hono vs express

backend

hono

express

Express and Hono are both minimalist web frameworks for building backend applications, but they target fundamentally different deployment environments. Express, launched in 2010, is the established standard for Node.js web servers with a massive ecosystem of middleware and proven patterns for traditional server deployments. Hono is a modern, TypeScript-first framework optimized for edge computing, serverless functions, and cloud-native applications where bundle size and cold start performance are critical.

This comparison matters because the shift toward edge computing and serverless architectures is changing framework requirements. Developers building traditional Node.js APIs need to understand Express's proven reliability and extensive ecosystem, while those targeting Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge Functions, or AWS Lambda need to evaluate Hono's optimizations for these environments. The choice significantly impacts development experience, deployment costs, and application performance.

Head-to-Head

Request Handling Performance→ hono wins

hono

Hono delivers 1.2x to 2.4x faster request handling in real-world scenarios with validation and database operations. Basic GET requests show the largest gains (2.4x), while complex POST requests with validation narrow the gap to 1.2x. Marketing claims of 8-10x improvements don't materialize in production applications.

express

Express provides consistent, predictable performance that handles typical web application loads reliably. While slower than Hono in benchmarks, the performance difference is negligible for most traditional web applications where network latency and database queries dominate response time.

TypeScript Integration→ hono wins

hono

Built-in TypeScript support with zero configuration required. Route parameters, request bodies, query strings, and response types are strongly typed automatically. Type inference works across middleware chains, catching errors at compile time and providing excellent IDE autocomplete.

express

Requires manual TypeScript setup with @types/express and custom type definitions. Type safety for request and response objects is weak without additional configuration. Middleware typing often requires casting or custom interfaces, leading to potential runtime errors that TypeScript should catch.

Bundle Size & Cold Start→ hono wins

hono

Streamlined architecture with minimal dependencies results in significantly smaller bundle sizes. Optimized specifically for serverless and edge environments where cold start time directly impacts user experience and costs. Fast startup is a core design principle.

express

Larger footprint due to mature codebase and dependencies accumulated over years. Not optimized for cold start scenarios, as it was designed for long-running Node.js processes. Bundle size and startup time were not design priorities.

Ecosystem & Middleware→ express wins

hono

Smaller ecosystem with growing but limited middleware options. Includes common features (CORS, logging, security headers, validation) built-in or as first-party packages. May require custom solutions for specialized needs that Express handles with third-party packages.

express

Massive ecosystem with thousands of middleware packages covering virtually every use case. Fifteen years of community contributions mean solutions exist for obscure requirements. Extensive documentation, Stack Overflow answers, and battle-tested patterns available.

Routing & Controller Architecture→ express wins

hono

Routing syntax mirrors Express for familiarity, but has limitations when abstracting route handlers into separate controller files. The context object pattern doesn't decompose as cleanly as Express's req/res separation, making traditional MVC patterns more awkward to implement.

express

Excellent support for separating routes from controllers and business logic. The request/response object pattern naturally supports traditional MVC architecture and clean code organization. Years of established patterns make code structure predictable across projects.

Deployment Target Flexibility→ hono wins

hono

Designed for multiple runtimes including Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, Node.js, and edge environments. Truly platform-agnostic with adapters for different deployment targets. Excels in serverless and edge computing where Express cannot run or performs poorly.

express

Built specifically for Node.js with no support for edge runtimes or alternative JavaScript engines. Cannot run on Cloudflare Workers, Deno Deploy, or most edge computing platforms without significant adaptation. Limited to traditional server deployments and Node.js-compatible serverless.

Verdict

Choose Hono for new projects targeting edge computing, serverless functions, or any environment where cold start performance matters. Its TypeScript-first design, smaller bundle size, and multi-runtime support make it the clear winner for modern cloud-native architectures on Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge, or similar platforms. The performance improvements in edge environments justify learning a newer framework, and the TypeScript integration prevents entire classes of bugs.

Choose Express for traditional Node.js applications, REST APIs running on persistent servers, or projects where ecosystem maturity outweighs raw performance. If your team needs extensive third-party middleware, values proven patterns with extensive documentation, or maintains existing Express applications, staying with Express makes practical sense. The performance difference in traditional deployments is marginal compared to database queries and external API calls. Express remains the safer choice for teams prioritizing stability and conventional MVC architecture over cutting-edge deployment targets.

When to Use Each

If you are building a Cloudflare Workers API or deploying to Vercel Edge Functions → use Hono because Express cannot run in these edge environments and Hono is optimized specifically for the constraints and performance characteristics of edge computing.

If you are building a traditional REST API deployed to AWS EC2, DigitalOcean, or similar long-running Node.js servers → use Express because its mature ecosystem, extensive middleware options, and proven patterns provide more value than Hono's edge-focused optimizations in this context.

If you are starting a new TypeScript project with strict type safety requirements → use Hono because its built-in TypeScript support with automatic type inference across routes and middleware will prevent runtime errors and improve developer experience without configuration overhead.

If you are building an internal tool or MVP where rapid development matters more than performance → use Express because its massive ecosystem means pre-built solutions exist for authentication, file uploads, payment processing, and virtually any other requirement, reducing development time significantly.

Learn More

hono →express →

Head-to-Head

Request Handling Performance→ hono wins

hono

express

TypeScript Integration→ hono wins

hono

express

Bundle Size & Cold Start→ hono wins

hono

express

Ecosystem & Middleware→ express wins

hono

express

Routing & Controller Architecture→ express wins

hono

express

Deployment Target Flexibility→ hono wins

hono

express

Verdict

When to Use Each