Top 12 Best React Table Libraries for 2026: An In-Depth Guide

When building data-intensive applications in React or Next.js, selecting the right data grid component is a critical architectural decision. The choice you make impacts everything from developer experience and bundle size to end-user performance and accessibility. The wrong library can lead to performance bottlenecks, a frustrating API, and a mountain of custom code to implement basic features. Conversely, the right one can dramatically accelerate development and deliver a polished, high-performance user interface.

This guide provides a detailed analysis of the best React table libraries available today. We move beyond simple feature lists to give you the practical insights needed to make an informed choice. For each of the 12 options, we'll examine:

• Core Philosophy: Is it a headless engine like TanStack Table or a feature-complete solution like AG Grid?
• Performance: How does it handle large datasets and virtualization?
• Developer Experience: What is the API like? How is TypeScript and Next.js integration handled?
• Real-World Trade-offs: What are the honest limitations and costs associated with each library?

We will compare enterprise-grade grids from MUI X, KendoReact, and DevExtreme against popular open-source options like Ant Design's Table and the purpose-built Material React Table. Each review includes direct links, screenshots, and code snippets to illustrate key concepts. Whether you're building a simple admin dashboard or a complex financial analytics platform, this resource will help you select the ideal data grid for your project's unique requirements, saving you countless hours of research and refactoring down the line.

1. TanStack Table (formerly React Table)

TanStack Table, the evolution of React Table, earns its top spot by offering developers complete control over table rendering and behavior. It operates as a "headless" engine, meaning it provides all the complex logic for features like sorting, filtering, and pagination but ships without any pre-styled UI components. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for teams building on a custom design system or requiring precise control over markup and styling.

The primary advantage is its flexibility. You bring your own components, whether they are styled-components, Tailwind CSS classes, or basic HTML elements, and wire them up to the state and helper functions provided by the library's hooks. This approach results in a very small bundle size, as you only include the logic you need.

Key takeaway: TanStack Table is the go-to for building truly bespoke, high-performance data grids. It gives you the powerful logic engine without imposing any design decisions.

Performance and Implementation

Because you control the rendering, you are also responsible for implementing performance optimizations. The library provides hooks and state to support virtualization, which is crucial for tables with thousands of rows. For developers focused on peak performance, exploring these tools to optimize performance in React can provide a significant advantage. The learning curve can be steeper than with UI-rich libraries because you have to connect all the pieces yourself, but the documentation provides extensive examples for common use cases. It's an open-source (MIT licensed) project, so there are no costs associated with using it.

Best For:

• Projects with a mature, custom design system.
• Framework-agnostic applications (core logic works with React, Vue, Svelte, etc.).
• Performance-critical tables where manual optimization is a priority.

Website: https://tanstack.dev/table

2. AG Grid (React)

AG Grid positions itself as a high-performance, enterprise-grade data grid. It comes in two versions: a powerful, free Community edition and a commercial Enterprise edition packed with advanced features. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for applications that must manage immense datasets and require functionality typically found in desktop software, like pivoting and integrated charting. Unlike headless libraries, AG Grid provides a complete UI component set out of the box.

The key distinction of AG Grid is its focus on performance and features for complex data analysis directly within the UI. It achieves remarkable speed through built-in row and column virtualization, ensuring smooth scrolling even with millions of records. The free version is very capable, but the Enterprise license unlocks features like data grouping, aggregation, and Excel export, which are often requirements for financial and business intelligence applications.

Key takeaway: AG Grid is the definitive choice for enterprise applications needing extreme performance and an exhaustive feature set. It trades the full rendering control of a headless UI for a ready-made, powerful data grid.

Performance and Implementation

Performance is AG Grid's core strength. Its virtualization engine is highly optimized, making it a top contender for massive-scale data tables. Implementation involves configuring the <AgGridReact> component with properties for column definitions and row data. While you can customize cells with React components, the overall structure is less flexible than a headless library. The API is extensive and can feel complex initially, but the documentation is thorough. While its core is component-based, understanding how to manage state effectively with custom hooks can improve integration; you can review the top React hooks to master for a deeper dive.

Best For:

• Enterprise-level applications with complex data requirements.
• Projects that need to handle hundreds of thousands or millions of rows.
• Teams that prefer an out-of-the-box solution with extensive features over building from scratch.

Website: https://www.ag-grid.com/react-data-grid/

3. MUI X Data Grid (Material UI)

For teams already invested in the Material UI ecosystem, the MUI X Data Grid is a natural and powerful choice. It provides a feature-rich, out-of-the-box solution that adheres strictly to Material Design principles, ensuring visual consistency across your application. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for projects that prioritize development speed and a polished, cohesive UI without extensive custom styling.

