You're building a React app and evaluating data grid options. If you're already using Material-UI (MUI), Material React Table seems like the obvious choice—it's built on TanStack Table with beautiful Material Design components out of the box. But is it always the right choice?
Material React Table (MRT) wraps TanStack Table with Material-UI components, giving you a feature-rich table that matches your MUI design system. It's powerful and polished, but it requires Material-UI dependencies and has a larger bundle size.
Simple Table is a standalone React data grid with zero dependencies. It's framework-agnostic, lightweight, and highly performant. You get all the features without committing to a design system. If you're evaluating alternatives, check out our comparison of free React data grids.
This comparison helps you understand when Material-UI integration is worth the bundle size cost, and when a lightweight alternative makes more sense.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Criteria | Material React Table | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT (Free) | MIT (Free) |
| Bundle Size (min+gzip) | 51.8 kB* | 35 kB |
| Dependencies | Requires Material-UI + TanStack Table | Zero dependencies |
| Based On | TanStack Table (15.2 kB) | Custom-built |
| Styling | Material-UI theme | CSS variables/themes |
| Setup Time | Fast (if using MUI) | 15 minutes |
| Best For | Material-UI apps | Any React app (no design system required) |
The Bundle Size Reality: What You Actually Ship
Bundle size matters for load time, especially on mobile. Let's break down what you're actually shipping:
Material React Table: The Dependency Stack
Key point: If you're already using Material-UI for buttons, forms, and other components, MRT's cost is amortized. But if you're only adding Material-UI for tables, you're paying a steep price.
Simple Table: Complete Package
No hidden costs: What you see is what you get. No peer dependencies, no design system requirements.
Real-World Impact
On a slow 3G connection: Material React Table stack (~217KB for new MUI apps) takes ~6-7 seconds to download. Simple Table (35 kB) takes ~0.9 seconds. For mobile-first apps or emerging markets, this is critical.
Feature Comparison
Both libraries are feature-rich, but they take different approaches. Material React Table builds on TanStack Table's foundation, while Simple Table has its own optimized implementation.
| Feature | Material React Table | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| Sorting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Filtering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pagination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Column Resizing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Column Pinning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Row Selection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Column Reordering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Column Visibility Toggle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Row Grouping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aggregation Functions | ✓ | ✓ Built-in |
| Virtualization | ✓ (via separate lib) | ✓ Built-in |
| Cell Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nested Headers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Global Search | ✓ | ✓ Coming soon |
| Dark Mode | ✓ Via MUI theme | ✓ Built-in |
| TypeScript | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent |
Feature parity: Both libraries cover the same core features. Material React Table gives you Material-UI integration, while Simple Table gives you built-in virtualization and smaller bundle size. See the full feature comparison.
The Material-UI Integration Story
Material React Table's biggest selling point is seamless Material-UI integration. But how much does that matter?
Material React Table
Opinionated Material Design: Follows Material-UI principles exactly.
- Perfect match with MUI Button, TextField, Chip, etc.
- Inherits your MUI theme automatically
- MUI icons, tooltips, menus built-in
- Can't use without Material-UI
- Breaking out of Material Design is hard
Simple Table
Framework-Agnostic Styling: Works with any design system.
- Works with Tailwind, CSS Modules, Styled Components, MUI
- CSS variable customization
- Custom renderers for any component library
- Can integrate MUI components if you want
- No design system lock-in
The Critical Question
Are you already using Material-UI? If yes, Material React Table is a natural fit. If no, ask yourself: "Am I willing to add 150KB+ of Material-UI just for tables?" For most projects, the answer is no.
Understanding Material React Table's TanStack Foundation
Material React Table is built on top of TanStack Table, a headless table library. This means:
What This Means for You
- ✓ Pro: You get TanStack's battle-tested table logic and state management
- ✓ Pro: Access to TanStack's extensive plugin ecosystem
- △ Neutral: Bundle includes both MRT wrapper + TanStack core (~51.8 kB + 15.2 kB)
- △ Neutral: Learning curve includes understanding TanStack's concepts
Simple Table's Approach
Simple Table has its own optimized implementation, not based on TanStack:
- ✓ Pro: Single cohesive package, no abstraction layers
- ✓ Pro: Optimized bundle size (everything tree-shakable)
- ✓ Pro: Simpler mental model (no headless/wrapper separation)
- ✓ Pro: Built-in virtualization (TanStack requires separate library)
When to Choose Each: Decision Framework
Choose Material React Table When:
- You're already using Material-UI extensively (forms, buttons, modals, etc.)
- Material Design consistency is a hard requirement
- Your team is already familiar with Material-UI patterns
- You need TanStack Table's plugin ecosystem with Material-UI styling
- Bundle size isn't critical (internal tools, desktop-only apps)
Choose Simple Table When:
- You're not using Material-UI and don't want to add it just for tables
- Bundle size and performance are top priorities (customer-facing, mobile-first)
- You want framework-agnostic tables that work with any CSS solution
- You prefer built-in virtualization without additional libraries
- You need complete styling freedom without design system constraints
- You want zero dependencies and smallest possible bundle
Real-World Scenarios
🏢 Enterprise Dashboard (Material-UI Design System)
Building an internal analytics tool using Material-UI for all components. Need data tables that match the MUI aesthetic perfectly.
✅ Recommendation: Material React Table — Already invested in MUI, perfect integration
🚀 SaaS Product (Custom Design)
Building a customer-facing project management app with custom branding. Not using any component library. Performance is critical.
✅ Recommendation: Simple Table — No design system lock-in, best performance
📱 Mobile-First Data App
Building a mobile-optimized analytics app. Every KB counts for 3G users in emerging markets.
✅ Recommendation: Simple Table — 6× smaller bundle = much faster load
🎨 Tailwind CSS App
Building with Tailwind CSS. Want tables that match your utility-first approach, not Material Design.
✅ Recommendation: Simple Table — Works seamlessly with Tailwind, no MUI conflict
🏗️ Migrating from Material-UI
Gradually moving away from Material-UI to reduce bundle size. Don't want to add MUI dependencies for tables.
✅ Recommendation: Simple Table — Helps you move away from MUI, not deeper into it
The Verdict: Context Is Everything
Both Material React Table and Simple Table are excellent libraries with different strengths. The right choice depends entirely on your context:
The Simple Question
Are you already deeply invested in Material-UI?
- YES, using MUI everywhere:Material React Table is a natural fit. The ~67KB cost (MRT + TanStack) is amortized across your existing MUI investment.
- NO, not using MUI:Simple Table gives you all features without 150KB+ of Material-UI overhead. It's 6× smaller and works with any CSS framework.
- MAYBE, considering MUI:Don't let tables be the reason you add Material-UI. Simple Table is lighter and more flexible.
Bundle Size Reality Check
For apps not using Material-UI: Material React Table stack = ~217KB. Simple Table = 35 kB. That's a 6× difference that directly impacts load time, especially on mobile.
For standalone React apps, mobile-first products, or teams avoiding design system lock-in, Simple Table's lightweight approach wins. For Material-UI apps where consistency trumps bundle size, Material React Table is excellent. Both are MIT licensed and production-ready—choose based on your constraints, not arbitrary preferences. For more context on choosing the right table library, see our guide to the best free React data grids.