Hono vs Express for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Hono Overview

Hono is the JavaScript framework built for 2026. It runs on Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, and Node.js using Web Standard APIs. The core framework is around 14KB. It's fast, portable, and designed from the ground up for modern JavaScript runtimes.

What impressed me about Hono is the zero-compromise approach to portability. You write your API with standard Web API patterns (Request, Response, fetch), and it deploys anywhere. Start on Node.js, move to Cloudflare Workers for edge deployment, or switch to Bun for maximum performance. Your code doesn't change.

Hono ships with built-in middleware for the common tasks: JWT authentication, CORS, rate limiting, caching, and request validation. The TypeScript support is first-class, and the validator middleware integrates with Zod for type-safe request handling. For a framework this small, it includes a surprising amount of functionality.

Express.js Overview

Express has been the backbone of Node.js development for over a decade. It defined the middleware pattern that almost every JavaScript server framework now follows. It's minimal, stable, and backed by the largest ecosystem of middleware packages in the Node.js world.

Express's longevity is its greatest strength. Every tutorial, Stack Overflow answer, and npm middleware package assumes Express compatibility. When you Google a problem, Express solutions appear instantly. For a solo developer who values community support and finding answers quickly, that ecosystem is invaluable.

The framework is simple enough that beginners pick it up in an afternoon. Create an app, define routes, add middleware. The API surface is small and stable. Express 5 has been in development for years, but Express 4 continues to work reliably for millions of applications.

Key Differences

Runtime flexibility. Hono runs on Cloudflare Workers, Deno, Bun, and Node.js. Express runs on Node.js only. For solo developers who want to deploy to the edge or experiment with newer runtimes, Hono opens doors that Express can't.

Performance. Hono is significantly faster than Express in benchmarks. On Bun, Hono handles 2-3x more requests per second. On Cloudflare Workers, the cold start times are sub-millisecond. Express on Node.js is adequate for most projects, but if raw throughput matters, Hono wins decisively.

API design. Express uses a callback-based API designed in 2010. Error handling requires explicit next(error) calls. Middleware can silently swallow errors. Hono uses a modern pattern with async/await, typed middleware, and better error propagation. The developer experience is cleaner.

Ecosystem size. Express has thousands of middleware packages on npm. Hono has a growing but smaller middleware collection. For common needs like auth, CORS, and validation, both frameworks are covered. For niche use cases, Express has more third-party options.

TypeScript integration. Hono is TypeScript-first with type inference through middleware chains. Express has @types/express but the type safety is bolted on. If you write TypeScript, Hono's types are more precise and helpful.

Edge deployment. Deploy Hono to Cloudflare Workers and your API runs in 300+ locations worldwide. Express requires a traditional server in one or a few regions. For globally distributed users, Hono's edge capability reduces latency dramatically without you managing infrastructure.

When to Choose Hono

• You want to deploy to Cloudflare Workers or other edge runtimes
• You need the best performance for your JavaScript API
• You want runtime portability between Node.js, Bun, Deno, and Workers
• You prefer modern TypeScript-first API design
• You're building a new project and don't need Express-specific middleware

When to Choose Express

• You need access to Express's massive middleware ecosystem
• Your project depends on Express-specific packages
• You want maximum community support and documentation
• You're maintaining an existing Express application
• You prefer the most battle-tested, proven framework

The Verdict

For new projects in 2026, Hono is the better choice. Express defined the Node.js server framework category, but Hono is what Express would be if it were built today. The multi-runtime support, TypeScript-first design, edge deployment capability, and better performance make it a more modern and versatile foundation.

Express still makes sense if you're working within an existing Express codebase or need specific Express middleware that has no Hono equivalent. The ecosystem advantage is real. But that advantage shrinks every month as Hono's middleware collection grows.

The 8/10 vs 7/10 rating captures this shift. Hono gives you more capabilities, better TypeScript support, and deployment options that Express simply cannot match. If you're starting a new JavaScript API, start with Hono. You get a modern foundation that can grow with your project wherever it needs to go.