Froala vs Eddyter: Which Rich Text Editor Is Right for Your App in 2026?
If you’re adding a rich text editor to your app, you may have come across Eddyter and Froala.
Eddyter is a newer, AI-focused editor built for React and Next.js applications. It handles features like AI and storage as part of its managed setup. Froala, on the other hand, is an established WYSIWYG editor used in CMS platforms, CRMs, email builders, and other applications.
Both editors help you add rich text editing to your app, but they take different approaches. In this article, we’ll compare their features, pricing, AI support, and setup to help you choose the right one for your project.
Key Takeaways
- Eddyter is a managed editor built on top of Lexical (Meta’s open-source editor framework) for React and Next.js apps. It requires an account and API key to use, even on the free tier.
- Froala works with React, Angular, Vue, and plain JavaScript, giving you more flexibility across different projects.
- Eddyter uses tiered subscription pricing, while Froala offers annual and perpetual licensing.
- Both offer real AI features, but Eddyter bundles AI, storage, and hosting into one subscription, while Froala’s AI Assist plugs into whichever AI provider you choose, and you host everything yourself.
- Eddyter is a good fit for React and Next.js apps that need a managed setup. Froala is better suited for teams that need more framework flexibility and control.
Quick Comparison Table
Here’s a side-by-side look at how the two editors differ before we get into setup and code.
| Feature | Eddyter | Froala |
| License model | Managed SaaS subscription | Commercial subscription/perpetual license |
| Starting price | ~$590/year (AI pro managed plan) | ~$799/year (Professional plan) |
| Framework support | React and Next.js only | React, Angular, Vue, or plain HTML/JS |
| Hosting model | Managed platform with storage and AI infrastructure | Self-hosted (you control your own backend) |
| Account/API key required | Yes, on every plan | No account needed for the core editor |
| Usage limits | Limits vary by plan | Unlimited editor loads and users |
| AI features | AI chat, autocomplete, and tone tools | AI Assist plugin, works with any LLM provider |
| Editor architecture | Built on Lexical | Built and maintained by Froala |
| Support | Email support | Dedicated technical support |
| Best for | Teams that want a managed editor setup | Teams that need framework flexibility and predictable costs at scale |
The biggest difference between Eddyter and Froala is how they are set up.
Eddyter is a managed platform that includes storage and AI infrastructure. This can make setup easier, but limits such as editor loads, storage, and AI credits depend on your plan.
Froala runs directly in your application and gives you more control over your editor setup. It also includes unlimited editor loads and users, so your editor usage doesn’t increase the license cost as your application grows.
The pricing difference becomes easier to understand when you compare both editors over a few years:
With that difference in mind, let’s look at what setup actually looks like for each.
Setting Up Eddyter
Eddyter is built specifically for React and Next.js, so setup goes through npm rather than a CDN. You’ll also need an API key from an Eddyter account before the editor will render, even on the free tier.
npm install eddyter
Then, add the editor to your application:
"use client";
import { ConfigurableEditorWithAuth, EditorProvider } from "eddyter";
import "eddyter/style.css";
export default function MyEditor() {
const apiKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_EDDYTER_API_KEY;
return (
<EditorProvider>
<ConfigurableEditorWithAuth
apiKey={apiKey}
onChange={(html) => console.log("Editor content:", html)}
/>
</EditorProvider>
);
} Add your Eddyter API key to the environment file:
# .env.local NEXT_PUBLIC_EDDYTER_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
That’s it. Once the editor is set up, you can use features like AI chat, tables, embeds, and slash commands directly in your app.
The setup is quick for React and Next.js projects. Since the editor uses Eddyter’s API key and EditorProvider, you’ll also need an Eddyter account to get started.
You can find the full setup walkthrough in Eddyter’s own quick-install guide.
