10 Best Node.JS Frameworks To Try in 2021

For the past few years, many programming languages and interpreters came into existence. They all had their strengths and features to make the app or web development process convenient. However, JavaScript’s popularity remained strong and kept growing due to the reason that it's easy to program and collaborate.

JavaScript has been popular for quite some time between mobile and web app developers. JavaScript programming language has a variety of libraries that it shares with the Node.js Framework.

In this article, I will talk about a few top Node Js frameworks for a better speed and quality web or app development process. These Node.js frameworks are shortlisted according to their popularity among top mobile app development companies.

What is Node.JS Framework?

Well, if you are a new developer or do not have much idea of the app development industry, you would want to understand the functionalities of Node.js frameworks first. Before I proceed with the most popular Node JS frameworks, let’s understand its basics first.

• Node.Js framework is an open-source development platform;
• This best cross platform app framework uses Chrome’s V8 Engine to run;
• It includes various JavaScripts to make the development process easier and faster;
• Node.js framework includes asynchronous APIs. In other words, it doesn’t wait for an API to return the data before moving on to the next API;
• Node.js framework doesn’t buffer any data and it is fast in executing codes.

Top 10 Best Node.Js Frameworks In The App Development Industry

Now, after we went through the features of the Node.js framework, let’s go through some best Node.Js frameworks developers are using to do their magic. Further, you will find some amazing frameworks, a small introduction for each of them, and some of their prominent features.

1. Express.js 

Express.js is one of the best Node js backend frameworks existing at the moment due to its features and accessibility to users. This straightforward Node Js framework uses a minimalist development approach. Moreover, a more robust API makes sure that clients to server requests are more streamlined.

Features of this one of the most popular Node Js framework:

• Express.js uses asynchronous programming for a high-performance development process;
• It provides a thin layer of additional features, you can use these web application features in addition to already existing Node.js features;
• This one of the most popular Node frameworks provides a robust set of features for the development of mobile and web applications;
• Express.js is easy to learn and use even for new developers;
• Open-source independence makes scripts reusable and easy to integrate.

Visit the official website of Express.js

2. Koa.js

Koa is designed by the same developers as Express.js and offers more expressive and robust features for the web and app development process. This one of the top Node Js frameworks is smaller in the size compared to its alternatives. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Koa JS is a highly expressive Node.Js framework.

Features of this one of the most popular Node Js framework:

• The framework offers an effective error-handling solution for better quality;
• Koa.js is extremely lightweight but highly expressive;
• It requires Node v7.6.0 or higher for ES2015 along with async function support;
• Methods to execute tasks like content negotiation, proxy support, redirection, and cache freshness were included.

Visit the official website of Koa.js

3. Meteor JS

This one of the best Node.js frameworks is capable of building applications for the web, Android, iOs, or desktop with the same code. Compared to its alternatives, Meteor.js is pretty fast and convenient. Moreover, the framework is very reactive. Therefore, it provides automatic UI change rapidly according to the change in data.

Features of this one of the most popular Node frameworks:

• Meteor JS is fast and convenient to use for experienced JS developers;
• You can build full-stack apps for any platforms like Android, iOs, or desktop seamlessly;
• Meteor uses a server to send the data instead of HTML, which is rendered by the client;
• Full-stack reactivity allows the UI to reflect the real representation with minimum development efforts;
• Meteor.js is capable of bringing and using the top notched parts of the most active JavaScript.

Visit the official website of Meteor JS

4. Socket.io

Socket.IO is capable of being an event-based communication bridge between the browser and the server for real-time analysis. The in-built messenger allows you to collaborate with fellow project members and communicate with them without changing the platform.

Features of this one of the best Node js backend frameworks:

• The framework offers auto reconnection support. If a client is disconnected, it will keep retrying unless stopped manually;
• The engine.io is capable of detecting disconnection which might occur;
• Within namespaces, you are allowed to create rooms for sockets to join and leave;
• Socket.io uses WebSockets after adding metadata to each packet.

