Freya review
A free, open-source Rust GUI framework with Skia rendering and experimental mobile and web targets.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Freya is a declarative GUI library for building applications in Rust, aimed at developers who want to create compact interfaces across desktop platforms. It is powered by Skia and is available as a Rust crate under the MIT license. Its core toolkit includes reusable components, reactive state, event handling, built-in controls, animation, and text editing. That makes it a fit for Rust developers prototyping applications who want UI capabilities within a Rust-centered workflow rather than a framework centered on another language.
The platform range is broad, but maturity differs by target. Freya supports desktop development on Linux, Windows, and macOS; the official website labels Android and browser targets experimental. Desktop developers can therefore consider it for cross-platform UI work, while teams choosing a framework for a production mobile or browser release should account for that experimental status. The framework's custom UI stack and Skia rendering are central to its approach, rather than integrations with a supplied third-party ecosystem.
Freya is free and open source, with community support. Its built-in controls include buttons, switches, sliders, calendars, and color pickers, and text editing covers cursor management, selection, and keyboard shortcuts. Optional capabilities include routing, charting, terminal support, a code editor with syntax highlighting, and developer tools. These options can suit small projects that want to explore a broad set of UI features in Rust. Choose Freya if Rust and desktop prototyping are priorities; consider alternatives if you require established Android or browser support or a different support model.
Freya pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Declarative Rust UI with Skia-powered rendering.
- Built-in controls, reactive state, animation, and text editing.
- MIT-licensed and supports Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and browser targets.
- Where it doesn't
- Android and browser support are labeled experimental.
- Optional editor, terminal, charting, and developer tools add a broader scope to evaluate.
- Support is community-based.
Freya fact sheet, pricing and score →
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