Top 5 Node.js Backend Frameworks in 2024: Express, Nest, Koa, Hapi, Adonis

Introduction

Node.js has become popular among developers, especially front‑end engineers, and its usage keeps growing. In 2024 the top five backend frameworks built on Node.js are Express.js, NestJS, Koa.js, Hapi.js and Adonis.js.

1. Express.js – the proven champion

Express.js is a minimalist, open‑source web application framework for Node.js. It excels at creating web apps and RESTful APIs. Key strengths include efficient routing, middleware support, easy database integration, and a low learning curve.

Efficient routing

Example:

// app.js
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

// Home route
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Welcome to the homepage!');
});

// Parameterized route
app.get('/user/:id', (req, res) => {
  const userId = req.params.id;
  res.send(`User profile page - ID: ${userId}`);
});

app.listen(port, () => console.log(`Server running on ${port}`));

Middleware support

Example of a logging middleware:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;

app.use((req, res, next) => {
  console.log(`[${new Date().toLocaleString()}] ${req.method} ${req.url}`);
  next();
});

Database integration

Express does not enforce a specific database, allowing developers to choose any driver or ORM they prefer.

Ease of learning

The framework’s simple design makes it quick to pick up for anyone familiar with JavaScript and Node.js.

2. NestJS – modern, structured development

NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework for building scalable server‑side applications. It supports TypeScript out of the box, offers a modular architecture, dependency injection, and strong type safety.

Modular architecture

import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
@Module({
  imports: [CacheModule],
  controllers: [PaymentController],
  providers: [PaymentService],
})
export class PaymentModule {}

Scalability

Modules can be swapped or extended, enabling micro‑service patterns and high‑traffic handling.

Dependency injection

import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
@Injectable()
export class PaymentService {
  getReceipt() {
    return 'Payment Receipt';
  }
}

Type safety

export class PaymentDto {
  @IsNotEmpty()
  serviceProvider: string;

  @IsNumber()
  value: number;

  @IsString()
  validityPeriod: string;
}

3. Koa.js – elegant and lightweight

Koa.js, created by the Express team, provides a smaller, more expressive API and relies on async/await for cleaner asynchronous code.

Context object (ctx)

const Koa = require('koa');
const app = new Koa();

app.use(async (ctx) => {
  const { method, url } = ctx;
  console.log(`Method: ${method} URL: ${url}`);
});

app.listen(3000);

Composable middleware

app.use(async (ctx, next) => {
  await next();
});

Async/await support

app.use(async (ctx) => {
  const data = await fetchData();
  ctx.body = `Data: ${data}`;
});

Error handling

app.use(async (ctx, next) => {
  try {
    await next();
  } catch (err) {
    ctx.status = err.status || 500;
    ctx.body = err.message;
    ctx.app.emit('error', err, ctx);
  }
});

4. Hapi.js – configurable and plugin‑rich

Hapi.js is an open‑source framework for building robust web applications and APIs. It emphasizes configuration‑driven design and a powerful plugin system.

Configuration‑driven routing

const Hapi = require('@hapi/hapi');
const server = Hapi.server({ port: 3000, routes: { cors: true } });

server.route({
  method: 'GET',
  path: '/',
  handler: (request, h) => 'Hello, Hapi!',
});

await server.start();

Plugin system

await server.register([
  { plugin: require('plugin1'), options: {} },
  { plugin: require('plugin2'), options: {} },
]);

Authentication & authorization

server.route({
  method: 'GET',
  path: '/private-data',
  handler: (request, h) => `Welcome, ${request.auth.credentials.username}!`,
  options: { auth: 'jwt' },
});

Input validation

{
  headers: true,
  params: true,
  query: true,
  payload: true,
  state: true,
  failAction: 'error'
}

5. Adonis.js – full‑stack MVC for Node

Adonis.js offers a Laravel‑style MVC architecture, built‑in ORM (Lucid), authentication, and routing, making it suitable for large‑scale applications.

Full‑stack MVC

Lucid ORM

class User extends Model {}
module.exports = User;

Simple data fetching

Route.get('users', async () => await User.all());

Authentication system

Conclusion

Choosing the right Node.js backend framework depends on project requirements: Express.js for simplicity, NestJS for structured architecture, Koa.js for elegance, Hapi.js for configurability, or Adonis.js for full‑stack productivity.