Qt WebEngine vs Electron

Developers should use Qt WebEngine when building cross-platform desktop applications that require embedded web content, such as displaying help documentation, rendering web-based dashboards, or creating hybrid apps with web technologies meets developers should use electron when they need to create desktop applications that run on multiple operating systems with a consistent user interface and want to reuse web development expertise. Here's our take.

Qt WebEngine

Nice Pick

Developers should use Qt WebEngine when building cross-platform desktop applications that require embedded web content, such as displaying help documentation, rendering web-based dashboards, or creating hybrid apps with web technologies

Pros

• It is particularly useful for scenarios where you need a consistent, up-to-date web rendering engine across Windows, macOS, and Linux without relying on external browsers
• Related to: qt-framework, chromium

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Electron

Developers should use Electron when they need to create desktop applications that run on multiple operating systems with a consistent user interface and want to reuse web development expertise

Pros

• It's ideal for building productivity tools, communication apps, and development environments where rapid prototyping and cross-platform deployment are priorities, such as in applications like Visual Studio Code, Slack, and Discord
• Related to: javascript, node-js

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Qt WebEngine is a library while Electron is a framework. We picked Qt WebEngine based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Qt WebEngine wins

Based on overall popularity. Qt WebEngine is more widely used, but Electron excels in its own space.