If you’re a Node.js developer who’s been using Express for years, you might be wondering why you should consider a newer framework like Hono. Let me break down the compelling reasons to make the switch.

1. Performance Matters

Hono is designed with performance as a core principle. Unlike Express, which can be slower and more resource-intensive, Hono is built to be incredibly lightweight and fast. It leverages modern JavaScript and typescript runtime capabilities and provides minimal overhead, which means faster request handling and lower resource consumption.

2. First-Class TypeScript Support

While Express works with TypeScript, Hono was built with TypeScript as a first-class citizen.

This means:

• Better type inference
• More robust type checking
• Cleaner, more predictable code
• Reduced runtime errors

3. Edge Runtime Compatibility

Hono shines in modern serverless and edge computing environments. It’s designed to work seamlessly with:

• Cloudflare Workers
• Deno
• Bun
• Vercel Edge Functions

This makes deployment and scaling dramatically simpler compared to traditional Express applications.

4. Modern API Design

Hono embraces modern JavaScript patterns:

• Middleware that’s more intuitive
• Simplified routing
• Built-in support for OpenAPI/Swagger
• Easier middleware composition

5. Smaller Footprint

Express has historically been a large, somewhat monolithic framework.

Hono is:

• Extremely lightweight
• Modular
• Easy to customize
• Reduces unnecessary dependencies

6. Built-in Features

Hono comes with batteries included:

WebSocket support Rate limiting CORS handling Static file serving Built-in validation These features often require additional middleware in Express.

Example: A Simple Comparison typescript

// Express
const express = require("express");
const app = express();
const PORT = 3000;

// Middleware to parse JSON
app.use(express.json());

// Simple route
app.get("/", (req, res) => {
  res.send("Hello from Express!");
});

// Start the server
app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});

vs

// Hono
const { Hono } = require('hono');
const app = new Hono();
const PORT = 3000;

// Simple route
app.get('/', (c) => {
    return c.text('Hello from Hono!');
});

// Start the server
app.fire({ port: PORT }).then(() => {
    console.log(`Server is running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
// Notice how Hono's syntax is more concise and modern?

When to Consider the Switch

• You’re building a new project
• Performance is critical
• You want better TypeScript integration
• You’re targeting edge/serverless environments
• Potential Challenges
• Learning a new framework
• Migrating existing complex Express apps
• Fewer community packages compared to Express