Migrate from Quill to Eddyter — 2026 Guide for Post-Quill-2.0 Refugees

Migrate from Quill to Eddyter — 2026 Guide for Post-Quill-2.0 Refugees

If you need to migrate from Quill to Eddyter in 2026, this guide is for you. Quill was one of the most-loved editors for a decade. Simple API. Small bundle. Free MIT license. Then Quill 2.0 shipped in 2024 and everything changed. Now thousands of teams need to migrate from Quill to a modern editor. This guide shows you exactly how.

The 2.0 rewrite broke the plugin API. Many popular plugins stopped working. Maintenance shifted to a community fork. Long-time users started looking for a new home.

This Quill to Eddyter migration guide gives you working code, a Delta-to-HTML converter, and zero data loss. Full migration in 2-4 days for most apps.

The short answer. Export your Quill Delta content. Run it through a Delta-to-HTML converter. Drop in the Eddyter component. Test. Ship. You get multi-model AI, 7-framework support, and 10-minute setup for future projects. All at $12-$59/mo flat.

🎥 See a modern editor in action: What is Eddyter? Why Developers Are Switching in 2026

Why Quill Users Are Migrating in 2026

Three specific things pushed Quill users to look for alternatives.

1. Quill 2.0 Broke the Plugin API

The 2.0 rewrite changed how modules and formats register. Plugins built for Quill 1.x stopped working without rewrites. Many popular community plugins were never updated. Teams with heavy plugin dependencies faced weeks of rewrite work just to stay on Quill.

2. Maintenance Shifted to Community Fork

The original Quill maintainer stepped back in 2024. Maintenance moved to a community fork. Release cadence slowed. Bug fixes became inconsistent. Enterprise teams got nervous about long-term support.

3. Modern Feature Gaps

Quill hasn't kept pace with modern editor expectations. No AI features. No real-time collaboration built in. No slash commands. No block-based editing. Teams needing these features had to look elsewhere.

For deeper context on Quill's state, see Best Quill Alternatives 2026.

Why Migrate to Eddyter (Not TipTap or Lexical)

You have three main options for leaving Quill: TipTap, Lexical, or Eddyter. Here's how they compare for Quill refugees.

Eddyter wins for Quill migrations because:

• ✅ Fastest migration path — 2-4 days for most apps
• ✅ HTML input compatible — Delta converts cleanly to HTML
• ✅ Similar API surface — configure once, drop in the component
• ✅ Multi-model AI included — GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 5, Haiku 4.5, Gemini 3
• ✅ Flat pricing — $12-$59/mo (predictable vs TipTap's document-based scaling)
• ✅ All 7 frameworks — safe for Vue, Angular, or Svelte migrations later
• ✅ Multi-tenant safe — unlimited domains (no per-domain licensing)

For Lexical vs TipTap architecture comparison, see Lexical vs TipTap 2026.

Pre-Migration Checklist

Before you write any code, audit your current Quill setup:

• Content format audit — Are you storing Delta JSON or HTML in your database?
• Plugin inventory — List every Quill module and format you use
• Custom formats — Do you have custom blot classes (mentions, embeds, custom marks)?
• Toolbar customization — Note your current toolbar configuration
• File upload backend — Where do images and files currently get stored?
• Content sample size — How many documents will you migrate?
• Frontend framework — React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, or Vanilla JS?

The migration plan depends on these answers. Most Quill users store Delta JSON — that's the format we'll focus on.

Migration Path 1: Delta JSON to HTML Conversion

Most Quill users store content as Delta JSON. Eddyter uses HTML. You need to convert once at migration time.

Step 1: Install the Delta-to-HTML Converter

The quill-delta-to-html package handles the conversion cleanly:

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npm install quill-delta-to-html

Step 2: Write the Conversion Script

Run this script over your database to convert Delta content to HTML:

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// scripts/migrate-quill-to-eddyter.js
import { QuillDeltaToHtmlConverter } from 'quill-delta-to-html';
import { db } from './database';
async function migrateQuillContent() {
  const documents = await db.documents.findAll({
    where: { editorType: 'quill' }
  });
  console.log(`Found ${documents.length} Quill documents to migrate`);
  let converted = 0;
  let failed = 0;
  for (const doc of documents) {
    try {
      const delta = JSON.parse(doc.content);
      const converter = new QuillDeltaToHtmlConverter(delta.ops, {
        multiLineBlockquote: true,
        multiLineHeader: true,
        multiLineCodeblock: true,
        encodeHtml: true,
      });
      const html = converter.convert();
      await db.documents.update(
        {
          content: html,
          editorType: 'eddyter',
          migratedAt: new Date(),
        },
        { where: { id: doc.id } }
      );
      converted++;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Failed to convert document ${doc.id}:`, error);
      failed++;
    }
  }
  console.log(`Migration complete: ${converted} converted, ${failed} failed`);
}
migrateQuillContent();

