NodeJS Frameworks for App Development For 2024: Express JS, Fastify JS, & More

NodeJS is changing web & app development world.

The Node.js web survey report 2018 shows it helps developers improve productivity by 68% while reducing development costs and greatly increasing the app’s performance.

In fact, more than 85% of Full Stack Developers choose NodeJS Frameworks as their go-to choice, as per Node.js user survey report.

With the ever-increasing demand of web development and app development, NodeJS is more popular than ever. This is why it’s the right time to discuss the best NodeJS Frameworks.

NodeJS being as popular as it is has been base for many frameworks. And there are a lot of clients as well as developers who want to learn more about these platforms. If you are one of them, this blog is for you.

Here, we shall be going through the best nodejs frameworks 2024 has to offer. Therefore, with this being said, let’s get right into it:

Is Node.js a Framework?

This is a common question people ask when they hire NodeJS Developers.

Due to reacting Node JS often considered to be a framework. However, that’s far from reality. As this JavaScript-based technology is not a framework but rather a runtime environment.

While frameworks are used for coding or in other words, to create functions, runtime environment is a totally different concept.

Node.JS – JavaScript Runtime Environment

Node.JS is an open-source runtime environment based on JavaScript.

A runtime environment is a platform that allows developers to run programs. In other words, the Node JS Server Side allows developers to execute JavaScript code.

As opposed to frameworks that are used to create functions. In fact, NodeJS has been the base for many Frameworks themselves.

Coming back, this platform is open sourced meaning it is free for everyone to use. in addition to this, it is used for cross-platform, meaning you will find many hybrid app development frameworks based on NodeJS.

It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, and more. And written in JavaScript it is very simple to work with. Apart from JavaScript, it is also compatible with NodeJS Typescript, C, C++, and Coffeescript.

To better understand what NodeJS is, let’s look at some of its top features.

NodeJS Features That Make It Ideal For App Development

Being a top platform, NodeJS comes with a range of features that make it ideal for Mobile App Development. In this section of the blog, we shall be going through some of these features.

These are, as mentioned below:

• Single-Threaded – This runtime environment is based on a scalable single-thread event loop model. This allows NodeJS to handle multiple requests at once. In addition to this, it also adds non-blocking input-output operation functionality.
• Highly Scalable – With the asynchronous operation, apps made using node and node frameworks are scalable.
• No Buffering – Since NodeJS eliminates the output data processing time in blocks through call-back function,
• Open Source – Being open source, it is free for everyone to use and also comes with grand community support.
• Performance ­– it is built on Chrome V8 JavaScript Engine. This gives NodeJS solutions amazing performance with fast code execution, asynchronous programming, and non-blocking.
• Caching – it caches modules, retrieving web pages faster. It also removes the need for code re-execution after the first request.

These are the top features of NodeJS. With this out of the way, let’s look at the NodeJS frameworks.

What Are NodeJS Frameworks?

What are frameworks?

In layman’s terms, a framework is a structure that allows developers to build web apps and apps. Every framework is unique in what value it offers as they support specific use case in the development process.

While there are a range of best NodeJS frameworks, they can be divided into three types. Namely: MVC, Full-Stack MVC, and REST API frameworks.

In this section of the blog, we shall discuss these types of Nodejs frameworks.

• MVC NodeJS frameworks 

MVC framework stands for models, views, and controllers.

As such, they offer design patterns that allow the UI/UX designers to divide app logic into models, views, and controllers.

This division allows designers to maintain the scale of the application easily. Moreover, it also fits into today’s development standards.

• Full-stack MVC NodeJS frameworks

This one is the same as the MVP framework but with added benefits.

Used for full-stack development, it comes with scaffolding, libraries, template engines, and other amazing development capacities that make everything that much easier and better.

Plus, being a full-stack framework, it allows developers to deal with both frontend and backend development.

• REST API / REST API frameworks

REST stands for Representational State Transfer. And these types of frameworks stand out from the rest.

They come with a strong reference base which allows faster app development through REST API-built experience.

These are the three different types of NodeJS Frameworks. Now, in the next section of the blog, we shall be going through some of the best frameworks that you can use for app development.

9 Best NodeJS Frameworks

What Are The Best NodeJs Frameworks? which is the best framework for NodeJS, and so on.

There are a lot of people who are curious about the NodeJS framework. And there is a good reason behind it. You see, nodeJS frameworks like Express, Meteor, Nestjs, and Total.js are trending and changing the web and app development world.

Most web development companies are in on it. This is the time for you to learn about it. Therefore, in this section of the blog, we will be going through the 9 best NodeJS frameworks.

