node.js build dependency
- API still evolving
Frequently asked questions
Is Gradio or Reflex better?
Gradio is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Reflex if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Gradio and Reflex free and open-source?
Yes. Gradio is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Reflex under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gradio and Reflex with Docker?
Gradio: yes. Reflex: yes.