Unlike headless options, MUI X delivers fully-styled components for sorting, filtering, and pagination. It is offered in three tiers: a free Community version (MIT license) with core features, and paid Pro and Premium versions that unlock advanced functionality like column pinning, row grouping, and Excel exports. This tiered model allows teams to start for free and scale into more complex features as needed.

Key takeaway: MUI X Data Grid is the fastest way to implement a production-ready, Material Design-compliant table if you're already using MUI. It offers a great balance of features and ease of use.

Performance and Implementation

The Data Grid comes with built-in virtualization for both rows and columns, which is essential for maintaining a smooth user experience with large datasets. The component-based API is straightforward, especially for developers familiar with MUI's prop-driven configuration. While the Community version is robust, be aware that features often required for enterprise-level applications are behind the Pro paywall. The library's tight integration also simplifies testing; you can explore best practices by mastering React unit testing to ensure your data grid implementation is reliable.

Best For:

• Projects already using the Material UI component library.
• Teams that need a production-ready grid with minimal setup.
• Applications where a consistent Material Design look is a primary requirement.

Website: https://mui.com/x/react-data-grid/

4. React Data Grid (Adazzle / Comcast)

React Data Grid, originally developed by Adazzle and now maintained by Comcast, presents a strong option for developers needing a performant, feature-rich grid out of the box. Written entirely in TypeScript, it offers excellent type safety and developer experience. Unlike headless libraries, it provides a more complete UI component set, but it remains highly customizable and focuses on core grid functionality.

Its architecture is built with performance in mind, incorporating row and column virtualization from the ground up. This makes it suitable for rendering thousands of rows without a noticeable drop in UI responsiveness. Key features like frozen columns, multi-column sorting, and robust keyboard accessibility are built-in, which accelerates development for complex data display requirements.

Key takeaway: React Data Grid is a powerful, TypeScript-native solution that balances ready-to-use features with the flexibility needed for custom applications, making it one of the best react table libraries for performance-focused projects.

Performance and Implementation

The library's main strength is its built-in performance optimizations. Because virtualization is a core feature, you don't need to wire it up yourself, which can be a significant advantage over headless alternatives. Implementation is straightforward, with a component-based API that feels natural in a React ecosystem. Although its community and ecosystem are smaller than giants like MUI or AG Grid, its permissive MIT license and minimal dependencies make it an attractive, cost-free choice for commercial projects. You might need to build more specialized features yourself, but the solid foundation it provides is excellent for many enterprise-level use cases.

Best For:

• Applications requiring high-performance virtualization out of the box.
• Teams that prioritize TypeScript for type safety and code quality.
• Projects needing essential data grid features like frozen columns and column resizing without a heavy dependency footprint.

Website: https://github.com/adazzle/react-data-grid

5. KendoReact Grid (Progress)

KendoReact Grid is a high-performance, commercial data grid component that is part of the extensive KendoReact UI suite by Progress. It is built natively for React, ensuring a seamless development experience without any wrapper dependencies. The library is aimed squarely at enterprise-level applications where robust features, dedicated support, and strict accessibility standards are non-negotiable.

Unlike open-source options, KendoReact provides professional support with guaranteed SLAs, making it a reliable choice for mission-critical systems. It offers a comprehensive feature set that includes advanced filtering, multiple editing modes, data virtualization, and seamless export to PDF and Excel. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for teams that need a feature-complete solution out of the box.

Key takeaway: KendoReact Grid is the go-to commercial solution for enterprise projects that require a feature-rich grid with professional support and guaranteed maintenance.

Performance and Implementation

The grid is engineered for high performance, supporting both row and column virtualization to handle massive datasets smoothly. It also supports client and server-side data operations, giving developers flexibility in how they manage data fetching and manipulation. Implementation is straightforward, with extensive documentation and demos for nearly every feature. While the full feature set requires a commercial license, a subset of components is available for free. Its native integration with Next.js, including a React Server Components (RSC) mode, makes it a strong contender for modern web applications.

Best For:

• Enterprise applications requiring commercial support and SLAs.
• Projects that need extensive, built-in features like advanced editing and exporting.
• Teams already using or planning to adopt the broader KendoReact component suite.

Website: https://www.telerik.com/kendo-react-ui/components/grid/

6. Syncfusion React Data Grid

Syncfusion React Data Grid is a feature-rich commercial component designed for enterprise-level applications that demand extensive out-of-the-box functionality. Unlike headless libraries, it provides a complete, themed UI with a massive set of built-in features, making it one of the best react table libraries for teams that need to build complex line-of-business applications quickly. Its main draw is the sheer breadth of its capabilities, from advanced data operations to robust export options.