Starting with the most popular one….

1) Express.js – The Best NodeJS Framework

The first one is also the best NodeJS Framework.

Express JS is an open-source Node.js module. TJ Holowaychuk and is the original creator of the platform, who released it more than a decade ago on the 22nd of May, 2010.

It comes with remarkable a feature that allows NodeJS developers to create robust single or multipage apps. This is also one of the best frameworks for web app development.

It takes development speed to next level and makes it that much easier. While Express JS itself is one of the minimal frameworks, its capacities are scalable through plugins. Moreover, Express JS typescript compatibility makes it stand off the rest.

Today, it is used by more than 1,733 companies around the world. This includes companies like Fox Sports, PayPal, Uber, IBM, Twitter, Stack, Accenture, and so on. Plus, it has 18 million downloads per week as well as a presence in 20k stacks.

Features

• High speed server-side development.
• Robust Performance
• Tools for Express.js are readily available
• Allows HTML pages dynamic rendering
• Allows middleware set up for HTTP requests responding.
• High testing coverage
• It has effective routing.
• Allows content negotiation

2) Next.js – Best NodeJS Framework 2024

Next.JS is going to be the next best NodeJS framework 2024 will offer.

Based on Node, it is open-sourced. Plus, the main quality of this minimal framework is that it is based on server-rendered React applications. It is used for creating static, fast, and user-friendly websites.

Moreover, this framework build NodeJS website that are SEO Friendly. React-based web app capacities also make server-side rendering and static page generation possible.

Apart from this, the development experience is leveraged with features ranging from smart bundling, TypeScript support, to server rendering, configuration-less, etc.

Moreover, it is one of the best technology for SaaS Development.

Being one of the most popular and best NodeJS frameworks, it has 1.8 million downloads covers over 2.7k stacks and is used by over 800 companies.

Features

• Innovative page-based routing API.
• Hybrid Page Development
• Automatic code splitting.
• Image optimization.
• CSS and SaaS support.
• Fully extendable
• Detailed documentation
• Fast development
• Client-side routing with prefetching

3) Koa – Fastest Growing Framework

Koa is built by the same people who made Express, the no.1 NodeJS Framework. So, it goes without saying that it is up there in the ranks of the best.  It is used by more than 90 companies. Plus, it’s present in over 400 stacks with 1 million downloads per week.

But one thing that separates it from NodeJS Express Framework is the fact that it provides a stronger foundation for API and Web apps while being smaller than its sister platform.

This makes it the best nodejs framework for API. This is one of the reasons why it is often a part of PHP web development services. Its async functions allow callback elimination and better debugging.

In addition to this, its range of tools makes tools and methodologies make the work much easier.

Since it doesn’t come with any middleware technologies, the same is replaced by methods. These methods allow interoperability, robustness, and ease of coding middleware.

Features

• No middleware.
• Small Footprint
• Contemporary Framework
• Bug Handling
• Fast Development

4) Nest.js – Next Level Scalability in App Development

Presence in 1000 stacks, over 800k downloads per week, and used by 200 companies, Nest.JS is one of a kind NodeJS backend framework.

It is used for server-side app developments that are scalable and efficient. And it is licensed by MIT as an open-source project. Thus, an official nest core team provides official assistance through the helpline.

Being a progressive framework, it is well-known throughout the development community. In addition to being typescript ready, it also uses Modern JS. Plus, it comes with Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), Functional Programming (FP), & Functional Reactive Programming (FRP) to deliver next-level scalability.

Therefore, it delivers apps that are scalable, easy to maintain, effective, and performs well in the market. It is compatible with Fastify js, which makes it a go-to choice for nodejs development services.

Features

• Solves architecture problems
• Easy to learn and use
• TypeScript is ready
• Compatible with Test Driven Development & unit-testing easy
• integration made easy
• code reusability

5) Hapi.js – Best NodeJS Framework for Web Apps

Hapi.JS is one of the best model frameworks for web-app development.

It creates solutions that are fast, scalable, and capturing. That is the reason why it has more than about 400K downloads per week and is used by over 76 companies.

It was created by Walmart’s mobile app development team for handling high traffic on Black Friday. And ever since then it is used to create eCommerce platforms that get high traffic including app like Shein.

Moreover, it comes with features that aren’t seen in any other framework. It takes security to another level and it is very simple to use. All in all, it is one of most popular best nodejs frameworks on the list.

Features

• High level Security
• Rich ecosystem
• High end Quality
• Straightforward User Experience Implementation.
• Easy to learn interface
• Predictability
• Extensibility and customization.

