Express vs Fastify
Updated Jun 28, 2026
Quick Verdict
Express has 1.9x more GitHub stars.
GitHub Stars
Express 69.3K
vs
Fastify 36.7K
Downloads/wk
Express 0
vs
Fastify 0
Contributors
Express 384
vs
Fastify 901
Bundle Size
Express 241.8 KB
vs
Fastify 132.9 KB
Detailed Comparison
Side-by-side metrics from GitHub and npm
Metric
Express
Fastify
GitHub Stars
69.3K
36.7K
Weekly Downloads
0
0
Forks
23.9K
2.8K
Open Issues
215
146
Contributors
384
901
Bundle Size (gzip)
241.8 KB
132.9 KB
Dependencies
28
15
Latest Version
5.2.1
5.9.0
Last Commit
Jun 16, 2026
Jun 28, 2026
License
MIT
MIT
First Published
Dec 29, 2010
Oct 7, 2016
Feature Comparison
Framework capabilities at a glance
Feature
Express
Fastify
Typescript
Middleware
Websockets
Validation
Openapi
Edge Runtime
Decorators
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Express vs Fastify
Is Express better than Fastify?
It depends on your use case. Express is fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.js, while Fastify is fast and low-overhead web framework for node.js. Compare the stats and features above to decide which fits your needs.
Is Express still maintained in 2026?
Yes, Express was last updated on June 16, 2026 and has 384 contributors.
Can I migrate from Express to Fastify?
Migration complexity depends on how deeply Express is integrated into your project. Both tools serve similar purposes in the Backend Frameworks space, so migration is generally feasible with proper planning.
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