JQuery is a fast, cross-platform, and open-source JavaScript library. It’s It provides an easy way to use JavaScript on your website and makes it more interactive and attractive. JQuery makes things like HTML document manipulation, animation, event handling, and AJAX simpler with an easy-to-use API.
There are times when we only need a few methods of JQuery API and if any lightweight library can provide all of them, it’s not wise to load JQuery which is sized around 250KB. So, let’s have a look at some good lightweight JQuery alternatives that you can try.
Read: Best Courses to Learn JavaScript Programming Online
Contents
JQuery Alternatives in 2025
1. UmbrellaJS
UmbrellaJS is highly influenced by JQuery. It’s only 2.5Kb when gzipped which means it will take a second to load on mobile. It’s not only tiny but also comes with some extra features as compared to JQuery. It’s supported by Internet Explorer 11+ and all the other popular browsers. Unlike JQuery, you can also use native JavaScript methods on the umbrella selectors. Its syntax is similar to JQuery except u instead of $.
Sample Usage:
u(“button”).on(‘click’, function(){
alert(“Hello world”);
});
2. Cash
Cash is an absurdly small (10% the size of jQuery) jQuery alternative supported by IE10+ and other modern browsers. Its syntax is similar to JQuery and gives you a query selector, collection methods, and some library methods. Cash might not have all the features of JQuery but it provides all the essential basic features you need.
Sample Usage:
var element = $(“div”); $(element).attr ( attrName, attrValue );
3. ChibiJS
Chibi is a light micro-library enough to stick in line on single-page web apps, saving an extra HTTP request. It’s 7KB when minified and 3KB when zipped. In modern browsers, Chibi executes DOM manipulation 20 to 50% faster than other grown-up libraries. Its syntax is similar to JQuery. ChibiJS intentionally uses the same $ namespace to prevent micro-libraries from being mixed with other grown-up libraries.
Sample Usage:
$(“p”).hide()
Also Read: 5 Reasons why Javascript Developers should learn ElectronJS
4. ZeptoJS
Zepto is an open-source minimalist JavaScript library for modern browsers with a mostly jQuery-compatible API. This library has no plans to compete with JQuery but to enable developers to get the most out of its API in less size. The size of ZeptoJS is only 5-10KB which makes downloading and execution really fast. It supports IE10+ and all the major browsers.
Sample Usage:
$.camelCase(‘hello-there’)
5. JavaScript
Native JavaScript is itself one of the best JQuery alternatives. The reason I am saying this is most of the browsers come with JavaScript by default so you don’t need to install JQuery in your application.JQuery is a JavaScript-based library that even supports older browsers and gives you a sort of relief from browser compatibility issues. The only con of using native JavaScript is not won’t get the super-friendly syntax that JQuery provides.
Sample Usage:
var element = document.getElementById(“media”); element.classList.add(“my style”);
Wrapping Up
These are some of the lightweight JQuery alternatives you can try. I understand these libraries may not match the features provided by JQuery. But if your project requirements can be fulfilled by any of these libraries, there’s nothing wrong with trying these alternatives and overall improving the performance of your application. If you know any other better JQuery alternative that deserves a position in this list, just share it with us in the comments below.
