express
Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework
87.4M weekly downloads · 233.6 KB gzip · Health 85/100
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Comparison guide
Express vs Fastify vs Hono
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Smallest Bundle
Hono
7.5 KB gzipped
Most Popular
Express
87.4M weekly downloads
Best Maintained
Express
100/100 maintenance score
Highest Quality
Express
50/100 quality score
Overall Pick
Hono
Best all-around based on popularity, size, maintenance & quality
fastify
Fast and low overhead web framework, for Node.js
9.3M weekly downloads · 143.6 KB gzip · Health 85/100
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Choosing between Express and Fastify 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 87.4M weekly downloads — roughly 1.9x more. Hono has 45.2M weekly downloads. Fastify has 9.3M 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. Fastify comes in at 143.6 KB. Express comes in at 233.6 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. Fastify 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 Fastify if you value large community support, 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 Fastify 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 fastify?
- It depends on your needs. Express has a health score of 85/100 while Fastify scores 85/100. Express has more recorded weekly downloads (87.4M). 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 fastify?
- Fastify has the smaller gzipped bundle at 143.6 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 fastify?
- Express has more recorded weekly downloads (87.4M). Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
- Which is better maintained, express or fastify?
- Express has a maintenance score of 100/100. Express scores 100/100 and Fastify 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.