Echo vs http-proxy-middleware
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A minimalist Go web framework for building fast HTTP servers and APIs.
Open source · MIT
Node.js middleware that forwards HTTP requests from your server to another target, with simple configuration.
The short answer
Choose Echo if you need…
- Go developers building REST APIs or backend services
- Teams that want a small framework on top of the standard library
- Developers who need middleware for logging, panic recovery, or JWT auth
- Projects that need automatic TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt
Choose http-proxy-middleware if you need…
- Node.js developers running an Express, Connect, or Next.js dev server who need to forward /api requests to a backend
- Teams that want to rewrite paths or route requests to different targets based on host or path
- Developers who need WebSocket proxying alongside HTTP proxying
Side-by-side
| Echo | http-proxy-middleware | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 32.8k | 11.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
Echo
Echo is a web framework for the Go programming language, used to build web servers and APIs. It is built on Go's standard net/http package and adds a fast router, request data binding with validation, middleware, and centralized error handling. It also supports automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt and HTTP/2.
http-proxy-middleware
http-proxy-middleware is a Node.js library that plugs into web servers such as Express or Connect and forwards incoming requests to another server, such as a backend API. It is commonly used during development so a frontend app can call an API on a different address without browser cross-origin problems. It is powered by httpxy, a maintained version of http-proxy.
Best for
Echo
- Go developers building REST APIs or backend services
- Teams that want a small framework on top of the standard library
- Developers who need middleware for logging, panic recovery, or JWT auth
- Projects that need automatic TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt
http-proxy-middleware
- Node.js developers running an Express, Connect, or Next.js dev server who need to forward /api requests to a backend
- Teams that want to rewrite paths or route requests to different targets based on host or path
- Developers who need WebSocket proxying alongside HTTP proxying
Strengths
Echo
- Built on Go's standard net/http, so it works with existing http handlers via WrapHandler and WrapMiddleware
- Includes routing, binding, middleware, and error handling without a large dependency footprint
- Actively maintained, with a v5 release line and a published support policy
http-proxy-middleware
- Works with several Node.js servers, including Express, Connect, Next.js, and Hono according to the README
- Configuration is done through a single createProxyMiddleware call with documented options
- Actively maintained with a README that documents options, WebSocket support, and examples
Not ideal for
Echo
- People who do not write Go, since it is a Go-only library
- Beginners with no programming background, since it assumes Go knowledge
- Users who need a finished application rather than a framework to build one with
http-proxy-middleware
- People who need a standalone reverse proxy with no Node.js code, since this library must be mounted inside a Node.js server
- Projects that do not use Node.js, because the package is for the Node.js ecosystem
Trade-offs
Echo
- Requires understanding of Go, so it is not suitable for non-programmers
- Major version v5 changes the API from v4, so older tutorials and packages may need adapting; v4 is supported only until 2026-12-31 for bug fixes
- Many middleware packages are third-party, so their quality and Echo version compatibility must be checked individually
http-proxy-middleware
- The README is truncated in this analysis, so some details of setup and advanced behavior could not be verified here
- Requires writing Node.js code; it is not a configurable tool out of the box
- Current docs cover v4.x only; older versions have separate documentation
Getting started
http-proxy-middleware
Install as a dev dependency
npm install --save-dev http-proxy-middlewareFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Echo and http-proxy-middleware?
Echo: A minimalist Go web framework for building fast HTTP servers and APIs. http-proxy-middleware: Node.js middleware that forwards HTTP requests from your server to another target, with simple configuration. Echo suits go developers building rest apis or backend services, while http-proxy-middleware suits node.js developers running an express, connect, or next.js dev server who need to forward /api requests to a backend.
Are Echo and http-proxy-middleware free?
Echo: Free and open source. http-proxy-middleware: Free and open source.
Is Echo or http-proxy-middleware more popular?
Echo has more GitHub stars (32.8k) than http-proxy-middleware (11.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Echo and http-proxy-middleware?
Other options people compare them with include Gin, chi, Fiber, Vapor, go-zero.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.