The library excels in scenarios requiring minimal custom development for standard grid features. It includes powerful data-binding for real-time updates via SignalR or WebSockets, and its Excel and PDF export functions are among the most mature available. This makes it an ideal choice for internal tools, dashboards, and financial applications where data manipulation and reporting are key requirements.

Key takeaway: Syncfusion provides a powerful, all-in-one grid solution for enterprise projects, trading the flexibility of headless libraries for rapid development and a deep feature set.

Performance and Implementation

The grid comes with built-in virtualization for both rows and columns, ensuring it can handle thousands or even millions of records without significant performance degradation. The API is extensive, which can introduce a learning curve, but the official documentation is detailed with many demos. While it is a commercial product, Syncfusion offers a generous community license for free use by individual developers or small businesses with less than $1M USD in annual revenue, making it accessible for smaller projects. For larger organizations, a commercial license is required.

Best For:

• Enterprise and line-of-business (LOB) applications.
• Projects requiring strong Excel/PDF export capabilities.
• Developers who prefer a ready-made UI with extensive features over a headless engine.

Website: https://www.syncfusion.com/react-components/react-data-grid

7. DevExtreme React Grid (DevExpress)

DevExtreme React Grid is a plugin-based, composable component designed for enterprise-grade applications. Instead of providing a single monolithic grid, it allows developers to build a table piece-by-piece using a system of plugins for features like sorting, filtering, editing, and grouping. This modularity gives you fine-grained control over which features are included, helping to manage bundle size and complexity. It ships with renderers for popular UI libraries like Material UI and Bootstrap, making it a strong choice for teams already using those ecosystems.

The plugin architecture is its defining feature. You start with a core Grid component and add functionality by wrapping it with plugins like PagingState, SortingState, and TableView. This approach feels very declarative and aligns well with React's component model, but it can present a learning curve as you learn which plugins are needed to achieve a specific behavior.

Key takeaway: DevExtreme React Grid is ideal for complex, data-heavy applications where a modular, plugin-based architecture and official support are valued over complete rendering freedom.

Performance and Implementation

Performance is a key strength, with built-in virtual scrolling and optimized data processing for large datasets. Because it’s a commercial product from DevExpress, it comes with the expectation of reliability and professional support, which can be a decisive factor for enterprise projects. The main drawback is the licensing model; while the core components are free, advanced features and official support require a paid DevExtreme subscription. This commercial nature contrasts with many of the open-source options on this list.

Best For:

• Enterprise applications requiring robust features and commercial support.
• Projects already using Material UI or Bootstrap themes.
• Developers who prefer a declarative, plugin-based approach to adding features.

Website: https://devexpress.github.io/devextreme-reactive/react/grid/

8. PrimeReact DataTable

For teams already invested in the PrimeReact ecosystem, or those looking for a feature-packed UI suite, the PrimeReact DataTable is a natural choice. Unlike headless libraries, it provides a complete, themed component with extensive functionality built-in. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for rapidly developing applications that require standard data grid features like sorting, filtering, and pagination without writing all the UI from scratch.

Its primary strength lies in its immediate usability. The component comes with a rich API for row selection, column resizing, reordering, and even CSV export. PrimeReact also offers an unstyled mode, which allows developers to apply their own styling system (like Tailwind CSS) on top of the component's logic, offering a middle ground between a fully-styled and a headless library.

Key takeaway: PrimeReact DataTable is ideal for quick implementation within the PrimeReact suite, offering a rich set of UI features and theming options out-of-the-box.

Performance and Implementation

While the DataTable is highly capable for many scenarios, community feedback suggests that performance can become a concern with very large datasets or complex state interactions. Developers may need to tune properties or implement virtualization strategies to maintain responsiveness. The component is open-source (MIT licensed) and free to use, but PrimeTek offers a paid PRO support service for teams needing dedicated assistance and faster issue resolution. This makes it a dependable option for enterprise projects.

Best For:

• Developers already using the PrimeReact component library.
• Projects requiring a rich set of table UI features with minimal setup.
• Teams that value extensive theming options and optional commercial support.

Website: https://primereact.org/datatable/

9. Ant Design Table (antd)

For teams already building with the Ant Design component library, its integrated Table component is a natural and powerful choice. It offers a comprehensive, out-of-the-box solution with a polished UI and predictable UX patterns, making it ideal for rapidly developing CRUD interfaces, admin panels, and dashboards. Unlike headless libraries, antd provides a full-featured component that requires minimal setup to become functional.

