Express vs Hono

Downloads & Popularity

Express leads with 141.0M weekly downloads — roughly 1.9x more. Hono has 73.1M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.

Bundle Size

Hono has the smallest gzipped bundle at 7.5 KB. Express comes in at 236.1 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Express has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Hono has an overall health score of 85/100 (very good), with strong maintenance, security, popularity scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics.

When to Choose Each

Choose Express if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Hono if you value massive community and ecosystem, actively maintained, strong security track record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is express better than hono?

It depends on your needs. Express has a health score of 85/100 while Hono scores 85/100. Express has more recorded weekly downloads (141.0M). Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.

Which has a smaller bundle size, express or hono?

Hono has the smaller gzipped bundle at 7.5 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.

How many developers use express vs hono?

Express has more recorded weekly downloads (141.0M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.

Which is better maintained, express or hono?

Express has a maintenance score of 100/100. Express scores 100/100 and Hono scores 100/100 on maintenance.