RSuite Ecosystem Context
RSuite Table is part of RSuite (React Suite), a comprehensive UI library with 50+ components for enterprise applications. If you're already using RSuite, the table integrates seamlessly. If not, you're adding a large dependency for one component.
You're evaluating React data grids and found RSuite Table (89k weekly downloads, 741 GitHub stars). It's the table component from the RSuite design system, offering virtualization, fixed columns, resizable columns, tree tables, and expandable rows. Published 8 months ago, it's actively maintained and MIT licensed.
RSuite Table is designed for enterprise applications that value design consistency across all UI components. It follows RSuite's design language with built-in theming, RTL support, and accessibility features. The API is component-based (Table, Column, HeaderCell, Cell) with props for configuration.
Simple Table is a standalone data grid with zero dependencies. It's not tied to any design system, giving you freedom to style it however you want. Despite being 2.4× smaller (42KB vs 102KB), it includes features RSuite Table lacks—like row grouping and column pinning. For more comparisons, see our guide to free React data grids.
This comparison explores when RSuite Table's design system integration is worth the bundle size, and when Simple Table's standalone approach offers better flexibility. We'll examine bundle size, features, ecosystem lock-in, and real-world scenarios.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Criteria | RSuite Table | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT (Free) | MIT (Free) |
| Bundle Size (min+gzip) | 102 kB* | 42 kB |
| Weekly Downloads | 89k | Growing |
| GitHub Stars | 741 | Growing |
| Last Updated | 8 months ago | Active (2026) |
| Dependencies | Part of RSuite ecosystem | Zero dependencies |
| Design System | RSuite (enterprise) | None (flexible) |
| Best For | RSuite users, design consistency | Standalone use, any design system |
Bundle Size: Simple Table is 2.4× Smaller
RSuite Table weighs ~102KB min+gzipped—the largest among free React table libraries we've compared. Simple Table is 42KB, 2.4× smaller. This 60KB difference impacts initial page load significantly.
Bundle Size Breakdown
Size difference: 60 KB — RSuite Table's overhead is 143% of Simple Table's entire bundle. On slower connections, this translates to 1-2 seconds longer load time.
RSuite Ecosystem Consideration
If you're already using RSuite components (Buttons, Forms, Modals, etc.), the table fits seamlessly into your design system. However, if you're only using the table, you're paying a 60KB premium for design system integration you don't fully utilize.
Feature Comparison: Design System vs Standalone Power
RSuite Table provides solid enterprise features. Simple Table matches most and adds features RSuite lacks:
| Feature | RSuite Table | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| Core Table Features | ||
| Sorting | ✓ Server-side | ✓ |
| Pagination | ✓ With RSuite Pagination | ✓ |
| Row Selection | △ Via custom cells | ✓ Built-in |
| Expandable Rows | ✓ | ✓ Nested |
| Tree Tables | ✓ isTree prop | ✓ Nested rows |
| Advanced Features | ||
| Virtualization | ✓ virtualized prop | ✓ Built-in |
| Fixed Columns | ✓ left/right | ✓ Pinning |
| Column Resizing | ✓ resizable prop | ✓ |
| Column Reordering | ✗ | ✓ |
| Row Grouping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Column Grouping | ✓ ColumnGroup | ✓ Nested headers |
| Cell/Row Spanning | ✓ colSpan/rowSpan | △ Via custom cells |
| Filtering | △ Manual/server-side | ✓ |
| UI & Theming | ||
| Design System | ✓ RSuite | Framework-agnostic |
| RTL Support | ✓ Built-in | ✓ |
| Custom Styling | ✓ LESS/CSS | ✓ CSS-in-JS |
| TypeScript | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent |
Feature trade-offs: RSuite Table excels at cell/row spanning and has built-in RTL. Simple Table adds row grouping, column reordering, and built-in filtering. Both support virtualization and fixed columns well.
Ecosystem Consideration: RSuite Lock-in vs Standalone Freedom
Choosing RSuite Table means committing to the RSuite ecosystem. This has pros and cons:
RSuite Ecosystem: Design System Integration
- Consistent design: Table matches RSuite buttons, forms, modals, etc.
