Echo vs Revel
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
A full-stack web framework for building web apps in the Go language.
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 Revel if you need…
- Go developers who want a batteries-included web framework
- Teams starting a new web application in Go who prefer a conventional project layout
- Developers who want a built-in command-line tool to create and run projects
Side-by-side
| Echo | Revel | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 32.8k | 13.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | Go |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 3 years 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.
Revel
Revel is a web framework for Go, a programming language. A framework gives you a standard structure and built-in pieces so you don't have to build routing, request handling and project layout from scratch. The README describes it as focused on high productivity and says it covers full-stack web development, with a command-line tool that generates and runs new apps.
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
Revel
- Go developers who want a batteries-included web framework
- Teams starting a new web application in Go who prefer a conventional project layout
- Developers who want a built-in command-line tool to create and run projects
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
Revel
- The README describes it as a full-stack framework, covering more than just routing
- Includes a command-line tool for creating and running apps
- Uses MIT license and supports Go modules according to the README
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
Revel
- People new to programming, since it requires working knowledge of Go first
- Teams that want a minimal, lightweight router only, because Revel is a larger full-stack framework
- Anyone needing recent Go tooling support confirmed in the README, since the README does not state Go version compatibility
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
Revel
- The README shows last release as 2022 and the repository's last push was in October 2023, so activity may be slower than newer alternatives
- Latest release has no prebuilt binaries, so installation requires a Go toolchain
- The README is short and points to external docs for details, so depth is hard to judge from it alone
Getting started
Revel
Install the Revel command-line tool
go install github.com/revel/cmd/revel@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Echo and Revel?
Echo: A minimalist Go web framework for building fast HTTP servers and APIs. Revel: A full-stack web framework for building web apps in the Go language. Echo suits go developers building rest apis or backend services, while Revel suits go developers who want a batteries-included web framework.
Are Echo and Revel free?
Echo: Free and open source. Revel: Free and open source.
Is Echo or Revel more popular?
Echo has more GitHub stars (32.8k) than Revel (13.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Echo and Revel?
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.