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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. 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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.7.0, published Jul 18, 2025.

On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and every newer release, require("@vitejs/plugin-react") works anyway: Node can load synchronous ES modules through require(). Verified on Node 20, 22, 24, 26. Node.js 18 and older still fail with ERR_REQUIRE_ESM.

@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.

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
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✓ works✓ works

How to import @vitejs/plugin-react

ES modules (import)

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

CommonJS (require)

// Node.js 20.19+ / 22.12+ / newer (package has no top-level await):
const pluginReact = require("@vitejs/plugin-react");

// Any Node.js version:
const pluginReact = await import("@vitejs/plugin-react");

// Or pin the last CommonJS release:
// 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 (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 you can require() on every Node.js version, including 18 and older, is 4.7.0, published Jul 18, 2025.

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. 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?

Use a dynamic import: const mod = await import("@vitejs/plugin-react"). On Node.js 20.19+, 22.12+ and newer, a plain require("@vitejs/plugin-react") also works for ESM packages that do not use top-level await. Alternatively pin @vitejs/plugin-react@4.7.0.

Does @vitejs/plugin-react work in Bun?

Yes. import "@vitejs/plugin-react" loaded successfully in Bun 1.4 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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