es-toolkit and radash are both modern JavaScript utility libraries that emerged as alternatives to Lodash, offering functional programming helpers for common operations like array manipulation, object handling, and asynchronous control flow. es-toolkit positions itself as a performance-focused, TypeScript-native replacement for Lodash with explicit compatibility layers, while radash takes a more opinionated approach with a curated set of utilities emphasizing simplicity and functional patterns without attempting Lodash API compatibility.
This comparison is particularly relevant for teams migrating away from Lodash or starting new projects where bundle size and performance matter. es-toolkit targets developers seeking a drop-in Lodash replacement with measurable performance gains, while radash appeals to developers who prefer a fresh API design without legacy baggage and want utilities specifically designed for modern JavaScript patterns including async/await and immutability.
For teams with existing Lodash dependencies or those prioritizing maximum performance and minimal bundle size, es-toolkit is the clear choice. Its compatibility layer makes migration painless while delivering measurable performance improvements (2-11× faster) and drastically smaller bundles (up to 97% reduction). The strong TypeScript support and growing ecosystem adoption, including consideration by major projects like Vue.js, make it a safe long-term investment. Choose es-toolkit when performance metrics matter, when migrating from Lodash, or when bundle size directly impacts user experience.
Choose radash when starting greenfield projects where you want a cleaner, more modern API without Lodash legacy constraints. radash shines in applications with heavy async operations, offering superior utilities for parallel execution, retries, and promise handling. Its opinionated functional approach produces more readable code when you're not constrained by existing patterns. If your team values API ergonomics over raw performance benchmarks and doesn't need Lodash compatibility, radash's thoughtful design will result in more maintainable code. However, for most production scenarios where performance and bundle size are critical, es-toolkit's technical advantages outweigh radash's API benefits.