Step 3: Handle Custom Blots

If you have custom Quill blots (mentions, embeds, custom marks), extend the converter with custom renderers:

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const converter = new QuillDeltaToHtmlConverter(delta.ops, {
  customTag: (format, op) => {
    if (format === 'mention') {
      return 'span';
    }
    return undefined;
  },
  customTagAttributes: (op) => {
    if (op.insert.mention) {
      return {
        class: 'mention',
        'data-mention-id': op.insert.mention.id,
        'data-mention-name': op.insert.mention.name,
      };
    }
    return undefined;
  },
  customCssClasses: (op) => {
    if (op.attributes && op.attributes.highlight) {
      return ['bg-yellow-200'];
    }
    return undefined;
  },
});

This preserves your custom formats as semantic HTML that Eddyter can render and edit.

Step 4: Backup Before Running

Never run a migration script without a backup. Create a snapshot of your documents table first:

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CREATE TABLE documents_pre_quill_migration AS
SELECT * FROM documents WHERE editorType = 'quill';

If anything goes wrong, you can restore from this snapshot in seconds.

Migration Path 2: If You Already Store HTML

Some Quill users store the editor output as HTML (using quill.root.innerHTML). If that's you, migration is even simpler.

Just update the editorType field. No content conversion needed:

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await db.documents.update(
  {
    editorType: 'eddyter',
    migratedAt: new Date(),
  },
  { where: { editorType: 'quill' } }
);

Eddyter will render your existing HTML directly. Done.

Step 5: Install and Drop In Eddyter

Now replace your Quill component with Eddyter.

Install Eddyter

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npm install eddyter

Get Your API Key

Visit eddyter.com/user/license-key. Copy your key. Add it to .env.local:

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NEXT_PUBLIC_EDDYTER_API_KEY=your-eddyter-api-key

Replace the Quill Component

Before (Quill):

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"use client";
import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
import Quill from 'quill';
import 'quill/dist/quill.snow.css';
export default function QuillEditor({ initialContent, onChange }) {
  const editorRef = useRef(null);
  const quillRef = useRef(null);
  useEffect(() => {
    if (!editorRef.current) return;
    quillRef.current = new Quill(editorRef.current, {
      theme: 'snow',
      modules: {
        toolbar: [
          ['bold', 'italic', 'underline'],
          [{ header: [1, 2, 3, false] }],
          [{ list: 'ordered' }, { list: 'bullet' }],
          ['link', 'image'],
          ['clean']
        ]
      }
    });
    if (initialContent) {
      quillRef.current.setContents(JSON.parse(initialContent));
    }
    quillRef.current.on('text-change', () => {
      const delta = quillRef.current.getContents();
      onChange(JSON.stringify(delta));
    });
    return () => {
      quillRef.current = null;
    };
  }, []);
  return <div ref={editorRef} />;
}

After (Eddyter):

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"use client";
import {
  ConfigurableEditorWithAuth,
  EditorProvider
} from 'eddyter';
import 'eddyter/style.css';
export default function EddyterEditor({ initialContent, onChange }) {
  const apiKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_EDDYTER_API_KEY;
  const handleContentChange = (html) => {
    onChange(html);
  };
  return (
    <EditorProvider>
      <ConfigurableEditorWithAuth
        apiKey={apiKey}
        initialContent={initialContent}
        onChange={handleContentChange}
      />
    </EditorProvider>
  );
}

That's it. Full editor with toolbar, tables, image upload, mobile UX, and multi-model AI. Three lines of real code vs 30+ for Quill setup.

Handling Custom Quill Plugins

If you built custom Quill modules (mention selectors, custom embeds, syntax highlighting), Eddyter has equivalent features you can use instead.

