Jotai gives you atoms: tiny pieces of state you compose, with persistence through atomWithAppStorage on your storage adapter. I'd pick it over zustand when your state is naturally lots of small independent values and you want derived state for free, and over none as soon as two screens share something. The built-in theme and onboarding stores stay on createPersistedStore in core either way.
When to pick Jotai
Jotai: Pick it when your state is lots of small independent values and you want derived state for free.
At a glance
- Runs in Expo Go
- Yes
- Files added
- 5
- npm packages
- 1
- Keys to paste
- None
- Included in
- Starter and Pro
- Tests included
- 1
Set it up
bun run setup --state jotaiSetup copies the module in, installs SDK-matched versions and removes the options you did not pick. Then bun run doctor lists every key still missing, with a link to where you get it. The step-by-step guide is in the Jotai docs.
Jotai vs other state options
| Option | Expo Go | npm packages | Keys to paste | Included in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jotai | Yes | 1 | 0 | Starter and Pro |
| Zustand | Yes | 1 | 0 | Free, Starter and Pro |
Questions
Can I use Jotai in Expo Go?
Yes. This module runs in Expo Go, so you can try it before you make a development build.
What do I need to set up Jotai in an Expo app?
Only bun run setup --state jotai. There are no API keys to paste; bun run doctor checks the result.
Which other modules does Jotai need?
It needs a Storage option (expo-sqlite/kv-store, MMKV or AsyncStorage). Pick those in the same setup run.
Does the ReadyNative free tier include Jotai?
No. It ships in Starter and Pro (one payment, lifetime updates); the free tier uses Zustand for state.
Can I build the app without Jotai?
Yes. Pick none for state (bun run setup --state none) - built-in useSyncExternalStore stores only.
Jotai or Zustand for Expo?
Jotai: Pick it when your state is lots of small independent values and you want derived state for free. Zustand: The default. Pick it when you think in stores and selectors; persist is already wired to your storage adapter.
Which Jotai version does it install?
For Expo SDK 57: jotai ^2.20.3. Setup installs Expo packages with expo install, so they match the SDK.
Get it
Jotai ships in Starter and Pro: one payment, lifetime updates. See pricing or browse every module.