Version 5.2.1
0
85
ExcellentFast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework
- Weekly Downloads
- 88.6M
↑4%
- Bundle (gzip)
- 22.1 KB
- Updated
- Vulns
- 0
Health Score Breakdown
Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
Express vs Hono
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Hono
7.2 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Express
88.6M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Express
100/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Express
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Express
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
Version 4.12.12
0
85
ExcellentWeb framework built on Web Standards
- Weekly Downloads
- 33.8M
↑40%
- Bundle (gzip)
- 7.2 KB
- Updated
- Vulns
- 0
Health Score Breakdown
Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
Choosing between Express and Hono? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.
Downloads & Popularity
Express leads with 88.6M weekly downloads — roughly 2.6x more. Hono has 33.8M 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 7.2 KB. Express comes in at 22.1 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.
Our Verdict
Both Express and Hono are solid choices for JavaScript development. Express has the edge in overall health score (85/100), while each package brings unique strengths to the table. Evaluate them based on your project's priorities — whether that's community size, bundle efficiency, or maintenance activity — and choose the one that aligns best with your requirements.
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 weekly downloads (88.6M), suggesting broader adoption. 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 7.2 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?
- Based on npm download statistics, Express has approximately 88.6M weekly downloads and Hono has approximately 33.8M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
- Which is better maintained, express or hono?
- Express currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Express has a maintenance score of 100/100 and Hono scores 100/100 on maintenance.
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The 2026 JavaScript Stack Cheatsheet
One PDF: the best package for every category (ORMs, bundlers, auth, testing, state management). Used by 500+ devs. Free, updated monthly.