6) Fastify JS – Fastest NodeJS Framework 2024

Fastify JS is the fastest and best node js framework in the market as of today. It has 300K weekly downloads, 21.7K stars on Github, and is still open-source.

It is used by some of the best companies across the world. This includes names like Skeelo, Saturn, 2hire, and Commons. host, and so on.

Developers of Fastify were inspired by Hapi & Express and it shows. Just like them, it is fast, provides a great user experience, has a remarkable plugin architecture, high speed, and minimum overhead.

In fact, this framework serves up to 30 thousand requests per second. It isn’t called the fastest for anything. This is one of the reasons to hire web developers who are well-versed with Fastify JS.

With this out of the way, let’s look at some of the top features of the platform.

Feature

• Limitless performance
• Highly Extensible
• Developer-first framework
• Comes with best logger
• TypeScript ready
• Fastest framework

7) Meteor- js – Perfect JS Framework

Meteor was created by the startup software Meteor. Launched back in 2012, it is one of the top NodeJS frameworks.

For those who want to use only JavaScript as a programming language, this framework is perfect. And what makes it even better is its features and capacities. In addition to being open source, it is isomorphic and comes with automatic data change capacity.

The reason, why it’s called the perfect framework is that it is also highly compatible with desktop apps, iOS, and android app development. And all of this using one language.

If you are looking into NodeJS development and want to choose one of the best node frameworks, you should definitely consider this one.

Features

• Isomorphic framework
• Use modern JS
• Cross-platform framework
• CLI rapid prototyping
• Extensive community support
• Full-stack framework
• Superfast interactions – fast results
• Compatible with integration

8) Total.js – All in One – Node Framework

Total.js stands true to its name and it’s the only framework that offers all one solution. It comes with a CMS-like experience and everything else you need for NodeJS development. This is why it is much preferred by Full Stack Development Company.

It is an open-source platform. Plus, with its amazing offering, it delivers great flexibility to NodeJS developers. What makes it stand out is, it comes in different versions. This includes Eshop, CMS, and HelpDesk.

It is perfect for Industry 4.0 solutions and highly compatible with Internet-of-things integrations, REST service, and super-fast applications. Plus, maintenance is low and very stable. All in all, it is the perfect and one of the best NodeJS frameworks.

Features:

• Real-time tracking
• Node JS API Testing
• Auto-discover projects
• Multiple database compatibility
• Compatible frontend frameworks
• Fast development & low maintenance cost

9) Feather.js : Light Weight & Flexible Framework

Feature JS is very popular for back-end development. It is known for its flexibility with react and NodeJS along with another database. In its true form, it’s a Node js-microservices framework.

It comes with real-time functionality that goes with modern web apps and mobile apps. Moreover, it removes the need for complex RESTful node js APIs with its straightforward decoding.

All in all, it makes everything much easier for web developers including implementing, connecting, and communicating.

Take a look at the features of the Feature Platform.

Features:

• Its light weight framework
• It allows reuse of services
• CLI
• Automated RESTful APIs
• Default plugins for authentication and authorization

Conclusion

NodeJs is one of the top development technologies of our time. Used throughout the development community, it has been the basis for the development of many frameworks.

However, there are only a few that deserve the title of best NodeJS framework.

In this blog, we discussed some of the best NodeJS Frameworks that 2024 has to offer. Now, if you are someone who wants to develop their own NodeJS solution or want to learn more about the same, it is highly recommended that you consult a NodeJS Development Company.

FAQ

What are the Top Nodejs Frameworks?

Some of the top NodeJS Frameworks are, as mentioned below:

• Feather.js
• Total.js
• Meteor- js
• Fastify JS
• Hapi.js
• Nest.js
• Koa
• Next.js
• Express.js

Is Koa Better than Express?

Both Express and Koa come from the same team of developers. However, they are made to serve to different functions. Therefore, the better one depends on your development needs. As such, both of them are one of the best NodeJS Frameworks.

Is Express the Best Nodejs framework?

Express is one of the best NodeJS Frameworks. It comes with a great range of features that make it much easier to develop robust apps and web apps. But then again, every framework based on NodeJS has its own unique functions. Therefore, the best depends on your project needs.

Can NodeJS be used for mobile app development?

Yes, NodeJS can be used for mobile app development as it is a cross-platform development runtime environment based on JavaScript.

Which framework goes best with NodeJS?

Every framework is built for a specific purpose and it serves the same. So, the best framework that goes with NodeJS is the one that fits your project needs and larger requirements.

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.