JavaScript Alternatives

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 Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD and Online / Web-based. The best alternative is Python, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like JavaScript are PHP, Java, TypeScript and Ruby.

JavaScript alternatives are mainly Programming Languages but may also be Game Development Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of JavaScript.

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JavaScript

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Free • Open Source
Programming Language

Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
BSD
iPad
AROS
Haiku

JavaScript (sometimes shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions,...

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Python
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Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Symbian S60
BSD
AROS
Haiku
AmigaOS
OpenSolaris
MorphOS
79 alternatives to Python
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.
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Python Features
1. LightweightPython consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for scriptingPython supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. PortablePython can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
High Level
Object-oriented Language
Modular System
Dynamic typing
Garbage Collection
Interpreted language
Rad
Python vs JavaScript opinions
Almost everyone thinks Python is a great alternative to JavaScript.
Guest
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.
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PHP
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PHP
37 alternatives to PHP
PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML.
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PHP Features
1. PortablePHP can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. LightweightPHP consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Object-oriented Language
PHP vs JavaScript opinions
Most users think PHP is a great alternative to JavaScript.
solarwatercodes
PHP is a great programming language! It can also be used for non web development thought is unlikely.
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Guest
Javascript is client sided and can be integrated with PHP, PHP interacts with server and uses server side data and script.
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Java
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Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
Java Mobile
Symbian S60
HP webOS
Blackberry
Android Tablet
BSD
Blackberry 10
PlayBook
Kindle Fire
58 alternatives to Java
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.
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Java Features
Garbage Collection
Object-oriented Language
Statically Typed Language
Coding
X86/x64 Compatibility
Stringent Programming Language
Java vs JavaScript opinions
This alternative is disputed. Java is still a legitimate alternative to JavaScript, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
lionking420
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.
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Guest
Java is a programming language too but JavaScript was not created by Oracle (the company who creates Java)
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Guest
Java and JavaScript are entirely different programming languages.
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Guest
JavaScript is very different from Java.
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5
TypeScript
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Self-Hosted
Node.JS
12 alternatives to TypeScript
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.
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TypeScript Features
Support for Javascript
Typesafe
Typesetting
Object-oriented Language
Interpreter
TypeScript vs JavaScript opinions
Most users think TypeScript is a great alternative to JavaScript.
Guest
Its actually Javascript, but better and worse in some ways
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Ruby
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
67 alternatives to Ruby
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.
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Ruby Features
Blocks
Dynamic typing
Object-oriented Language
Text processing
Interpreter
Native extension libraries
Ruby vs JavaScript opinions
Lua
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
iPad
Android Wear
Haiku
AmigaOS
Playstation
MorphOS
67 alternatives to Lua
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.
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Lua Features
1. LightweightLua consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for scriptingLua supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
Embeddable
Configuration
Lua vs JavaScript opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
solarwatercodes
One of my favourite programming languages! But this does not seem viable has a alternative to JavaScript.
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Perl
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No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
64 alternatives to Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language with over 22 years of development.
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Perl Features
Shell integration
Text processing
Add a screenshot
Dart
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
58 alternatives to Dart
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.

Dart has no features, suggest some!

Dart vs JavaScript opinions
Most users think Dart is a great alternative to JavaScript.
Guest
Same use, but better syntax.
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Kotlin
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
46 alternatives to Kotlin
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...
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Kotlin Features
Object-oriented Language
Rad
Interpreter
CoffeeScript
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Programming Language
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
23 alternatives to CoffeeScript
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.
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CoffeeScript Features
Javascript scripting
CoffeeScript vs JavaScript opinions
Most users think CoffeeScript is a great alternative to JavaScript.