Top 6 Jiti Alternatives for TypeScript Development

Jiti has gained attention as a modern runtime TypeScript and ESM loader. Its intelligent module resolution and caching system show promise for projects requiring compatibility between different module formats.

Nevertheless, Jiti has certain limitations like other tools, which is probably why you're exploring alternatives. Fortunately, several excellent options can address these performance and complexity issues.

This article examines the six most compelling alternatives to jiti for TypeScript module loading and execution.

Jiti key features

Jiti is highly effective at managing mixed module environments due to its advanced interoperability between ESM and CommonJS. It features intelligent caching to enhance performance, offers a wide range of configuration options for detailed customization, and generally functions with zero setup in most cases. The tool supports major frameworks like Nuxt and has demonstrated reliability in production settings.

The top 6 alternatives to jiti for TypeScript module loading in 2025

Before examining each tool, here's a feature comparison showing how they compare:

1. TSX

TSX focuses on pure execution speed while maintaining excellent module compatibility. Built on esbuild, it handles TypeScript and JavaScript files significantly faster than jiti while supporting both ESM and CommonJS seamlessly.

🌟 Key features

• esbuild-powered compilation for rapid execution
• Automatic ESM and CommonJS module handling
• Built-in watch mode support
• Modern JavaScript feature support

➕ Pros

• Executes TypeScript files 3-5x faster than jiti
• Smaller bundle size and memory footprint compared to jiti's
• Handles module format mixing automatically without requiring configuration
• Active development with regular updates and improvements

➖ Cons

• Less advanced caching system compared to jiti's intelligent caching mechanisms
• Fewer configuration options for edge cases that jiti handles
• No built-in type checking during execution

2. Node.js Native TypeScript Support

Node.js version 22.18.0 introduced native TypeScript execution, eliminating the need for external loaders like jiti. This built-in approach uses type stripping for maximum performance while maintaining good module compatibility.

🌟 Key features

• Built-in TypeScript execution with zero dependencies
• Type stripping for optimal performance
• Official Node.js runtime integration
• Modern ES modules support

➕ Pros

• Zero external dependencies eliminate jiti's bundle overhead completely
• Fastest possible execution through native runtime integration
• Guaranteed long-term support and compatibility as an official Node.js feature
• No configuration or setup required unlike jiti's advanced options

➖ Cons

• Limited to supported TypeScript syntax, while jiti handles more edge cases

3. Bun

Bun replaces the entire JavaScript runtime with a performance-focused alternative that includes native TypeScript support. It handles module loading internally while providing additional tools that would require separate packages with jiti.

🌟 Key features

• All-in-one runtime with native TypeScript support
• Built-in package manager and bundler
• Excellent module format compatibility
• Integrated testing and development tools

➕ Pros

• Fastest execution of any alternative, often 5-10x quicker than jiti for cold starts
• Built-in module resolution eliminates the need for external loaders entirely
• Combines package management, bundling, and testing in one tool
• Excellent compatibility with existing npm packages despite being a different runtime

➖ Cons

• Requires replacing Node.js entirely, while jiti works within existing Node.js projects
• Newer ecosystem with fewer debugging tools and IDE integrations
• Some Node.js API differences could cause compatibility issues in edge cases

4. esbuild

esbuild provides extremely fast TypeScript compilation and bundling capabilities. While primarily a build tool, it can serve as a jiti alternative for scenarios requiring rapid TypeScript processing with module resolution.

🌟 Key features

• Extremely fast compilation written in Go
• Advanced bundling and tree-shaking
• Plugin system for extensibility
• Support for various module formats

➕ Pros

• Fastest compilation speeds available, significantly outperforming jiti's transpilation
• Advanced bundling capabilities that jiti lacks
• Smaller resource footprint during build processes
• Extensive plugin ecosystem for custom transformations

➖ Cons

• Requires additional setup for development workflow integration compared to jiti's drop-in usage
• Primarily designed as a build tool rather than a runtime loader
• Less straightforward for simple script execution scenarios where jiti excels

5. ts-node

ts-node serves as the established standard for TypeScript execution in Node.js. While slower than jiti, it provides comprehensive type checking and extensive configuration options for complex TypeScript scenarios.

🌟 Key features

• Complete TypeScript compilation with type checking
• Extensive configuration and customization options
• Mature ecosystem with broad tool support
• Built-in REPL and development features

➕ Pros

• Provides type checking during execution that jiti lacks, catching errors early in development
• Extensive configuration options allow fine-tuning for specific project requirements
• Mature ecosystem with wide compatibility across testing frameworks and development tools
• Battle-tested stability from years of production usage

➖ Cons

• Significantly slower execution compared to jiti due to comprehensive type checking overhead
• Higher memory consumption during development
• Complex configuration required for modern ES modules that jiti handles automatically

6. SWC

SWC is a Rust-based TypeScript and JavaScript compiler that focuses on extreme performance. It can replace jiti in scenarios requiring fast compilation with additional transformation capabilities.

🌟 Key features

• Rust-based implementation for maximum speed
• Advanced TypeScript and JavaScript transformations
• Plugin architecture for extensibility
• Built-in bundling and minification

➕ Pros

• Extremely fast compilation often outperforming jiti by significant margins
• Advanced transformation capabilities beyond basic TypeScript compilation
• Lower memory usage compared to jiti's JavaScript-based implementation
• Growing ecosystem with increasing framework adoption

➖ Cons

• Requires more setup for development workflow integration than jiti's simple usage
• Less mature ecosystem compared to jiti's proven track record
• Primarily focused on build-time rather than runtime execution

Final thoughts

This guide examined six alternatives to jiti, each offering its own distinct strengths for loading TypeScript modules. Among them, TSX stands out as the simplest replacement, providing similar module compatibility but with noticeably improved performance.

Node.js native support is also a fantastic choice, as it requires no additional dependencies and runs smoothly. If speed is a top priority and you're open to trying different runtimes, Bun provides the fastest execution along with built-in development features tools.