- Enterprise theming: Built-in light/dark themes, RTL support
- Full component suite: 50+ components for complete apps
- Framework lock-in: Hard to migrate away from RSuite design language
- Bundle overhead: Each RSuite component adds to total bundle size
- Styling constraints: Custom styling requires overriding RSuite LESS/CSS
Simple Table: Framework-Agnostic Freedom
- Zero dependencies: No UI framework required
- Works with any design system: Material-UI, Chakra UI, Tailwind, custom CSS
- Full styling control: CSS-in-JS via props, no framework to fight
- Easy migration: Swap out for any other table library without breaking your design
- No pre-built themes: You style it from scratch (tradeoff for flexibility)
The Lock-in Question
RSuite Table: Great if you're all-in on RSuite. Risky if you're only using the table—you're locked into their design language for one component. Simple Table: Use any design system you want, switch anytime.
Decision Framework: When to Choose Each Library
Choose RSuite Table When:
- Already using RSuite components (buttons, forms, etc.)
- Want design system consistency across all UI components
- Need cell/row spanning (colspan/rowspan) heavily
- Building enterprise apps with RTL/i18n requirements
- Don't need row grouping or column reordering
Choose Simple Table When:
- Not using RSuite (avoid 102KB for one component)
- Want framework-agnostic solution (works with any design system)
- Need smallest bundle (42KB vs 102KB)
- Require row grouping or column reordering
- Want built-in filtering and advanced features
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Enterprise Admin Panel (All RSuite)
Context: Building a full admin dashboard with RSuite buttons, forms, navigation, modals, and data tables. Need consistent design.
RSuite Table
Perfect fit. Already using RSuite everywhere—table integrates seamlessly with same theming, RTL, and design language. Bundle overhead is amortized across all components.
Simple Table
Not ideal. Would require custom styling to match RSuite's design. You'd lose design consistency across components.
Scenario 2: Standalone Product Catalog
Context: Building a product listing page with custom Tailwind design. No other UI framework used.
RSuite Table
Overkill. Adding 102KB RSuite Table for one component is wasteful. RSuite's design won't match your Tailwind custom design.
Simple Table
Perfect fit. 42KB standalone, style with Tailwind CSS as needed. No framework lock-in, no design system to fight.
Scenario 3: Financial Report with Row Grouping
Context: Display transactions grouped by category, with summary rows and 50k records virtualized.
RSuite Table
Missing feature. No built-in row grouping. You'd need to manually organize data into tree structure or build custom solution.
Simple Table
Built-in support. Row grouping and virtualization included. See our 1M row guide.
The Verdict: Ecosystem Commitment vs Standalone Flexibility
RSuite Table and Simple Table serve different needs. The decision hinges on whether you're already invested in the RSuite ecosystem:
RSuite Table: Design System Integration
- ✓ Perfect if using RSuite components across your app
- ✓ Consistent enterprise design language
- ✓ Built-in RTL, accessibility, and theming
- ✓ Excellent cell/row spanning support
- ✗ 102KB bundle (2.4× larger than Simple Table)
- ✗ Framework lock-in if only using table
- ✗ No row grouping or column reordering
Simple Table: Framework-Agnostic Power
- ✓ 42KB—2.4× smaller than RSuite Table
- ✓ Zero dependencies, works with any design system
- ✓ Row grouping, column reordering built-in
- ✓ Actively maintained (2026)
- ✓ No framework lock-in
- △ No pre-built RSuite theme (style from scratch)
Our recommendation: If you're building an enterprise app with RSuite components everywhere, RSuite Table is the natural choice—design consistency matters. But if you're not using RSuite, or only need the table, you're paying a 60KB premium (143% overhead) for design system integration you don't use. Simple Table delivers more features in 2.4× less space with no framework lock-in.
For other UI library comparisons, see Material React Table, Mantine DataTable, or our complete guide to free React data grids.