DevExpress vs Syncfusion Grid: Live Comparison
11 interactive demos comparing DevExpress GridView (server-side Razor) and Syncfusion EJ2 Grid (client-side JavaScript) using the same invoice dataset.
1. Basic Grid Display
A simple read-only grid displaying invoice data with default columns. DevExpress renders server-side via Html.DevExpress().GridView(). Syncfusion renders client-side via new ej.grids.Grid().
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
2. Sorting & Column Headers
Click any column header to sort ascending/descending. Both grids support multi-column sorting (hold Shift + click).
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
3. Filtering & Search
Filter rows using the filter row beneath column headers or use the search panel for full-text search across all columns.
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
4. Paging Options
Configurable page sizes, page size selector dropdown, and top/bottom pager positions. Both grids handle large datasets efficiently with server-side paging support.
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
5. Batch Editing
Edit multiple cells inline, then save all changes at once. Modified cells are highlighted. Both grids track inserts, updates, and deletes in a single batch operation.
DevExpress GridView
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
6. Inline Row Editing
Click Edit on a row to make it editable inline. The entire row switches to edit mode with type-specific editors (combo boxes, spin edits, checkboxes).
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
7. Edit Form / Popup Editing
Opens a popup dialog or inline form with all editable fields. Ideal for forms with many fields that do not fit inline. DevExpress uses EditForm mode; Syncfusion uses Dialog mode.
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
8. Master-Detail
Expand a row to see its detail (invoice line items). DevExpress uses SetDetailRowTemplateContent with a server callback. Syncfusion uses detailTemplate with client-side rendering.
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
9. Grouping & Summaries
Group rows by column values and display aggregate summaries (count, sum, average) per group and as grand totals. Drag column headers to the group panel to group dynamically.
DevExpress GridView
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
10. Export to Excel, PDF, CSV
Export grid data to common formats. DevExpress handles export server-side via GridViewExtension.ExportToXlsx(). Syncfusion exports client-side using built-in methods.
DevExpress GridView
|
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
11. Row Selection
Select single or multiple rows using checkboxes or row click. Both grids support Select All and provide APIs to retrieve selected keys programmatically.
DevExpress GridView
|
Selected: 0 invoice(s)
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid
Selected: 0 invoice(s)
Feature Comparison Summary
A quick reference comparing key grid capabilities between DevExpress GridView and Syncfusion EJ2 Grid.
| Feature | DevExpress GridView | Syncfusion EJ2 Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering | Server-side (Razor helpers) | Client-side (JavaScript) |
| Data Binding | Server callbacks (partial views) | JSON / DataManager |
| Sorting | Built-in, multi-column | Built-in, multi-column |
| Filtering | Filter row + search panel | Filter bar + search |
| Paging | Configurable, page size selector | Configurable, page size dropdown |
| Batch Editing | Cell-level batch with status bar | Cell-level batch with toolbar |
| Inline Editing | Row edit with typed editors | Row edit with typed editors |
| Edit Form | Inline EditForm mode | Dialog popup mode |
| Master-Detail | Detail row template (server callback) | Detail template (client-side) |
| Grouping | Drag-to-group + group summaries | Drag-to-group + group summaries |
| Export | Server-side (XLSX, PDF, CSV) | Client-side (XLSX, PDF, CSV) |
| Selection | Checkbox + row click | Checkbox + row click |
| Licensing | Per-developer commercial | Per-developer commercial |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DevExpress GridView better than Syncfusion EJ2 Grid?
Both are excellent enterprise-grade grids. DevExpress offers deeper server-side integration with ASP.NET MVC via Razor helpers and callbacks. Syncfusion EJ2 Grid is a client-side JavaScript component that works well in modern SPA architectures. The best choice depends on your project's architecture and team skills.
Can I use DevExpress and Syncfusion in the same project?
Yes, technically you can use both in the same project since they target different rendering layers (server vs client). However, this increases bundle size and maintenance complexity. It is generally better to pick one suite and use it consistently.
Which grid has better performance with large datasets?
Both grids support virtual scrolling and server-side paging for large datasets. DevExpress processes data server-side by default via callbacks. Syncfusion EJ2 Grid supports remote data binding with its DataManager. Performance depends more on your server-side implementation than the grid component itself.
Which grid component is easier to learn?
Syncfusion EJ2 Grid uses standard JavaScript/JSON configuration which feels natural to most web developers. DevExpress GridView uses Razor helpers with lambda-based configuration which is more natural for C#/.NET developers. Both have extensive documentation and code samples.
Need a Grid Implementation Expert?
We have built production grids with both DevExpress and Syncfusion for 10+ years. Whether you need a new grid from scratch or help optimizing an existing one, we can help.
Get Expert Help