Express vs Hono
Updated Oct 18, 2026
Quick Verdict
Express has 2.1x more GitHub stars.
GitHub Stars
Express 69.6K
vs
Hono 32.6K
Downloads/wk
Express 0
vs
Hono 0
Contributors
Express 395
vs
Hono 376
Bundle Size
Express 239.2 KB
vs
Hono 7.7 KB
Detailed Comparison
Side-by-side metrics from GitHub and npm
Metric
Express
Hono
GitHub Stars
69.6K
32.6K
Weekly Downloads
0
0
Forks
25.3K
1.4K
Open Issues
240
406
Contributors
395
376
Bundle Size (gzip)
239.2 KB
7.7 KB
Dependencies
28
0
Latest Version
5.3.0
4.13.13
Last Commit
Oct 17, 2026
Oct 17, 2026
License
MIT
MIT
First Published
Dec 29, 2010
Dec 14, 2021
Feature Comparison
Framework capabilities at a glance
Feature
Express
Hono
Typescript
Middleware
Websockets
Validation
Openapi
Edge Runtime
Decorators
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Express vs Hono
Is Express better than Hono?
It depends on your use case. Express is fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.js, while Hono is ultrafast web framework for the edges. Compare the stats and features above to decide which fits your needs.
Is Express still maintained in 2026?
Yes, Express was last updated on October 17, 2026 and has 395 contributors.
Can I migrate from Express to Hono?
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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