Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ExpressJS VS Webix UI

Compare ExpressJS VS Webix UI and see what are their differences

ExpressJS logo ExpressJS

Sinatra inspired web development framework for node.js -- insanely fast, flexible, and simple

Webix UI logo Webix UI

An enterprise JavaScript Library for cross-platform app development with HTML5 JavaScript widgets and easy integration with most popular JavaScript Frameworks.
  • ExpressJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14
  • Webix UI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

Webix is an extremely small (about 100 kb of compressed code) and ultra fast JavaScript library for building desktop and mobile web apps based on the latest web standards (HTML5, CSS3). The library provides a rich set of cross-browser JavaScript UI widgets ranging from simple widgets, like a menu or combobox, to highly interactive charts and powerful data tables. Web apps developed with this library run correctly on multiple platforms. The server can be organized in several ways. Webix widgets are compatible with MVC frameworks (MVC.Net, Ruby on Rails, PHP, Yii).Its also possible to use Server Side Connectors (for PHP, Java, ASP.NET).In addition, developers are capable of using any server-side technology at backend, which can expose RESTfull api for data loading and data saving.

Webix UI

Website
webix.com
$ Details
freemium $349.0 / One-off (Individual License, One project + One developer)

ExpressJS features and specs

  • Fast Setup
    ExpressJS provides a minimal and flexible framework that allows rapid setup and development of web and mobile applications.
  • Middleware Support
    ExpressJS has a robust middleware system, allowing developers to add reusable functions to the request-handling pipeline.
  • Extensibility
    ExpressJS is highly extensible through third-party libraries and built-in functionality, catering to the needs of various applications.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimalist core, ExpressJS provides efficient performance and is capable of handling a high number of requests per second.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    A large and active community provides extensive documentation, support, and a wide array of open-source packages to extend functionality.
  • Flexibility
    Compared to full-stack frameworks, ExpressJS gives developers the freedom to structure their applications as they see fit.
  • Compatibility
    ExpressJS works seamlessly with various template engines, databases, and other frameworks, making it versatile for different project requirements.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressJS

  • Minimalist Core
    The minimalist nature of ExpressJS may require additional time and effort to integrate required plugins and libraries for specific features.
  • Learning Curve
    While ExpressJS is straightforward, mastering the middleware pattern and effective usage can have a learning curve for new developers.
  • Callback Hell
    Developers can encounter 'callback hell' due to nested callback functions, though this can be mitigated using Promises and async/await in modern JavaScript.
  • Lack of Convention
    Unlike opinionated frameworks, ExpressJS lacks conventions, which can lead to inconsistent code structure and maintenance challenges across different projects.
  • Security
    ExpressJS does not have built-in security features and relies on third-party solutions, requiring developers to be vigilant about applying best security practices.
  • Scalability
    While ExpressJS can handle high traffic, building and maintaining a highly scalable application might require significant additional effort, particularly in terms of codebase organization and resource management.

Webix UI features and specs

  • Comprehensive Library
    Webix UI offers a wide range of UI components including forms, charts, tables, and more. This extensive library allows developers to quickly build complex interfaces without needing multiple third-party libraries.
  • Responsive Design
    The framework includes built-in responsive design capabilities, making it easy to create interfaces that work across various device sizes including mobile, tablet, and desktop.
  • Data Binding
    Webix provides robust data binding options that allow developers to easily bind UI components to data models, facilitating easier data manipulation and dynamic updates.
  • Customizable
    The framework is highly customizable, offering various themes and the ability to modify component styles and behaviors to suit specific project needs.
  • Performance
    Webix is optimized for performance, ensuring that even complex interfaces render quickly and efficiently, providing a smooth user experience.
  • Documentation and Support
    Webix has comprehensive documentation and an active support community, which helps developers quickly troubleshoot issues and find best practices for implementation.

Possible disadvantages of Webix UI

  • Cost
    Webix is not free for commercial use. The cost can be a barrier for smaller projects or startups with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Though well-documented, the framework has a steep learning curve due to its extensive feature set and unique principles, which can be intimidating for new users.
  • Third-Party Integration
    While Webix has numerous built-in components, integrating it with other third-party libraries or frameworks can sometimes be challenging.
  • Limited Free Tier
    The free version of Webix offers limited features which may not be sufficient for larger or more complex projects. This could necessitate upgrading to a paid license sooner than anticipated.
  • Community Size
    Compared to some more popular UI frameworks, Webix has a smaller community. This may result in fewer third-party plugins, resources, and shared community knowledge.

Analysis of ExpressJS

Overall verdict

  • ExpressJS is a highly recommended option for building web applications with Node.js. Its simplicity, extensive middleware options, and strong community support make it a solid choice for both beginners and experienced developers. However, it might not be the best fit for highly complex applications that require more opinionated frameworks with more built-in features.

