7 Best Node.js Frameworks for Building REST APIs in 2025

Node.js has become a cornerstone for building scalable, high-performance backend applications, thanks to its asynchronous, event-driven architecture. When it comes to developing REST APIs, choosing the right framework can significantly impact development speed, scalability, and maintainability. This comprehensive blog post explores seven of the best Node.js frameworks for building REST APIs in 2025, based on recent research, community adoption, and practical use cases. Each framework is evaluated for its features, pros, cons, and ideal use cases, providing a clear guide for developers to make informed decisions.

Key Factors for Choosing a Node.js Framework for REST APIs

Before diving into the frameworks, consider these critical factors when selecting a Node.js framework for REST API development:

• Ease of Use: How intuitive is the framework? Is its documentation comprehensive?
• Performance: Does it offer high throughput and low latency for handling API requests?
• Scalability: Can it handle high traffic and support large-scale applications?
• Features: Does it provide built-in tools for routing, middleware, authentication, and database integration?
• Community and Ecosystem: Is there an active community, extensive documentation, and a rich set of plugins or libraries?
• Security: Are there built-in features to protect against common vulnerabilities like CSRF, XSS, or SQL injection?
• Learning Curve: How much time is required to master the framework, especially for beginners or teams transitioning from other stacks?

With these factors in mind, let’s explore the top seven Node.js frameworks for building REST APIs, including their pros, cons, and code examples.

1. Express.js

Overview: Express.js is the most widely used Node.js framework, known for its simplicity, flexibility, and minimalistic design. Since its debut in 2010, it has become the de facto standard for building REST APIs due to its lightweight nature and extensive ecosystem.

Key Features:

• Robust routing and middleware support
• Large ecosystem of plugins via npm
• Easy integration with databases (SQL/NoSQL) and third-party services
• Supports both REST and GraphQL (via express-graphql)

Pros:

• Simplicity: Minimalistic and easy to learn, making it ideal for beginners and rapid prototyping.
• Flexibility: Unopinionated, allowing developers to structure projects as needed.
• Community Support: Massive community with 63k+ GitHub stars and extensive tutorials/documentation.
• Ecosystem: Thousands of middleware packages available via npm.
• Scalability: Supports clustering and load balancing for high-traffic applications.

Cons:

• Lack of Structure: Unopinionated nature can lead to disorganized codebases in large projects.
• Manual Setup: Requires manual configuration for advanced features like authentication or validation.
• Performance: Not the fastest compared to newer frameworks like Fastify.

Use Case: Ideal for small to medium-sized projects, rapid prototyping, or applications requiring high customization.

Code Example:

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const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.get('/api/users', (req, res) => {
  res.json([{ id: 1, name: 'John Doe' }]);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Visit Expressjs.com

2. Fastify

Overview: Fastify is a high-performance framework designed for speed and low overhead, making it a strong contender for building REST APIs. It emphasizes schema-based validation and serialization for optimized performance.

Key Features:

• Schema-based request/response validation
• High throughput with low latency
• Built-in support for TypeScript
• Plugin-driven architecture
• Extensive logging capabilities

Pros:

• Performance: One of the fastest Node.js frameworks, rivaling native Node.js HTTP servers.
• Schema Validation: JSON Schema support reduces boilerplate code and improves performance.
• Extensibility: Plugin system allows modular development.
• TypeScript Support: Native support for TypeScript enhances developer productivity.
• Active Community: 30k+ GitHub stars and growing adoption by companies like Walmart and American Express.

Cons:

• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer plugins and middleware compared to Express.
• Learning Curve: Schema-based approach may feel complex for beginners.
• Maturity: Less mature than Express, with occasional breaking changes.

Use Case: Best for high-performance APIs, microservices, and real-time applications requiring low latency.

Code Example:

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import Fastify from 'fastify';
const fastify = Fastify({ logger: true });

fastify.get('/api/users', async (request, reply) => {
  reply.type('application/json').code(200);
  return [{ id: 1, name: 'Jane Doe' }];
});

fastify.listen({ port: 3000 }, (err) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Visit Fastify.dev

3. NestJS

Overview: NestJS is a progressive, TypeScript-based framework inspired by Angular, designed for building scalable and maintainable server-side applications. It combines object-oriented programming, functional programming, and reactive programming principles.