Mentions

Quill mention modules typically use a @username trigger. Eddyter includes native mentions support:

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<ConfigurableEditorWithAuth
  apiKey={apiKey}
  mentions={{
    enabled: true,
    users: [
      { id: '1', name: 'Alice', avatar: '/alice.jpg' },
      { id: '2', name: 'Bob', avatar: '/bob.jpg' },
    ],
    onMentionSelect: (user) => {
      console.log('Mentioned:', user);
    }
  }}
/>

Image Upload

Quill's image handler often uses custom upload logic. Eddyter includes managed image storage:

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<ConfigurableEditorWithAuth
  apiKey={apiKey}
  imageUpload={{
    enabled: true,
    maxSize: 5 * 1024 * 1024, // 5MB
    allowedTypes: ['image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/webp'],
    // Or use your own backend:
    customUpload: async (file) => {
      const formData = new FormData();
      formData.append('image', file);
      const response = await fetch('/api/upload', {
        method: 'POST',
        body: formData,
      });
      const { url } = await response.json();
      return url;
    }
  }}
/>

Syntax Highlighting

Quill code blocks with syntax highlighting typically use highlight.js. Eddyter includes built-in code block support with syntax highlighting for 100+ languages. Zero config needed.

Custom Toolbars

Quill toolbar arrays map cleanly to Eddyter toolbar config:

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<ConfigurableEditorWithAuth
  apiKey={apiKey}
  toolbar={{
    bold: true,
    italic: true,
    underline: true,
    headings: ['h1', 'h2', 'h3'],
    lists: ['ordered', 'bullet'],
    link: true,
    image: true,
    codeBlock: true,
    // Add slash commands too:
    slashCommands: true,
  }}
/>

Feature Comparison — Quill vs Eddyter 2026

Here's what you gain by moving from Quill to Eddyter:

Eddyter is smaller, has more built-in features, and has clearer long-term support than Quill 2.x.

Testing Your Migration

Before shipping the migration, test these specific scenarios:

Content Fidelity Tests

• Bold, italic, underline render identically
• Headings (H1-H6) preserve hierarchy
• Ordered and unordered lists preserve nesting
• Links preserve href and target attributes
• Images load with correct src and alt
• Code blocks preserve language and syntax highlighting
• Blockquotes render correctly
• Custom formats (mentions, embeds) render with data attributes intact

Edit Round-Trip Tests

• Open a migrated document
• Make an edit
• Save and reload
• Verify content matches expected output

Edge Case Tests

• Empty documents convert without errors
• Very large documents (10K+ characters) convert in reasonable time
• Documents with only formatting, no text don't corrupt
• Nested lists (3+ levels deep) preserve structure
• Mixed content (text + images + code) renders correctly

Performance Tests

• Migrated documents load as fast as before
• Typing latency stays under 50ms on target devices
• Bundle size is smaller after migration (should drop ~60 KB)

For typing latency benchmarks, see Rich Text Editor Typing Latency Benchmarks 2026.

Migration Timeline for Different App Sizes

Real migration times based on app complexity:

Small App (< 1,000 Documents)

Timeline: 1-2 days

• Day 1: Install Eddyter, replace component, test locally
• Day 2: Run migration script, verify sample of migrated docs, ship

Medium App (1,000-50,000 Documents)

Timeline: 3-5 days

• Day 1: Install Eddyter, replace component
• Day 2: Handle custom plugins (mentions, embeds, custom formats)
• Day 3: Run migration script in staging
• Day 4: QA migrated content across doc types
• Day 5: Production migration + monitoring

Large App (50K+ Documents)

Timeline: 1-2 weeks

• Week 1: Component replacement, custom plugin handling, staging migration
• Week 2: Batched production migration, monitoring, edge case fixes

Most Quill migrations land in the 3-5 day range because most apps have 1K-50K documents.

Common Migration Gotchas

Watch for these specific issues during migration:

Gotcha 1: Nested List Structure

Quill Delta represents nested lists with indent attributes. quill-delta-to-html handles this by default, but very deep nesting (5+ levels) sometimes flattens. Test 3+ level lists specifically.

Gotcha 2: Image Src URLs

Quill Delta stores image URLs directly. If your images live behind auth or have expiring signed URLs, verify they still resolve after migration. Consider batch re-uploading through Eddyter's managed storage.

Gotcha 3: Custom Attribute Loss

Quill custom blots with non-standard attributes can lose data during Delta-to-HTML conversion. Test every custom format type in isolation before batch migration.

