Express vs Fastify
The ubiquitous minimal framework versus the faster, schema-driven newcomer.
| Metric | expressjs/express ★ 69k · MIT · JavaScript | fastify/fastify ★ 37k · MIT · JavaScript |
|---|---|---|
| Trust score | 87 | 72 |
| Safety | 89 | 54 |
| Popularity | 97 | 91 |
| Maintenance | 100 | 100 |
| Lightweight | 50 | 50 |
By VOUCH's overall trust score, expressjs/express edges ahead (87/100). Both are viable — pick based on the factors that matter to you.
Express vs Fastify: which should you choose?
Express is the long-standing default for Node servers — minimal, flexible, and supported by virtually every tutorial and middleware. Fastify focuses on performance and developer experience with built-in schema validation, logging, and significantly higher throughput. Choose Express for ubiquity and familiarity; choose Fastify when speed and structured validation matter.
Scores above are computed live from expressjs/express and fastify/fastify using OSSF Scorecard, GitHub activity, popularity, and footprint signals.