Version 5.2.1
0
85
ExcellentFast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework
- Weekly Downloads
- 87.4M
↑33%
- Bundle (gzip)
- 236.1 KB
- Updated
- Vulns
- 0
Health Score Breakdown
Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
Express vs Fastify vs Hono
Side-by-side NPM package comparison
Quick Verdict
Express leads across all categories in this comparison. Check the detailed metrics below to see how each package performs for your specific needs.
Version 5.8.4
0
85
ExcellentFast and low overhead web framework, for Node.js
- Weekly Downloads
- 5.6M
↑21%
- Bundle (gzip)
- 815.4 KB
- Updated
- Vulns
- 0
Health Score Breakdown
Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
Version 4.12.10
0
85
ExcellentWeb framework built on Web Standards
- Weekly Downloads
- 31.9M
↑96%
- Bundle (gzip)
- 400.5 KB
- Updated
- Vulns
- 0
Health Score Breakdown
Maintenance
100
Popularity
100
Quality
50
Security
100
Stability
70
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 2.7x more. Hono has 31.9M weekly downloads. Fastify has 5.6M weekly downloads. Higher download counts generally indicate broader community adoption and a larger ecosystem of tutorials, plugins, and support.
Bundle Size
Express has the smallest gzipped bundle at 236.1 KB. Hono comes in at 400.5 KB. Fastify comes in at 815.4 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 weekly downloads (87.4M), 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 fastify?
- Express has the smaller gzipped bundle at 236.1 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?
- Based on npm download statistics, Express has approximately 87.4M weekly downloads and Fastify has approximately 5.6M weekly downloads. These numbers reflect package installations, not unique developers, but they indicate relative adoption levels.
- Which is better maintained, express or fastify?
- Express currently has the higher overall health score at 85/100. Express has a maintenance score of 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.