Fastify vs Hono
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 fast, low-overhead web framework for building servers and APIs with Node.js.
Open source · MIT
A small web framework for building APIs and sites that runs on many JavaScript platforms.
The short answer
Choose Fastify if you need…
- Node.js developers building JSON APIs or backend services
- Teams that care about request throughput and want a lightweight framework
- Projects that want schema-based validation of routes and responses
- Developers who want to organize code into reusable plugins
Choose Hono if you need…
- Developers writing TypeScript or JavaScript HTTP APIs
- Teams that want one codebase to deploy on multiple runtimes
- Projects targeting edge platforms like Cloudflare Workers
- Developers who want a small framework with few dependencies
Side-by-side
| Fastify | Hono | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 37.3k | 32.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
Fastify
Fastify is a framework for building web servers and APIs in Node.js. You define routes, such as a URL that returns data, and Fastify handles incoming requests with minimal extra work per request. It also offers a plugin system, input and output validation using JSON Schema, and built-in logging through Pino.
Hono
Hono is a web framework for JavaScript and TypeScript, built on Web Standard APIs so the same code can run on several runtimes such as Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, AWS Lambda, and Node.js. It is described as small and fast, with built-in, custom, and third-party middleware. Developers use it to define routes and handle requests and responses.
Best for
Fastify
- Node.js developers building JSON APIs or backend services
- Teams that care about request throughput and want a lightweight framework
- Projects that want schema-based validation of routes and responses
- Developers who want to organize code into reusable plugins
Hono
- Developers writing TypeScript or JavaScript HTTP APIs
- Teams that want one codebase to deploy on multiple runtimes
- Projects targeting edge platforms like Cloudflare Workers
- Developers who want a small framework with few dependencies
Strengths
Fastify
- The README reports high request throughput in a synthetic hello-world benchmark, with the caveat that real results depend on the application
- Supports JSON Schema validation and serialization for routes
- Includes a plugin architecture and hooks for extending behavior
Hono
- The README states it has zero dependencies and uses only Web Standard APIs
- Runs on many JavaScript runtimes with the same code, per the README
- MIT licensed and actively maintained, with a recent push date
Not ideal for
Fastify
- Beginners who have not yet learned Node.js basics, since the framework assumes JavaScript familiarity
- Projects that need a non-Node.js language, because Fastify is for Node.js only
- Teams expecting a large built-in feature set; much functionality comes from plugins, per the docs
Hono
- People who need a full-stack framework with a built-in database or UI layer, since the README describes only a web framework
- Non-programmers, because it requires writing code
- Projects that must run on a runtime not listed in the README without checking compatibility first
Trade-offs
Fastify
- Benchmark figures come from the maintainers' own synthetic test and may not match your workload
- The README's benchmark table lists an older Fastify version (4.0.0), so the numbers are not current
- Binding to 0.0.0.0 in containers requires care, since the README warns of security risks
Hono
- Performance and size claims come from the project itself; the README gives a size figure only for the hono/tiny preset
- Documentation is mainly hosted on hono.dev, so the README alone gives limited detail
- Supporting many runtimes means behavior can differ per platform; check the docs for your target
Getting started
Fastify
Install Fastify in an existing project
npm i fastifyGenerate a new Fastify project
npm init fastifyFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Fastify and Hono?
Fastify: A fast, low-overhead web framework for building servers and APIs with Node.js. Hono: A small web framework for building APIs and sites that runs on many JavaScript platforms. Fastify suits node.js developers building json apis or backend services, while Hono suits developers writing typescript or javascript http apis.
Are Fastify and Hono free?
Fastify: Free and open source. Hono: Free and open source.
Is Fastify or Hono more popular?
Fastify has more GitHub stars (37.3k) than Hono (32.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Fastify and Hono?
Other options people compare them with include Express, Koa, Elysia.
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.