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Head-to-head · Template Engine Software

Handlebars.js vs Smarty

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Handlebars.js #3 in Template Engine Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Handlebars
Smarty #8 in Template Engine Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Smarty

Handlebars.js leads on 1 check, Smarty on 1, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHandlebars.js · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresSmarty · 2 of 4

Handlebars.js scores higher on our rubric for template engine software: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

Handlebars.js offers automatic escaping; Smarty doesn't. Smarty offers sandbox mode; Handlebars.js doesn't.

Handlebars.js is the better fit for javaScript projects needing reusable HTML templates. Smarty is the better fit for PHP teams separating presentation from application logic.

  • Handlebars.js fits best

    JavaScript projects needing reusable HTML templates

  • Smarty fits best

    PHP teams separating presentation from application logic

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Side by side

Feature Handlebars.js 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Smarty 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #3 in Template Engine Software #8 in Template Engine Software
Best for JavaScript projects needing reusable HTML templates PHP teams separating presentation from application logic
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Support Docs Community
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Handlebars.js 1/4 · Smarty 2/4
Template inheritance Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Automatic escaping ✓ (best) —
Sandbox mode — ✓ (best)
Async rendering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Rendering mode Not checked yet Server
Syntax model Logic-based Logic-based
License model Open-source Open-source
Our review
Pros
  • Compiles templates into JavaScript functions, with precompilation available
  • Built-in helpers support conditions and iteration; custom helpers are supported
  • Reuses registered partials and HTML-escapes expression output by default
  • Compiles templates to PHP scripts and recompiles when files change
  • Template inheritance lets child templates fill parent blocks
  • Built-in caching plus custom functions and variable modifiers
Cons
  • Not a hosted commercial product; it is an open-source library
  • User-supplied templates need a separate sandbox for isolation
  • Support is documented through docs
  • HTML escaping is optional rather than enabled by default
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP application
  • Support is community-based
Our verdict

Handlebars.js is an open-source JavaScript templating language for developers generating HTML or other text from templates and input objects. It suits JavaScript projects that need reusable templates, with support for compiling templates…

Read the review →

Smarty is an open-source PHP template engine for teams that want presentation handled separately from application logic. PHP applications pass content and variables into templates, where tags format and render them. That arrangement can…

Read the review →
  1. Handlebars.jsTemplate Engine Software 9.2Free plan
  2. SmartyTemplate Engine Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Handlebars.js — where it wins

    • Compiles templates into JavaScript functions, with precompilation available
    • Built-in helpers support conditions and iteration; custom helpers are supported
    • Reuses registered partials and HTML-escapes expression output by default

    Where it doesn't

    • Not a hosted commercial product; it is an open-source library
    • User-supplied templates need a separate sandbox for isolation
    • Support is documented through docs

  • Smarty — where it wins

    • Compiles templates to PHP scripts and recompiles when files change
    • Template inheritance lets child templates fill parent blocks
    • Built-in caching plus custom functions and variable modifiers

    Where it doesn't

    • HTML escaping is optional rather than enabled by default
    • Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP application
    • Support is community-based

More comparisons

All template engine software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update