Zustand vs Redux — Which State Management Library Should Choose?

[Roshan-Metrix]

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Hey Developers 👋🏻

I'm a beginner exploring state management in React and trying to decide between Zustand and Redux. My goals are to:

• Learn a library that's easy to start with
• Build scalable apps with clean architecture
• Use middleware like persistence and DevTools
• Future-proof my skills for larger projects

Zustand seems lightweight and intuitive, while Redux is more established and enterprise-ready. For someone just starting out, which one offers the best balance of simplicity, power, and long-term value?

Would love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and any project examples that helped you decide!

[amirroox]

Go with Zustand first, then learn Redux later.

Start with Zustand because:

• Minimal boilerplate - you'll focus on concepts, not syntax
• TypeScript-friendly out of the box
• Has persistence and DevTools middleware
• Teaches core state management principles without overwhelming complexity

Then learn Redux when you:

• Feel comfortable with state management concepts
• Join a team using Redux
• Need strict patterns for very large apps

Why this path works:

• Zustand teaches the "what" and "why" of state management
• Redux teaches advanced patterns and enterprise conventions
• Many companies use both depending on project size
• Skills transfer between them

Bottom line: Zustand gets you productive faster while teaching solid fundamentals. Redux knowledge becomes valuable as projects grow, but starting there often leads to confusion and over-engineering simple apps.