Backend frameworks

A curated list of backend JavaScript frameworks for Node.js and other runtimes: APIs, web servers, and full-stack apps.

Minimal / flexible

• Elysia — Fast, modern, and friendly web framework for Node.js.
• Express — Fast, unopinionated web framework for Node.js. Simple APIs and middleware.
• Fastify — Low-overhead Node.js framework with a strong plugin system and schema-based validation.
• Hono — Small, fast framework that runs on Node, Deno, Bun, and edge runtimes.

Full-stack / structured

• NestJS — TypeScript-first Node.js framework with dependency injection, modules, and structure inspired by Angular.