Key Features:

• Modular architecture with dependency injection
• Built-in support for TypeScript and GraphQL
• Powerful CLI for scaffolding projects
• Extensive testing framework
• Supports both Express and Fastify under the hood

Pros:

• Modularity: Encourages clean, maintainable code through modules and dependency injection.
• TypeScript Support: Enhances code reliability and developer experience.
• Scalability: Ideal for large-scale enterprise applications.
• Rich Ecosystem: Built-in support for microservices, WebSockets, and GraphQL.
• Community Growth: 60.5k+ GitHub stars and strong adoption in enterprise settings.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: Complex for beginners due to its Angular-inspired architecture.
• Heavier Framework: More overhead compared to lightweight frameworks like Express or Koa.
• Debugging: Less visibility into underlying processes can complicate debugging.

Use Case: Suited for large-scale enterprise APIs, microservices, and applications requiring strong typing and modularity.

Code Example:

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import { Controller, Get, Module, NestFactory } from '@nestjs/common';

@Controller('users')
class UsersController {
  @Get()
  getUsers(): any[] {
    return [{ id: 1, name: 'John Smith' }];
  }
}

@Module({
  controllers: [UsersController],
})
class AppModule {}

async function bootstrap() {
  const app = await NestFactory.create(AppModule);
  await app.listen(3000);
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
}
bootstrap();

Visit Nestjs.com

4. Koa.js

Overview: Koa.js, built by the Express team, is a modern, lightweight framework that leverages async/await for cleaner middleware handling and improved error management.

Key Features:

• Context object (ctx) for streamlined request/response handling
• Modern JavaScript with async/await support
• Lightweight and unopinionated
• Compatible with Express middleware

Pros:

• Modern Syntax: Async/await eliminates callback hell, improving code readability.
• Lightweight: Minimalistic design reduces overhead.
• Error Handling: Robust error-handling mechanisms.
• Flexibility: Allows developers to structure APIs as needed.
• Community: 34k+ GitHub stars and active maintenance.

Cons:

• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer plugins compared to Express.
• Debugging Challenges: Asynchronous nature can complicate debugging.
• Limited Adoption: Less popular in production compared to Express or Fastify.

Use Case: Ideal for developers familiar with Express who want a modern, lightweight framework for small to medium APIs.

Code Example:

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const Koa = require('koa');
const Router = require('@koa/router');
const app = new Koa();
const router = new Router();

router.get('/api/users', (ctx) => {
  ctx.body = [{ id: 1, name: 'Alice' }];
});

app.use(router.routes()).use(router.allowedMethods());
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Visit Koajs.com

5. Hapi.js

Overview: Hapi.js is a configuration-driven framework designed for building scalable and secure REST APIs. Initially developed by Walmart Labs to handle high-traffic events, it emphasizes plugin-based architecture and input validation.

Key Features:

• Configuration-over-code approach
• Powerful plugin system for extensibility
• Built-in input validation and caching
• Robust authentication and authorization mechanisms

Pros:

• Scalability: Handles high-traffic applications well, used by companies like PayPal and Walmart.
• Security: Strong focus on input validation and built-in security features.
• Plugin System: Simplifies adding new functionality without modifying core code.
• Reliability: Configuration-driven design reduces errors in large projects.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: Verbose configuration can overwhelm beginners.
• Smaller Community: 14k+ GitHub stars, less active than Express or NestJS.
• Complexity: Overkill for simple APIs or small projects.

Use Case: Best for enterprise-grade APIs, proxy servers, and applications requiring robust security and scalability.