The primary benefit is its seamless integration into the antd ecosystem. Features like sorting, filtering, and pagination work perfectly alongside other antd components like forms, modals, and buttons, ensuring a consistent design language across your application. This consistency makes it one of the best react table libraries for projects standardized on Ant Design.

Key takeaway: Ant Design Table is the fastest way to build a feature-rich, visually consistent data grid if you're already committed to the antd ecosystem.

Performance and Implementation

The component's API is declarative, defined through a columns and dataSource prop. Implementation is straightforward, with extensive documentation and examples covering common use cases like expandable rows, fixed columns, and custom cell rendering. Performance is generally good for small-to-medium datasets, but it lacks built-in virtualization, which can cause slowdowns with thousands of rows. While its styling is opinionated, it can be customized using Less variables or CSS overrides. The library is open-source (MIT licensed) and free to use.

Best For:

• Teams standardizing on the Ant Design component library.
• Admin dashboards and internal tools requiring rapid development.
• Projects where a consistent, pre-built UI is more important than bespoke styling.

Website: https://ant.design/components/table/

10. Material React Table

For teams already invested in the Material UI ecosystem, Material React Table offers a direct and efficient path to implementing a full-featured data grid. It's built directly on top of TanStack Table v8, meaning it inherits a powerful headless core, but comes with all the necessary Material UI components pre-configured. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for developers who want the advanced logic of TanStack Table without the manual setup of wiring up UI components.

The library provides sensible defaults for a wide range of features, including row actions, selection, pinning, and virtualization, which is powered by @tanstack/react-virtual. This allows you to get a sophisticated table running with minimal code while ensuring it looks perfectly integrated with your existing MUI application.

Key takeaway: Material React Table is the ideal bridge between TanStack Table's logic and Material UI's design, offering a feature-rich, out-of-the-box solution for MUI projects.

Performance and Implementation

Since it's a wrapper around TanStack Table, performance characteristics are similar, but with the added weight of MUI components. The inclusion of built-in virtualization support is a major advantage for handling large datasets effectively. Implementation is straightforward for anyone familiar with MUI; you pass props to configure features rather than building the UI from scratch. The documentation is clear, with plenty of examples for both simple and complex use cases. As an open-source (MIT licensed) project, it is completely free to use, though it is maintained by a smaller team compared to larger commercial options.

Best For:

• Projects built with Material UI that need a data grid quickly.
• Developers who want TanStack Table's features without the boilerplate.
• Applications requiring a consistent Material Design look and feel.

Website: https://www.material-react-table.com/

11. Mantine DataTable

For developers already invested in the Mantine UI ecosystem, Mantine DataTable offers a seamless and powerful data grid solution. It's a lightweight, dependency-free component built specifically for Mantine applications, providing many datagrid features out-of-the-box while staying true to Mantine's design principles and theming system. This makes it one of the best react table libraries for projects that prioritize ecosystem consistency and rapid development within a specific component library.

The component shines by providing a rich feature set with minimal configuration. It handles common needs like sorting, pagination, row expansion, and column reordering directly through its props-based API. Because it’s built for Mantine, it automatically respects your application's theme, including dark mode, without any extra setup.

Key takeaway: Mantine DataTable is the perfect choice for adding advanced table functionality to a Mantine project quickly, delivering a consistent user experience with little effort.

Performance and Implementation

Implementation is remarkably straightforward for anyone familiar with Mantine's component API. The library is TypeScript-first, offering strong type safety and helpful autocompletion that simplifies development. While it doesn't have the extensive enterprise features of giants like AG Grid, its focused scope results in a smaller bundle size and less complexity. Performance is solid for most use cases, though it lacks built-in virtualization for handling many thousands of rows. It's an open-source (MIT licensed) project, so it is free to use.

Best For:

• Applications built with the Mantine component library.
• Teams that need a feature-rich table without a steep learning curve.
• Projects where TypeScript support and theming consistency are critical.

Website: https://icflorescu.github.io/mantine-datatable/

12. Handsontable (React wrapper)

Handsontable brings the full power of a spreadsheet application directly into your React project. It’s less of a traditional table library and more of a complete data grid component that emulates the behavior of applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This makes it an exceptional choice for building complex, data-entry-heavy applications where users need to manipulate large datasets with familiar spreadsheet interactions.

Its core strength lies in providing an out-of-the-box, Excel-like user experience. Features such as rich cell editors, data validation, conditional formatting, and even a formula engine are built-in. This significantly reduces development time for applications requiring these advanced capabilities, such as financial modeling tools, complex CRMs, or internal admin panels for data teams.

