Express vs Koa
Updated Oct 18, 2026
Quick Verdict
Express has 2.0x more GitHub stars.
GitHub Stars
Express 69.6K
vs
Koa 35.7K
Downloads/wk
Express 0
vs
Koa 3.7M
Contributors
Express 395
vs
Koa 257
Bundle Size
Express 239.2 KB
vs
Koa 63.3 KB
Detailed Comparison
Side-by-side metrics from GitHub and npm
Metric
Express
Koa
GitHub Stars
69.6K
35.7K
Weekly Downloads
0
3.7M
Forks
25.3K
3.2K
Open Issues
240
45
Contributors
395
257
Bundle Size (gzip)
239.2 KB
63.3 KB
Dependencies
28
18
Latest Version
5.3.0
3.2.1
Last Commit
Oct 17, 2026
Oct 9, 2026
License
MIT
MIT
First Published
Dec 29, 2010
Nov 6, 2013
Feature Comparison
Framework capabilities at a glance
Feature
Express
Koa
Typescript
Middleware
Websockets
Validation
Openapi
Edge Runtime
Decorators
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Express vs Koa
Is Express better than Koa?
It depends on your use case. Express is fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for node.js, while Koa is expressive middleware for node.js using async functions. 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 Koa?
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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