Why this product is good

  • ExpressJS is a minimalist and flexible web application framework for Node.js. It provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications, making it a popular choice among developers.
  • It offers a thin layer of fundamental web application features, without obscuring Node.js features that developers use regularly.
  • ExpressJS has a large ecosystem of middleware to handle various tasks such as security, session management, and file uploads, which simplifies the development process.
  • It's known for its fast learning curve, which makes it particularly advantageous for developers who are new to backend web development but familiar with JavaScript.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a lightweight and flexible web framework for Node.js.
  • Projects where quick setup and ease of development are priorities.
  • Applications that require a custom architecture and a high degree of flexibility.
  • Teams who prefer to build their technology stack from the ground up and have control over the specific components used.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ExpressJS and Webix UI)
JavaScript Framework
91 91%
9% 9
Javascript UI Libraries
68 68%
32% 32
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ExpressJS and Webix UI

ExpressJS Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
Express.JS is used to create Restful APIs, which is useful for accepting requests from the front end and sending the appropriate response. Express.JS supports Node.js, which is one of the best reasons developers choose to use it. Moreover, debugging becomes faster and helps in finding errors in less time.
Source: solguruz.com
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
Express.js — or Express for the cool cats — is Node.js’s minimalist wingman. It’s the train tracks for your web app, setting the path, defining the stops, but letting you drive the engine.
Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
The best frameworks for web development include React, Angular, Vue.js, Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Flask and Express.js. Each of these frameworks has its own advantages and distinctive features, so it is important to choose the framework that best suits the needs of your project.
Source: www.kiwop.com
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Additionally, Express.js v4 now comes with built-in middleware for handling AJAX requests from the client side, making it even easier to get started without having to worry about 3rd party libraries. Express.js is a great tool for quickly building out web applications and APIs in Node.js.
Source: ninetailed.io
JavaScript: What Are The Most Used Frameworks For This Language?
Express.JS is a popular open-source web application framework for Node.JS, which is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment. Express.JS provides a simple, flexible and scalable way to build web applications and APIs using Node.JS. It is known for its minimalist and unimposing approach, which means it provides a basic set of features and tools but allows developers to...
Source: www.bocasay.com

Webix UI Reviews

We have no reviews of Webix UI yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ExpressJS seems to be a lot more popular than Webix UI. While we know about 470 links to ExpressJS, we've tracked only 6 mentions of Webix UI. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ExpressJS mentions (470)

  • 🔥 Why Everyone Is Talking About HTMX: The Game-Changer for Web Development
    🌍 Who Should Use HTMX? ✅ Django / Flask / Rails developers ✅ Express / Node.js backend lovers ✅ Fullstack devs who want LESS frontend headache ✅ Teams jo SSR + SEO ko priority dete hain. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • Not a Middy Fan
    Express.js was created around the time callbacks were _the_ architecture in Node.js. The world, including UI, quickly found callbacks do not compose well, and void return values are hard to test because of side-effects. Promises were created so you could compose functions, but still have control where your side-effects go. This negates the need for middlewares / callbacks. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Experimental Devvit Web Views
    The Devvit team just announced a new experimental way to build WebView based apps for Reddit. Previously only static HTML/JS/CSS could be used. With this new version, it is possible to run server-side code through Node including spinning up an Express server. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How to Handle File Uploads with Node.js and Express - Multer Edition
    Basic knowledge of JavaScript and Express. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Reusable API proxy in just a few lines of JavaScript
    The basis of my small API proxy is the NPM package http-proxy-middleware from Steven Chim, which I utilized to build a system that can be used via configuration for various endpoints and that runs on a server under the Node.js framework Express. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
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Webix UI mentions (6)

  • Micro-frontends: The Future Sometimes Comes in Miniature Sizes
    The next advantage of micro-frontends is that its adoption enables faster development and deployment. There’s no need to manage a large development team that has to deal with an extensive codebase. Instead, a small team of developers, independent from the others, can focus on a small list of features. It results in faster development, more efficient testing, and more frequent releases of new features. Some... - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • How Much Does It Cost To a Project Management App
    To finish projects on time, efficient time management is a must. To help managers deal with deadlines, we usually implement a fully functional Gantt chart. To create a reliable and user-friendly UI, choosing the right set of tools is essential. In our work, we usually rely on Webix, a JavaScript UI library developed by the brightest minds of XB Software. Another ace up our sleeve is JavaScript UI libraries by... - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • How to Create Forms with Webix JavaScript
    Webix UI is a JavaScript library that allows you to create a responsive design without worrying about the app's performance. The range of possibilities is represented by UI components of varying complexity. It can be a simple button and a complex solution. Each widget includes a whole set of methods and properties for flexible configuring and controlling. Besides, the library has extra tools. For example, event... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • How to Create a Simple Web App Using JavaScript UI Library
    Since there is enough information on the web about open-source solutions, let's look at the library which is less popular but surely worthy of attention. Webix UI library has gained 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra. The library has been developed by XB Software since 2008. It is regularly updated, there is a blog with lots of reviews of the users. Many of them note the responsive support, the convenience of outsourcing... - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • 10 Helpful JavaScript Demos for your Business
    JavaScript/HTML5 File Manager – view demo The following components are used: DataView, Grid, Form, Layout, Menu, Popup, Tabbar, Toolbar, Tree, and Window. The features include uploading and downloading files, creating and deleting folders, grid and list preview modes, sorting and searching files, and keeping track of the space left. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ExpressJS and Webix UI, you can also consider the following products

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

Vue.js - Reactive Components for Modern Web Interfaces

Ruby on Rails - Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

w2ui - W2UI is a small JavaScript UI library with a complete set of widgets: layout, grid, sidebar, toolbar, tabs, fields, popup, utilities.

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces