Appearance
| Feature | Desktoprrecommended | Electron | Tauri | ToDesktop | Neutralino.js |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under the hood | Tauri + Rust (managed) | Chromium + Node.js | Rust + OS WebView | Electron (managed) | OS WebView + C++ |
| Installer size | ~3–15 MB | ~100–200 MB | ~3–10 MB | ~100–200 MB | ~2–5 MB |
| Languages required | JS / TS only | JS / TS | JS / TS + Rust | JS / TS | JS / TS |
| Setup time | ~5 min (dashboard) | Hours – days | Hours – days | Hours – days | 30 min – hours |
| Native API access | Rich (15+ modules) | Very rich | Very rich | Rich | Basic |
| Platforms | Win, Mac, Linux | Win, Mac, Linux | Win, Mac, Linux¹ | Win, Mac, Linux | Win, Mac, Linux |
| Cloud builds | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | — |
| Code signing | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | — |
| Managed distribution | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | — |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium | High | Medium | Low - medium |
| Vendor lock-in | None | None | None | Medium - High | None |
| Free to try | Companion app (unlimited) | Free (open source) | Free (open source) | 7-day trial | Free (open source) |
| Plugin system | WASM Plugins (unlimited) | npm / native addons | Rust plugin ecosystem | npm packages | Extensions (limited) |
| No-code support | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Pricing | €10 / build + optional Edge | Free (open source) | Free (open source) | From $100 / month | Free (open source) |
¹ Tauri has experimental iOS and Android support. Prices subject to change.
Why Most Developers Choose Desktopr
Electron ships a full copy of Chromium with every app — great ecosystem, but your users download 150 MB and your app idles at 200+ MB of RAM. Tauri solves the size problem but requires Rust for anything native. ToDesktop handles Electron's DevOps nicely, but starts at $100/month and assumes you already have an Electron project. Neutralino.js is lightweight but has limited APIs and a small community.
Desktopr gives you a Tauri-powered desktop app — small installer, low memory consumption, real native APIs — without writing a line of Rust or managing a build pipeline. You point it at your web app URL, test in the free Companion app, and trigger a cloud build. One build credit covers all three platforms.
What you get
- ~3–15 MB installer — no bundled Chromium
- 15+ native API modules — tray, shortcuts, notifications, file system, deep links, autostart and more — all callable from JavaScript or TypeScript
- Cloud builds — no Rust toolchain, no cross-compilation setup
- Code signing + distribution included with Desktopr Edge
- No-code path — Bubble.io plugin for non-developers
- No vendor lock-in — you own the generated binaries
When to Choose Something Else
| If you need… | Use this |
|---|---|
| Full Rust control over native code | Tauri (direct) |
| Max Node.js API surface, large ecosystem | Electron (direct) |
| DevOps for an existing Electron app | ToDesktop |
| Tiny utility app, zero budget, basic needs | Neutralino.js |
Get Started Free
The Companion app lets you load your web app into a real Desktopr runtime and test every native API — no build credits, no credit card.
Try Desktopr free or Read the docs
Pricing
- Desktopr build credits are offered on a one-time purchase model, once you build you own your app entirely, no lock-in, no subscription.
- We also offer a subscription based desktop app distribution service: Desktopr edge.
Check out Desktopr pricing