Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Live.js VS Prepros

Compare Live.js VS Prepros and see what are their differences

Live.js logo Live.js

Live. js. one script closer to designing in the browser. Say goodbye to Alt-Tab. Live.

Prepros logo Prepros

Compile Less, Sass, Scss, Stylus, Jade, Coffeescript, Haml and Markdown with live browser refresh.
  • Live.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Prepros Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

Live.js features and specs

  • Automatic Reload
    Live.js automatically reloads web pages whenever HTML, CSS, or JavaScript files are modified, which enhances developer productivity by immediately reflecting changes without manual refreshing.
  • Easy Setup
    The setup process for Live.js is straightforward, requiring minimal configuration. Developers only need to include a single script tag to start using it.
  • No Build Tools Required
    Live.js does not require any build tools or server environment, making it a lightweight option for quickly setting up live reload functionality without the complexity of integrating with other toolchains.
  • Real-time Preview
    Provides real-time preview of changes, which is beneficial for rapid prototyping and design iterations, improving the workflow for front-end developers.

Possible disadvantages of Live.js

  • Limited Feature Set
    Live.js offers basic functionality focused mainly on live reloading. It may not cover more advanced use cases or features that comprehensive development tools provide.
  • Inefficient for Large Projects
    For larger projects with many files, Live.js can become inefficient as it reloads the entire page, which might interrupt development flow and increase wait times.
  • Not Suitable for Production
    Live.js is meant for development environments and should not be used in production as it can expose internal file structures and is not optimized for performance.
  • No Customization
    Offers little to no options for customization or configuration, which might be a drawback for developers who need more control over the development environment behavior.

Prepros features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Prepros offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for both beginners and experienced developers to compile and manage web development projects.
  • Multiple Language Support
    Prepros supports a wide range of languages and preprocessors including Sass, Less, Stylus, CoffeeScript, and Markdown, making it versatile for various development needs.
  • Real-Time Browser Refresh
    This tool provides automatic browser refreshing, which allows developers to see changes in real-time without having to manually reload the page, increasing productivity.
  • Error Reporting
    Prepros includes detailed error reporting, which helps developers quickly identify and fix issues in their code, thus streamlining the development process.
  • Cross-Platform
    It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers across different systems to utilize its features without compatibility issues.

Possible disadvantages of Prepros

  • Pricing
    While Prepros offers a free version, its full features are locked behind a paid license, which may not be feasible for hobbyists or small-scale developers.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some users have reported that Prepros can be resource-intensive, consuming significant CPU and memory resources, which can slow down other applications.
  • Overhead for Small Projects
    For very small projects or cases where advanced features are not needed, Prepros might add unnecessary complexity and overhead.
  • Limited Customization
    Despite its robust features, some users find the customization options limited compared to writing custom scripts or using task runners like Gulp or Webpack.
  • Dependency on GUI
    As a GUI-based application, it may not be preferred by users who favor command-line tools and scripting for automation in their workflow.

Live.js videos

No Live.js videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Prepros videos

Prepros Introduction

More videos:

  • Review - ubuntu 16.04 LTS - Prepros 5.10.2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Live.js and Prepros)
Image Optimisation
26 26%
74% 74
Developer Tools
28 28%
72% 72
Design Tools
21 21%
79% 79
Browser Testing
44 44%
56% 56

User comments

Share your experience with using Live.js and Prepros. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Prepros should be more popular than Live.js. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Live.js mentions (3)

  • Can I skip the system checks?
    There's a crusty old script out there called Live.js. IIRC it sends a request to the server every second or so and if it detects a different content-length header it reloads the page. It's like a poor man's version of hot reloading. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Are there any lesser-known tools you use a lot in your work?
    Live.js - automatically refreshes the page when we edit the sources. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Is there a way to see your webpage while your edit it?
    Livejs (not tested it myself) looks like what your are looking for. Source: about 3 years ago

Prepros mentions (6)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Live.js and Prepros, you can also consider the following products

CodeKit - CodeKit allows you to optimize the performance of your website by automatically and efficiently compiling a variety of popular languages.

Scout-App - Process Sass files into CSS without any knowledge of the command line.

LiveReload - LiveReload 2 proudly presents… The Web Developer Wonderland. (a happy land where browsers don't need a Refresh button). CSS edits and image changes apply live. CoffeeScript, SASS, LESS and others just work.

Browsersync - Browsersync makes your tweaking and testing faster by synchronising file changes and interactions...

Ghostlab - Ghostlab allows you to test out a newly developed website on a variety of browsers and mobile devices at the same time. To get started, simply drag the web address to the Ghostlab system and press the play button. Read more about Ghostlab.

Fire.app - Fire.app is a menu bar only app for dead easy HTML prototyping.