Performance comparison of Django's main interactive frameworks

Which Django interactive framework is actually the fastest? LiveView, HTMX, Unicorn, Reactor, or good old server-side rendering? I don't know, but I'd like to find out. Is investing time in WebSockets a waste? Is hmtx slow? So many questions to answer.

The results were... surprising.

Technology Comparison

First, a quick overview of the technologies compared:

Feature	LiveView	SSR	django-htmx	Unicorn	Reactor
Transport	WebSocket	HTTP	AJAX	AJAX	WebSocket
Update Type	Real-time	Full reload	Partial	Reactive	Real-time
Multi-user	✅ Broadcast	❌	❌	❌	✅ Broadcast
Infrastructure	Redis + Channels	Django only	Django only	Django only	Redis + Channels

Performance Testing

To settle this question, I built an identical alert management system using each framework. The test workflow: click a button that creates a database record, wait for it to render on the page, navigate to a form (page/modal), intentionally fail validation, see error messages, submit correctly, return to the previous screen, and verify the new element appears. Pretty easy and common workflow.

Each framework was tested 10 times using Chrome DevTools Performance API, measuring:

• Response time: From button click to UI update
• Network requests: HTTP calls or WebSocket messages
• Data transfer: Bytes sent over the wire

Fair and square. Same system, same test, same browser.

My code is here

Results Summary

Implementation	Avg Response Time	Network Requests	Data Transfer	Technology
LiveView	9.35ms	0 (WebSocket)	0.44 KB	WebSocket messages
Reactor	12.00ms	0 (WebSocket)	0.51 KB	WebSocket components
django-htmx	16.48ms	1 HTTP request	36.13 KB	AJAX partial HTML
Unicorn	26.76ms	1 HTTP request	69.34 KB	AJAX component sync
SSR	47.25ms	2 HTTP requests	8.30 KB	POST + redirect GET

Performance Visualizations

All charts indicate that lower values are better for optimal performance.

Response Time Comparison

Average response times across implementations. LiveView (9.35ms) is fastest, followed by Reactor (12.00ms), django-htmx (16.48ms), Unicorn (26.76ms), and SSR (47.25ms).

HTTP Requests per Action

Number of HTTP requests required per action. LiveView and Reactor use 0 HTTP requests (WebSocket), while SSR requires 2 (POST + redirect).

Data Transfer Overhead

Amount of data transferred per action. LiveView (0.44 KB) and Reactor (0.51 KB) transfer minimal data, while Unicorn transfers the most (69 KB).

Performance Stability

Response time consistency across 10 iterations. Lower and flatter lines indicate better, more stable performance.

Key Findings

🏆 Speed Winner: LiveView (9.35ms)

• WebSocket communication eliminates HTTP overhead
• Real-time bidirectional connection already established
• Minimal data transfer (0.44 KB per action)
• Best for: Real-time dashboards, collaborative apps, maximum performance

🥈 Runner-up: Reactor (12.00ms)

• Phoenix LiveView-style architecture with WebSocket
• Component-based approach with excellent speed
• Only 28% slower than LiveView, 4x faster than SSR
• Best for: Structured components with near-LiveView performance

🥉 Third Place: django-htmx (16.48ms)

• Best AJAX solution, 38% faster than Unicorn
• Efficient partial updates, minimal JavaScript
• Good balance of speed and simplicity
• Best for: Modern UX without WebSockets

4️⃣ Fourth Place: Unicorn (26.76ms)

• Component-based with two-way data binding
• Full component state synchronization
• Larger payloads (69 KB) due to component data
• Best for: Interactive forms with complex state management

5️⃣ Traditional: SSR (47.25ms)

• Full page reload with complete render cycle
• Two HTTP requests (POST + redirect GET)
• Slowest but simplest infrastructure
• Best for: SEO-critical pages, simple CRUD apps

Conclusions

1. WebSocket Dominance: Both LiveView (9.35ms) and Reactor (12.00ms) outperform HTTP-based solutions by 43-80%, with zero HTTP requests per action.
2. Reactor vs LiveView: Reactor is 28% slower than LiveView but offers Phoenix LiveView-style components. Both transfer minimal data (0.44-0.51 KB) compared to AJAX solutions.
3. Best AJAX Solution: django-htmx (16.48ms) is 38% faster than Unicorn (26.76ms), proving that simpler approaches often win in the AJAX category.
4. Component Overhead: Unicorn's full state sync adds significant overhead (69 KB vs django-htmx's 36 KB), trading bandwidth for richer interactivity.
5. Network Efficiency: WebSocket solutions (LiveView, Reactor) transfer 70-157x less data than AJAX solutions, demonstrating superior efficiency.
6. Stability: WebSocket implementations show excellent consistency (std dev <1.2ms) while all frameworks maintain stable performance across iterations.

In summary, if maximum speed and efficiency are your goals, WebSocket-based frameworks like LiveView and Reactor are the clear winners. For those seeking a balance of speed and simplicity without WebSockets, django-htmx and Unicorn is a strong contender. If you prioritize simplicity and SEO, traditional SSR remains a viable option despite its slower performance.