Code Example:

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const Hapi = require('@hapi/hapi');

const init = async () => {
  const server = Hapi.server({ port: 3000, host: 'localhost' });

  server.route({
    method: 'GET',
    path: '/api/users',
    handler: (request, h) => {
      return [{ id: 1, name: 'Bob' }];
    },
  });

  await server.start();
  console.log('Server running on', server.info.uri);
};

init();

Visit Hapi.dev

6. LoopBack

Overview: LoopBack is a highly extensible framework for building REST APIs and microservices, with a focus on rapid development and enterprise use cases. It offers a CLI for scaffolding and strong support for data integration.

Key Features:

• Automatic API generation from data sources
• Built-in API explorer for testing and documentation
• Supports multiple databases (SQL/NoSQL) and REST APIs
• Role-based access control and authentication

Pros:

• Rapid Development: CLI and auto-generated APIs reduce boilerplate code.
• Extensibility: Supports custom connectors and integrations.
• Enterprise-Ready: Scalable and secure, used for complex applications.
• Documentation: Built-in API explorer simplifies testing and documentation.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: Complex for beginners due to its opinionated structure.
• Opinionated: Less flexible compared to Express or Koa.
• Ecosystem: Smaller community (4.7k+ GitHub stars) compared to Express.

Use Case: Ideal for enterprise applications, microservices, and APIs requiring integration with multiple data sources.

Code Example:

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const { Application } = require('@loopback/core');
const app = new Application();

app.route('get', '/api/users', () => {
  return [{ id: 1, name: 'Eve' }];
});

app.start().then(() => {
  console.log('Server running on port 3000');
});

Visit Loopback.io

7. FeathersJS

Overview: FeathersJS is a lightweight framework designed for real-time applications and REST APIs. It simplifies development by providing a service-oriented architecture and seamless integration with various JavaScript frameworks.

Key Features:

• Service-oriented architecture for RESTful resources
• Built-in support for WebSockets and real-time communication
• Flexible database integration (no external data stores required)
• Easy integration with third-party services like Twilio or Stripe

Pros:

• Simplicity: Minimal setup for creating REST APIs and real-time apps.
• Real-Time Support: Built-in WebSocket support for live updates.
• Flexibility: Integrates with various JavaScript frameworks and databases.
• Developer-Friendly: Reduces boilerplate code for common tasks.

Cons:

• Smaller Community: 14k+ GitHub stars, less active than Express or NestJS.
• Limited Features: Less feature-rich compared to enterprise frameworks like LoopBack.
• Documentation: Less comprehensive than Express or NestJS.

Use Case: Best for real-time applications, small to medium APIs, and projects requiring integration with third-party services.

Code Example:

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const feathers = require('@feathersjs/feathers');
const express = require('@feathersjs/express');
const app = express(feathers());

app.use(express.json());
app.use('/users', {
  async find() {
    return [{ id: 1, name: 'Charlie' }];
  },
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Visit Feathersjs.com

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Framework

• For Beginners or Rapid Prototyping: Choose Express.js or Koa.js for their simplicity and ease of use.
• For High-Performance Needs: Opt for Fastify to achieve low latency and high throughput.
• For Enterprise Applications: NestJS, Hapi.js, or LoopBack offer robust scalability and security features.
• For Real-Time Applications: FeathersJS or Sails.js (not covered but mentioned in sources) are excellent for WebSocket integration.
• For Type全世界 Microservices: Fastify, NestJS, or LoopBack provide strong support for microservice architectures.

Consider your team’s expertise, project requirements, and long-term maintenance needs. For example, TypeScript users may prefer NestJS, while those needing maximum performance might choose Fastify.

Conclusion

The best Node.js framework for building REST APIs in 2025 depends on your project’s specific needs. Express.js remains a versatile, beginner-friendly choice with a massive ecosystem. Fastify excels in performance-critical applications. NestJS and LoopBack are ideal for enterprise-grade, scalable APIs. Koa.js offers a modern, lightweight alternative to Express. Hapi.js prioritizes security and scalability, while FeathersJS is perfect for real-time and small-scale APIs.

Evaluate your project’s requirements performance, scalability, security, and team expertise and test a few frameworks with small prototypes to find the best fit. The Node.js ecosystem is rich and diverse, ensuring there’s a framework for every use case.

For more information, check out the official documentation for each framework or explore community resources on GitHub and npm.