Gotcha 4: Whitespace Handling

Quill and HTML handle whitespace differently. Empty paragraphs, trailing spaces, and consecutive line breaks may render slightly differently. Usually not a problem, but flag for user-facing content review.

Gotcha 5: Font Size and Color Attributes

Quill sometimes stores font size and color as inline styles vs classes. Depending on your Quill config, migrated HTML may or may not preserve these. Test with content that heavily uses custom colors or font sizes.

Gotcha 6: Cache Invalidation

If your app caches rendered HTML (React Server Components, CDN caches, browser caches), you need to invalidate caches after migration. Otherwise users see old Delta-rendered content mixed with new HTML content.

Real 2026 Cost Comparison — Quill vs Eddyter

For a typical SaaS with 5,000 monthly active users:

Quill (Self-Hosted Free)

• Library cost: $0
• Infrastructure: $50-$200/mo (hosting Quill and your custom features)
• Custom AI integration: $200-$1,000/mo (OpenAI + engineering)
• Custom collab (if needed): $99-$500/mo (Y.js server or Liveblocks)
• Ongoing maintenance: 4-8 hours/mo × $150/hr = $600-$1,200/mo
• Total: $949-$2,900/mo
• 3-year total: $34,164-$104,400

Eddyter AI Pro Managed

• Base plan: $59/mo flat
• AI (multi-model): Included (1,000 credits/mo)
• Managed image storage: Included
• Real-time collab: Included (Q3 2026)
• Ongoing maintenance: Handled by vendor
• Total: $59/mo
• 3-year total: $2,124

Eddyter saves $32,040-$102,276 over 3 years vs Quill self-hosted with equivalent features.

For deeper cost analysis, see Build vs Buy: Real Cost of Building a Rich Text Editor 2026.

Rollback Plan (Just in Case)

Every migration needs a rollback plan. Here's yours.

If Migration Fails During Script Run

Your pre-migration snapshot table exists. Restore from it:

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-- Restore original Quill content
UPDATE documents d
SET content = pre.content, editorType = 'quill'
FROM documents_pre_quill_migration pre
WHERE d.id = pre.id;

If Users Report Issues Post-Ship

Keep the Quill component in your codebase for 30 days. Add a feature flag:

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export default function EditorSwitch({ initialContent, onChange, useLegacy }) {
  if (useLegacy) {
    return <QuillEditor initialContent={initialContent} onChange={onChange} />;
  }
  return <EddyterEditor initialContent={initialContent} onChange={onChange} />;
}

Ship both. Route problematic documents back to Quill temporarily while you fix conversion issues.

If You Need to Fully Revert

Restore the snapshot table + roll back the frontend deploy. Users are back on Quill in 30 minutes.

When NOT to Migrate From Quill

Migration isn't always right. Skip it if:

• ✅ Quill 1.x still works fine for you — no plugin dependencies broken, no missing features driving migration
• ✅ You have zero AI or collaboration needs — Quill's core editor is genuinely good for basic editing
• ✅ Your app is being sunset — don't invest engineering in a product you're shutting down
• ✅ You have 6+ months of budget uncertainty — wait for stability before committing to a new editor

For most active SaaS products in 2026, migration pays off. But not always.

FAQs

1. How long does Quill to Eddyter migration take?

Migrating from Quill to Eddyter typically takes 2-4 days for most apps in 2026. Small apps with under 1,000 documents can migrate in 1-2 days. Medium apps with 1,000-50,000 documents take 3-5 days including custom plugin handling. Large apps with 50K+ documents take 1-2 weeks for batched migration and QA. The core work is: install Eddyter, replace the Quill component (3 lines vs 30+), run a Delta-to-HTML conversion script over your database, and QA the migrated content. Compare this to TipTap migration (3-6 weeks) or Lexical migration (6-8 weeks with custom UI build).

2. Is Quill 2.0 still maintained?

Quill 2.0 is maintained by a community fork as of 2026. The original maintainer stepped back in 2024, and release cadence has slowed significantly. Bug fixes are inconsistent. Many popular Quill 1.x plugins never received updates for the 2.0 API. Enterprise teams needing predictable long-term support are increasingly migrating to alternatives with vendor-backed maintenance (Eddyter, TipTap Cloud, CKEditor 5). For new projects in 2026, Quill is no longer the safe default it was from 2015-2023.

