Handlebars provides the power necessary to let you build semantic templates effectively with no frustration.
Best Underscore Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
Underscore is a JavaScript utility library that includes a small embedded templating function. It fits developers who already use its collection utilities and want straightforward HTML generation without adopting a dedicated template language.
Top 6 Underscore alternatives
2
EJS is a simple templating language that lets you generate HTML markup with plain JavaScript.
Mustache is a logic-less template syntax. It can be used for HTML, config files, source code - anything. It works by expanding...
NANO is a small JavaScript string-template engine commonly used with jQuery-era front-end applications. It targets developers who need simple variable interpolation and...
Pros
- Much smaller and simpler than Handlebars or Nunjucks
- Works well for basic client-side HTML interpolation
- Supports nested data access with minimal syntax
Cons
- Far fewer features than modern engines such as Handlebars
- Limited documentation and ecosystem compared with mainstream alternatives
- Appears largely unmaintained for current JavaScript projects
5
Nunjucks is a rich and powerful templating engine for JavaScript with inheritance, asynchronous control, and more.
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Supports template inheritance
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
6
doT
Oleg Slobodskoi
doT is a compact JavaScript templating engine that compiles templates into functions. It targets developers who want fast client-side rendering with interpolation,...
Pros
- Closer to NANO's lightweight client-side use case than Nunjucks
- Compiles templates for fast repeated rendering
- Supports interpolation, conditionals, loops, and evaluation
Cons
- Less approachable syntax than Mustache or Handlebars
- Smaller ecosystem and community than mainstream engines
- Documentation is less comprehensive than leading alternatives
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