Visit the official website of Socket.io

5. Nest.js 

Nest.js is progressing with time to provide a framework for building reliable and efficient applications. The modular architecture in-built in the framework allows you to use other libraries. Moreover, the Nest.js framework is a perfect development kit to build scalable server-side apps.

Features of this one of the best Node js framework:

• This Node js framework is generally used for building server-side applications;
• It can be considered a perfect tool for Angular developers as they will find it familiar;
• Moreover, Nest JS supports REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, etc;
• It also lets developers write reusable codes for faster development;
• The live preview allows you to have a glimpse of the final product.

Visit the official website of Nest.js

6. Sails.js

Sails.js is used to provide a convenient development environment. This lightweight framework uses small modules to provide simplicity, maintainability, and convenient structure. Moreover, apps built-in Sails.js use 100% JavaScripts as their programming code.

Features of this popular Node js framework:

• The framework provides the facility of auto-generation of REST APIs;
• It uses 100% JavaScript programming language for the development process;
• Databases like MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, etc are supported. It doesn’t have a limitation regarding the database you are going to use;
• You can write security policies within the framework and reuse them anytime as per your convenience.

Visit the official website of Sails.js

7. Total.js

It is an open-source framework platform to edit and write programming codes. You can download this free framework to build codes for your apps. Moreover, Total.js cloud services can be subscribed for 5.80 Euros per month.

Features of this amazing Node.js framework:

• Total.js is free from any dependencies upon the third party;
• The new version supports session module;
• Moreover, the routing part has been improved as well in the new version;
• Total.js offers a very low maintenance cost which makes it perfect for new developers.

Visit the official website of Total.js

8. Hapi.js

Hapi.js can be used to build powerful and scalable applications with advanced functionalities. The framework uses minimal overhead for the development process. Moreover, Hapi JS is capable of offering advanced open-source code security. This robust framework makes API development easier and faster.

Features of this amazing Node Js framework:

• It supports Plugin based architecture;
• Hapi.js is configuration centric development framework;
• It provides support for microservices;
• Hapi prioritizes the readability to keep the performance at the top.

Visit the official website of Hapi.js

9. Feathers.js

Feathers JS is used to develop real-time applications and REST APIs. This lightweight framework uses JavaScript or TypeScript as the programming language. Moreover, it is capable of interacting with any backend technology. You can use Feathers.js to build prototypes in minutes before you begin the development process.

Features of this one of the most popular Node frameworks:

• It is used to create real-time applications and Rest APIs;
• The framework uses JavaScript or TypeScript as the preferred language;
• It supports over a dozen databases;
• Can integrate with frontend technologies like React, VueJS, Angular, etc;
• You can build prototypes in minutes and real apps within days with this fast framework developer.

Visit the official website of Feathers.js

10. Loopback.js

LoopBack is an open-source Node.js framework. You can use this framework to create dynamic e2e REST APIs with almost no coding. Moreover, It comes with a CLI and a dynamic API web browser.

It also allows developers to build their server API. Additionally, these APIs can be assigned to other servers as well. 

Features of this Node.Js framework:

• It allows fast full-stack app development;
• Defining model will automatically define REST API with a set of reading, create, edit, and erase options;
• You can define models with TypeScript and JavaScript;
• It has a built-in UI supported by swagger-UI V3;
• StrongLoop provides additional development tools to support the framework.

Visit the official website of Loopback.js

Conclusion

These Node.js frameworks which we discussed above can be handy for developers to build real-time applications. They can be used to optimize scalability and build cross-platform apps with ease.

Moreover, we had shortlisted these frameworks according to their popularity and USPs compared to their competitor JS frameworks. Some of the brands like LinkedIn, PayPal, Walmart, etc are using these frameworks to develop their applications.

In the end, we hope that our blog was helpful for the information you were looking for. In case you want to read more app-related blogs, check out other MobileAppDaily articles.