JavaScript AlternativesTop Programming Languages and other similar apps like JavaScript

JavaScript is described as '(sometimes shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions, most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but also used in many non-browser environments' and is a leading programming language in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to JavaScript for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Web-based apps. The best JavaScript alternative is Python, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like JavaScript are Java, PHP, TypeScript and Ruby.

More about JavaScript
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
JavaScript alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Python icon

    Python

     1407 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programming language. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, and is free and comprehensively ported.

    94 Python alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Symbian S60
    • BSD
    • AROS
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    Python screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    13
    Comments about Python as an Alternative to JavaScript
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Python and JavaScript share SOME similarities, but their main purpose is different. Both of them are good for building small apps and SOME ML, but Python is for data analysis, while JavaScript is for web design and visuals. NumPy is python's math library, while JS has many functions like ellipse(), rect() etc that are good for graphics.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    JavaScript Icon
    Python icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Python is a great JavaScript alternative.

    • Python is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to JavaScript.

    • Python is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to JavaScript.

    • Python is Free and Open SourceJavaScript is also Free and Open Source
  2. Java icon

    Java

     664 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Java is a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.

    73 Java alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Java Mobile
    • Symbian S60
    • HP webOS
    • Blackberry
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Blackberry 10
    • Kindle Fire
    Java screenshot 1
     
    |
    4
    14
    Comments about Java as an Alternative to JavaScript
    Guest
    Negative
    5

    JavaScript is very different from Java.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    lionking420
    Positive
    0

    JS is arguably more portable, because it can run on almost any web browser. Java can sometimes run in browsers, but usually requires its own RTE, which is still highly available, but not integrated with the web the same way as JS is.

    Guest
    Negative
    3

    Java and JavaScript are entirely different programming languages.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    JavaScript Icon
    Java icon

    • Some users think Java is a great JavaScript alternative, some don't.

    • Java is the most popular Web-based, Android & Android Tablet alternative to JavaScript.

    • Java is Free Personal and Open SourceJavaScript is Free and Open Source
  4. PHP icon

    PHP

     469 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open-source scripting language executed on the server, PHP embeds into HTML, fostering dynamic web development. Influenced by C, Java, and Perl, it supports database integration, offers extensive libraries, and remains easy for beginners while robust for seasoned developers.

    43 PHP alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PHP
    PHP screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    16
    Comments about PHP as an Alternative to JavaScript
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    0

    PHP is a great programming language! It can also be used for non web development thought is unlikely.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -2

    Javascript is client sided and can be integrated with PHP, PHP interacts with server and uses server side data and script.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    JavaScript Icon
    PHP icon

    • Most users think PHP is a great JavaScript alternative.

    • PHP is Free and Open SourceJavaScript is also Free and Open Source
  5. TypeScript icon

    TypeScript

     65 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    TypeScript is a language for application-scale JavaScript development. It is a typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript in any browser, any host, any OS and it is Open Source.

    15 TypeScript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • JavaScript
    • Node.JS
    TypeScript screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    17
    Comments about TypeScript as an Alternative to JavaScript
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Its actually Javascript, but better and worse in some ways

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    JavaScript Icon
    TypeScript icon

    • Most users think TypeScript is a great JavaScript alternative.

    • TypeScript is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to JavaScript.

    • TypeScript is Free and Open SourceJavaScript is also Free and Open Source
  6. Ruby icon

    Ruby

     270 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was initially developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto.

    79 Ruby alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Ruby screenshot 1
     
    |
    6
  7. Lua icon

    Lua

     185 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Lua is a powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language.

    Lua combines simple procedural syntax with powerful data description constructs based on associative arrays and extensible semantics. Lua is dynamically typed, runs by interpreting bytecode for a register-based.

    84 Lua alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Android Wear
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • Playstation
    • MorphOS
    Lua screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Lua as an Alternative to JavaScript
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    0

    One of my favourite programming languages! But this does not seem viable has a alternative to JavaScript.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    JavaScript Icon
    Lua icon

    • Most users think Lua is a great JavaScript alternative.

    • Lua is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to JavaScript.

    • Lua is Free and Open SourceJavaScript is also Free and Open Source
  9. Perl icon

    Perl

     140 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language with over 22 years of development.

    79 Perl alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
     
  10. Dart icon

    Dart

     80 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Dart (originally called Dash) is a Web programming language developed by Google. It was unveiled at the GOTO conference in Aarhus, 2011 October 10-12. The goal of Dart is "ultimately to replace JavaScript as the lingua franca of web development on the open web platform.

    68 Dart alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Dart screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    7
    Comments about Dart as an Alternative to JavaScript
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Same use, but better syntax.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    JavaScript Icon
    Dart icon

    • Most users think Dart is a great JavaScript alternative.

    • Dart is Free and Open SourceJavaScript is also Free and Open Source
  11. Kotlin icon

    Kotlin

     39 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Kotlin is a cross-platform, statically typed, general-purpose programming language with type inference. Kotlin is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the JVM version of its standard library depends on the Java Class Library, but type inference allows its syntax to be...

    51 Kotlin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Kotlin screenshot 1
     
  12. CoffeeScript icon

    CoffeeScript

     75 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    CoffeeScript is a little language that compiles into JavaScript. Underneath all those awkward braces and semicolons, JavaScript has always had a gorgeous object model at its heart. CoffeeScript is an attempt to expose the good parts of JavaScript in a simple way.

    27 CoffeeScript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Coffeescript code
     
    |
    9
  13. WebAssembly icon

    WebAssembly

     9 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    WebAssembly or wasm is a new portable, size- and load-time-efficient format suitable for compilation to the web.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Safari
    • Firefox
     
  14. Swift (programming language) icon

    Swift (programming language)

     39 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open-source programming language for developing iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS apps, featuring safety, speed, type inference, generics, native-code compilation, protocol-oriented design, memory management, Playgrounds, package manager, and Objective-C interoperability.

    75 Swift (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Apple Swift
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Xcode
    Swift (programming language) screenshot 1
     
12 of 60 JavaScript alternatives