For almost a decade, if someone asked, “How do I build a desktop application using JavaScript?”, the answer was simple: Electron.
It powers VS Code, Discord, Slack, Postman, Notion, Figma Desktop, and hundreds of other applications.
But things have changed. Developers today want:
Smaller installers
Faster startup
Lower memory usage
Better security
Native performance
Modern runtimes like Bun and Deno
That’s exactly why Tauri, Electrobun, and now Deno Desktop have entered the race.
The question is no longer “Should I use Electron?”
Instead, it’s:
“Which desktop framework fits my project best?”
Let’s compare all four.
The Four Contenders
Each framework solves the same problem differently.
1. Electron: The Industry Standard
Electron bundles Chromium + Node.js with every application.
That means your users get the exact same browser regardless of operating system.
Why developers love it
Huge ecosystem
Mature APIs
Excellent documentation
Predictable rendering
Battle-tested
Popular apps include:
VS Code
Discord
Slack
GitHub Desktop
Obsidian
Downsides
Electron applications are usually:
Large installers
Memory hungry
Higher CPU usage
Larger updates
Because every application ships its own Chromium engine, even a simple “Hello World” app becomes relatively large.
Perfect for
Enterprise software
Large developer tools
Teams wanting maximum stability
2. Tauri: Small, Secure and Fast
Tauri took a completely different approach.
Instead of bundling Chromium, it uses the operating system’s native WebView.
That immediately reduces application size dramatically. The backend is written in Rust, while your frontend can still use:
React
Vue
Angular
Svelte
Solid
Next.js
Vanilla JavaScript
In other words:
You keep your frontend stack while gaining Rust-level performance.
Advantages
✅ Tiny binaries
✅ Better security model
✅ Lower RAM usage
✅ Native integrations
✅ Mobile support (Android & iOS)
Downsides
Rust learning curve
WebView differences across operating systems
Smaller plugin ecosystem than Electron
Tauri v2 also emphasizes a capability-based security model and cross-platform desktop and mobile support.
Real-world use case
Imagine building a Password Manager.
You care about:
security
startup speed
native encryption
filesystem access
Tauri is almost a perfect fit.
3. Electrobun: Electron, but Powered by Bun
Electrobun is one of the newest desktop frameworks. Instead of Node.js, it runs on Bun.
If your team already develops using Bun, Electrobun feels incredibly familiar.
Its biggest promise is:
ultra-fast startup
tiny updates
pure TypeScript
much smaller binaries than Electron
According to its documentation, Electrobun targets compressed bundles around 14 MB, startup times under 50 ms, and very small binary patch updates.
Biggest advantage
No Rust. Everything stays inside TypeScript. That’s attractive for JavaScript-first teams.
Downsides
Young ecosystem
Smaller community
Fewer production deployments
APIs still evolving
Real-world use case
Suppose you’re building a desktop CRM for an internal sales team.
You already use:
Bun
React
TypeScript
Electrobun lets your developers remain entirely inside the JavaScript ecosystem.
No Rust. No Go. No C++. Just TypeScript.
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4. Deno Desktop: The New Challenger
One of the biggest surprises of 2026 was Deno Desktop. Instead of creating yet another framework, Deno simply extended its runtime.
Now you can convert almost any Deno application into a desktop application using:
deno desktop main.tsThat’s it.
The generated application bundles:
your code
Deno runtime
desktop window
native integrations
It supports:
Next.js
Astro
Remix
SvelteKit
Nuxt
Fresh
along with multiple rendering backends such as native WebView or CEF, depending on configuration.
Built-in features
Native menus
Notifications
Auto updates
Multiple windows
WebGPU
Hot Reload
Native dialogs
Tray support
All included directly in the runtime.
Real-world use case
Imagine you’re already building a SaaS using:
Deno
Fresh
TypeScript
Creating a desktop version suddenly becomes incredibly straightforward.
No additional runtime. No separate framework.
Performance Comparison
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Electron if
You need maximum stability
Enterprise support matters
Existing Electron ecosystem is important
Choose Tauri if
You want:
small installers
high performance
strong security
native desktop applications
Choose Electrobun if
Your team loves:
Bun
TypeScript
fast builds
JavaScript-only development
Choose Deno Desktop if
You’re already using:
Deno
TypeScript
Fresh
modern web standards
and want a unified runtime from server to desktop.
Final Thoughts
Desktop development is entering a new era. For years, Electron dominated because it made web technologies feel native.
Now the landscape is far more exciting:
Electron remains the safest choice for mature, enterprise-scale applications.
Tauri offers exceptional performance, compact binaries, and a security-first architecture.
Electrobun brings Bun’s speed and an all-TypeScript developer experience.
Deno Desktop unifies backend and desktop development around the Deno runtime with modern built-in capabilities.
The best framework isn’t the newest one, it’s the one that aligns with your team’s skills, performance goals, and long-term maintenance strategy.
If you’re starting a new desktop project in 2026, it’s worth evaluating all four before making your choice.
Official Documentation
Thank You for Reading!
I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. Your support and engagement mean a lot to me.