3. Do I lose content during Quill to Eddyter migration?

No, with proper migration you don't lose content. Quill stores content as Delta JSON, which converts cleanly to HTML using quill-delta-to-html. All standard formats (bold, italic, headings, lists, links, images, code blocks, blockquotes) convert without loss. Custom Quill blots (mentions, embeds, custom marks) need custom renderer configuration but also convert cleanly with correct setup. Always create a database snapshot before running the migration script so you can restore if anything goes wrong. Test migration on a sample of production documents in staging before running on your full database.

4. What about my custom Quill plugins and modules?

Custom Quill plugins fall into three categories for migration: (1) Standard-equivalent plugins (mentions, image upload, syntax highlighting) — Eddyter has native equivalents you can enable via config, no code migration needed. (2) Custom formatting plugins (custom marks, custom colors) — convert via customTag and customTagAttributes options in quill-delta-to-html, then style with your existing CSS. (3) Fully custom Quill modules — these need per-plugin migration. Most fit into Eddyter's plugin API or become unnecessary because Eddyter includes the feature natively. Budget 1-3 days per major custom plugin depending on complexity.

5. What if I store Quill content as HTML instead of Delta?

If you already store Quill output as HTML (using quill.root.innerHTML), your migration is even simpler. No content conversion needed. Just replace the Quill component with the Eddyter component and update your database's editorType field. Eddyter renders your existing HTML directly. This scenario typically takes 1-2 days total including QA. Many Quill users who care about HTML output already made this storage choice — check your database before assuming you're on Delta.

6. Why migrate to Eddyter specifically vs TipTap or Lexical?

Eddyter wins for Quill migrations on three specific dimensions: (1) Migration speed — 2-4 days vs 3-6 weeks for TipTap (headless UI build) or 6-8 weeks for Lexical (full UI build). (2) HTML compatibility — Quill's HTML output is closest to Eddyter's format, minimizing conversion complexity. (3) Feature parity — Eddyter includes multi-model AI (GPT-5, Claude 5, Haiku 4.5, Gemini 3), real-time collaboration, mentions, and image storage all built in, matching or exceeding what most Quill users had via custom code. TipTap and Lexical are excellent editors, but for Quill migrations specifically, Eddyter delivers the fastest path with the least additional engineering work. See Lexical vs TipTap 2026 for framework comparison.

7. Can I run Quill and Eddyter side by side during migration?

Yes, and this is the recommended approach for large apps. Keep the Quill component in your codebase behind a feature flag. Migrate documents in batches. Route new documents to Eddyter and legacy documents to Quill temporarily. Once all documents are migrated and verified, remove the Quill component. This side-by-side approach lets you migrate at your own pace without a big-bang cutover, and provides an instant rollback path if issues arise. Most teams keep Quill available for 30 days post-migration as a safety net.

8. Does Eddyter support the same frameworks Quill did?

Yes, and more. Quill is framework-agnostic and works via vanilla JavaScript or community wrappers for React, Vue, and Angular. Eddyter natively supports 7 frameworks with first-party packages: React 18.2+/19 (eddyter), Next.js 14/15 (native), Vue 3 (@eddyter/vue), Angular 17-20 (@eddyter/angular), Svelte 4/5 (@eddyter/svelte), Laravel (eddyter/laravel), and Vanilla JS (@eddyter/core). Every framework gets first-party support with the same API surface, so multi-framework teams can standardize on one editor across all their products. This is broader framework support than Quill offered.

The Bottom Line on Migrating From Quill

Quill served the web well for a decade. In 2026, it's no longer the right default for new projects or for teams needing modern features.

Migration to Eddyter is faster and cheaper than most Quill users assume. 2-4 days for typical apps. Delta-to-HTML conversion handles content cleanly. Custom plugins map to Eddyter's built-in features. Users get better performance, multi-model AI, and vendor-backed long-term support.

If you've been putting off the Quill migration because it seems like a big project, it's not. Start with a staging migration this week. Test a sample of your production content. Ship in a sprint.

Ready to Leave Quill Behind?

Stop maintaining a legacy editor with slowing releases. Deploy Eddyter into your React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, Svelte, or Laravel app today. Full editor with multi-model AI (GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 5, Haiku 4.5, Gemini 3). Notion-style blocks. Tables. Mobile UX. 140 KB bundle. $12-$59/mo flat. Migration in 2-4 days.

👉 Try Eddyter free at eddyter.com
📚 Read the docs
💰 See pricing
🎥 Watch the intro video | Watch the 30-min setup guide