Setting Up Froala
Froala takes a different approach. You don’t need an API key or a specific framework to set up the editor. It can be loaded directly from a CDN, so a simple HTML page is enough to get started:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<link
href="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/css/froala_editor.pkgd.min.css>"
rel="stylesheet"
type="text/css"
/>
</head>
<body>
<div id="editor-container"></div>
<script
type="text/javascript"
src="<https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/froala-editor@latest/js/froala_editor.pkgd.min.js>"
></script>
<script>
new FroalaEditor("#editor-container", {
placeholderText: "Start typing here...",
toolbarButtons: ["bold", "italic", "underline", "insertImage", "insertLink"],
});
</script>
</body>
</html> That’s it. The editor is now ready to use in your application. You can also add more toolbar buttons and plugins based on the features your app needs.
Adding AI Assist
Froala also lets you add AI features using its AI Assist plugin. With aiAssistRequest, you can control how AI requests are handled and connect the editor to your own backend:
<script>
new FroalaEditor("#editor-container", {
toolbarButtons: ["bold", "italic", "aiAssist"],
aiSupplementalTermsAccepted: true,
aiAssistRequest: async function (data, signal) {
const response = await fetch("/api/ai-assist", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({ prompt: data.prompt }),
signal: signal,
});
const result = await response.json();
return result.html;
},
});
</script> In this example, aiAssistRequest sends the AI prompt to your own backend endpoint. Your backend can then connect to OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, or another AI model.
This is different from Eddyter’s managed setup. Eddyter connects the editor to its platform using an API key, while Froala gives you control over how and where AI requests are handled.
Best Practices
Before using either editor in a production application, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Keep AI API keys on the server. If you’re connecting an AI provider to Froala using aiAssistRequest, never expose the API key in your frontend code. Handle AI requests through your backend instead.
- Check framework support early. Make sure the editor works with your current framework and any frameworks your team may use in the future.
- Think about long-term costs. Don’t compare pricing based only on your current usage. Consider how storage, AI usage, and other limits may change as your application grows.
- Test content pasted from Word or Google Docs. Pasted content can include unnecessary HTML and styles, so test how the editor handles it before launch.
- Check how your data is handled. If you’re using a managed editor platform, understand where your content is stored and how it moves through the service before using it in production.
Common Pitfalls
Even with a simple setup, there are a few common mistakes to avoid:
- Ignoring usage limits. Eddyter plans have different storage and AI usage limits. As your application grows, you may need to move to a higher plan.
- Not thinking about platform dependency. Eddyter uses a managed platform for features such as storage and AI. This means parts of your editor setup depend on Eddyter’s services. Froala gives you more control over how these services are handled.
- Skipping a framework check. Always check whether the editor supports the frameworks your application uses before choosing it.
- Exposing AI API keys. If you use Froala’s aiAssistRequest or another custom AI integration, keep your AI credentials on the server and send requests through your backend.
The differences above become more important when you’re building an editor for a production application. Setup is only one part of the decision. You also need to think about framework support, costs, and long-term maintenance.
Why Teams Lean Toward Froala for Production Apps
Eddyter makes it easy to add an AI-powered editor to your app, especially if you want storage and AI infrastructure handled for you. But for teams building and scaling production applications, Froala has a few advantages:
- More framework flexibility. Froala works with React, Angular, Vue, and plain JavaScript, making it easier to use across different applications and tech stacks.
- Predictable costs as usage grows. Froala includes unlimited editor loads and users, while Eddyter plans have different storage and AI usage limits.
- More control over your editor setup. Froala’s core editor runs directly in your application and doesn’t require an external API key to initialise.
- A mature editor. Froala has been used in production applications for years and is built for use cases such as CMS platforms, CRMs, and email builders.
- Technical support. Froala’s paid plans include technical support, which can be useful when you run into integration or production issues.
So, which editor should you choose?
Conclusion
If you want a managed editor with AI and storage included, Eddyter is worth trying. It’s quick to set up and can reduce the amount of infrastructure you need to manage.
If you need more framework flexibility and control over your editor setup, Froala may be a better fit. It works across different frameworks and lets you choose how features like AI and file management are handled.
Both editors take different approaches, so the right choice depends on your application’s requirements, budget, and tech stack. Try both in a small project before choosing one for your production application.
Ready to build with a flexible rich text editor? Explore Froala’s framework SDKs, AI Assist, plugins, and developer documentation to see how quickly you can add a production-ready editor to your app.
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