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Is @vitejs/plugin-react ESM-only? Can you require() it?

The default Vite plugin for React projects

Last verified Sep 9, 2026 against @vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1. Markdown · JSON

ESM-only ESM-only since 5.0.0 — last CommonJS version is 4.7.0

@vitejs/plugin-react dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (August 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.7.0, published Jul 18, 2025; it declares support for Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@vitejs/plugin-react") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Node.js 18 has no require(esm), and @vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1 declares Node.js ^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0, so 18 is outside its supported range anyway.

@vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1 declares engines "^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0", so Node.js 18 is outside its supported range regardless of module format.

What to do

  1. On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@vitejs/plugin-react") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  2. From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pluginReact = await import("@vitejs/plugin-react"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0).
  3. If you need a synchronous require() or run Node.js 18: npm install @vitejs/plugin-react@4.7.0, the last CommonJS release (published Jul 18, 2025); it declares Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0.
  4. @vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1 declares engines "^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0", so Node.js 18 is unsupported regardless: upgrade Node.js or pin an older release.
  5. TypeScript: no types are available for @vitejs/plugin-react; declare the module yourself if you need them.
Latest
6.1.1 (Aug 28, 2026)
Module format
ESM-only
Last CommonJS version
4.7.0
ESM-only since
5.0.0 (Aug 7, 2025)
TypeScript types
None
Node engines
^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0
Weekly downloads
74.7M
License
MIT

Does @vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1 actually load? Runtime test results

Installed and executed on Sep 9, 2026 with require("@vitejs/plugin-react") from a CommonJS file and import "@vitejs/plugin-react" from an ES module.

Runtimerequire("@vitejs/plugin-react")import "@vitejs/plugin-react"
Node.js 18✗ failsERR_REQUIRE_ESM✗ failsSyntaxError
Node.js 20✓ works✓ works
Node.js 22✓ works✓ works
Node.js 24✓ works✓ works
Node.js 26✓ works✓ works
Bun 1.4.0✓ works✓ works

How to import @vitejs/plugin-react

ES modules (import)

import * as pluginReact from "@vitejs/plugin-react";

Namespace import shown because the ESM entry may have no default export; use named imports for what it exports.

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer (verified):
const pluginReact = require("@vitejs/plugin-react");

// Any Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0), from an async function:
async function main() {
  const pluginReact = await import("@vitejs/plugin-react");
}

// Or pin the last CommonJS release (declares Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0):
// npm install @vitejs/plugin-react@4.7.0

Module format by version

Derived from the type, main and exports fields of every stable release on npm, corrected where a runtime test of that version contradicted them (66 versions; the newest 60 shown).

VersionsFormatFirst published
5.0.0 – 6.1.1ESM-onlyAug 7, 2025
2.0.0 – 4.7.0Dual (CommonJS + ESM)Jul 13, 2022
1.0.6 – 1.3.2CommonJSOct 25, 2021

Frequently asked

Is @vitejs/plugin-react ESM-only?

@vitejs/plugin-react@6.1.1 is ESM-only. @vitejs/plugin-react dropped its CommonJS build in 5.0.0 (August 2025). The last version with a plain require()-able CommonJS entry is 4.7.0, published Jul 18, 2025; it declares support for Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0.

Which version of @vitejs/plugin-react still supports CommonJS / require()?

4.7.0 is the last version of @vitejs/plugin-react with a CommonJS build; it declares Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0. Install it with "npm install @vitejs/plugin-react@4.7.0". Every version from 5.0.0 on is ESM-only.

How do I use @vitejs/plugin-react from a CommonJS file?

From a CommonJS file, use a dynamic import inside an async function: const pluginReact = await import("@vitejs/plugin-react"). That works on every Node.js version the package supports (^20.19.0 || >=22.12.0). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, require("@vitejs/plugin-react") works with the latest version: Node.js loads synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node.js 20, 22, 24 and 26. Alternatively pin @vitejs/plugin-react@4.7.0 (declares Node.js ^14.18.0 || >=16.0.0).

Does @vitejs/plugin-react work in Bun?

Yes. import "@vitejs/plugin-react" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4.0 on Sep 9, 2026.

Does @vitejs/plugin-react ship TypeScript types?

No. @vitejs/plugin-react ships no type declarations and there is no @types package for it.

Links

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