Key takeaway: For applications that demand a true spreadsheet experience, Handsontable is a powerful, ready-to-use solution that delivers advanced data editing and manipulation features.

Performance and Implementation

The library is designed to handle large datasets efficiently, using virtualization to render only the visible rows and columns. While it provides a React wrapper (@handsontable/react), the core engine is framework-agnostic, which contributes to its battle-tested stability. Implementation is straightforward for basic grids, but tapping into the extensive API for custom cell types or complex validation rules requires a deeper dive into its documentation. It's a commercial product, so while a free trial is available, production use requires a license, making it a better fit for well-funded projects with a clear need for its specific feature set.

Best For:

• Data-entry intensive applications and analytics dashboards.
• Projects where an Excel-like user experience is a primary requirement.
• Teams that need a commercially supported grid with a robust feature set.

Website: https://handsontable.com

Top 12 React Table Libraries — Feature Comparison

Making the Final Call: Which React Table Is Right for You?

Navigating the extensive ecosystem of React table libraries can feel daunting, but it also reveals a powerful truth about the React community: there's a specialized tool for nearly every job. We've explored a wide spectrum, from the foundational, bring-your-own-markup flexibility of TanStack Table to the immense, all-inclusive power of enterprise-grade solutions like AG Grid and KendoReact Grid. Your journey to finding the "best react table libraries" for your needs ends not with a single definitive answer, but with a clear understanding of your own project's requirements.

The choice you make will have a lasting impact on your development workflow, application performance, and the final user experience. It's a foundational decision that deserves careful consideration.

A Quick Decision-Making Guide

To simplify your choice, let's distill our findings into a few key scenarios. Your decision should be guided by your specific context, team expertise, and project goals.

• For Maximum Control and Customization: TanStack Table remains the gold standard. If you're building a bespoke design system or need a table that can adapt to any UI without imposing its own styles, its headless architecture is a perfect fit. It gives you the logic and state management, leaving the visual representation entirely in your hands.

• For Enterprise-Grade, Feature-Rich Applications: AG Grid is the clear industry leader. When your requirements include massive datasets, complex real-time updates, integrated charting, and every data manipulation feature imaginable, AG Grid's performance and exhaustive feature set justify its licensing cost. Similarly, DevExtreme, KendoReact, and Syncfusion offer competing enterprise solutions, each with its own ecosystem and strengths, making them strong contenders for complex internal tools and financial applications.

• For Seamless UI Kit Integration: If your application is already built with a component library, sticking to its ecosystem is often the most efficient path.

  • MUI X Data Grid is the natural and powerful choice for Material UI projects.
  • PrimeReact DataTable offers a rich experience for those invested in the PrimeFaces ecosystem.
  • Ant Design Table provides a solid, well-integrated solution for antd users.
  • Material React Table and Mantine DataTable serve as excellent, lightweight alternatives that build upon Material UI and Mantine, respectively, offering a simpler API for common use cases.

• For Spreadsheet-Like Experiences: When your users need to edit data in a way that feels like Excel or Google Sheets, Handsontable stands in a category of its own. Its cell-oriented design and powerful editing capabilities are built specifically for these interactive, data-entry-heavy scenarios.

Final Factors to Weigh

Before you commit, ask yourself these final questions:

1. What is our budget? Are we looking for an open-source solution, or can we invest in a commercial license for premium features and dedicated support?
2. What is our team's skill set? Is the team comfortable building UIs from scratch (favoring TanStack Table), or would they be more productive with a pre-styled, component-rich library?
3. What are our performance needs? Do we need robust virtualization to handle hundreds of thousands of rows, or are we dealing with smaller, paginated data sets?
4. What is our long-term roadmap? Will our feature requirements grow over time? Choosing a library that can scale with your ambitions, like MUI X Pro or AG Grid Enterprise, might be a wise long-term investment.

Choosing the right data grid is less about finding a universally perfect tool and more about finding the perfect fit for your specific puzzle. By evaluating your project's constraints against the strengths and weaknesses we've discussed, you can confidently select a library that will serve as a powerful and scalable foundation for all your future data-driven interfaces.

Mastering these advanced libraries is a key step in becoming a top-tier developer. At Next.js & React.js Revolution, we dive deep into building performant, scalable applications with tools just like these, showing you how to integrate them effectively into a modern Next.js architecture. Elevate your skills from building components to engineering complete, production-ready systems by checking out our comprehensive courses at Next.js & React.js Revolution.