Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FeathersJS VS Meteor

Compare FeathersJS VS Meteor and see what are their differences

FeathersJS logo FeathersJS

Wow your users. Build incredible real-time applications in record time.

Meteor logo Meteor

Meteor is a set of new technologies for building top-quality web apps in a fraction of the time.
  • FeathersJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • Meteor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

FeathersJS features and specs

  • Real-Time Functionality
    FeathersJS makes it easy to create real-time applications with WebSocket and RESTful APIs. It supports real-time data synchronization, which can be especially useful for interactive applications.
  • Flexibility
    FeathersJS is designed to work seamlessly with a variety of databases and frontend frameworks. This makes it highly flexible for different project requirements.
  • Microservice Ready
    FeathersJS supports modular architecture, which is well-suited for building microservices. Services can be easily scaled and managed independently.
  • Ease of Use
    The framework is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for developers who may not have extensive experience with Node.js. It includes built-in authentication and other common features.
  • Extensible
    FeathersJS has a rich ecosystem of plugins and hooks, allowing developers to extend functionality without modifying the core codebase.
  • Good Documentation
    FeathersJS provides well-written and comprehensive documentation, which makes it easier for new developers to get started and for experienced developers to find advanced features.

Possible disadvantages of FeathersJS

  • Limited Community
    Compared to more popular frameworks like Express or Koa, the FeathersJS community is smaller, which may result in fewer third-party resources and community support.
  • Learning Curve
    While FeathersJS is designed to be easy to use, its concepts and architecture can be different from other Node.js frameworks, which may require some time to learn.
  • Middleware Complexity
    FeathersJS uses a special middleware structure that might be complex for developers who are used to traditional middleware in Express.js.
  • Performance
    Although FeathersJS is generally performant, it might not be as fast as some lower-level frameworks, especially when dealing with very high volumes of traffic.
  • Dependency on JSON Schema
    FeathersJS heavily relies on JSON Schema for data validation, which can add complexity and may not be suitable for all applications.
  • Limited Middleware
    The middleware ecosystem is not as extensive as some other Node.js frameworks, which might necessitate custom middleware development for certain use cases.

Meteor features and specs

  • Full-Stack Solution
    Meteor offers an integrated full-stack solution, which includes both front-end and back-end development, making it easier to build and manage applications without needing disparate tools.
  • Reactive Programming
    Meteor leverages real-time data synchronization between the client and server, enabling reactive updates that automatically refresh the user interface when data changes.
  • MongoDB Integration
    Meteor tightly integrates with MongoDB, which facilitates real-time data integration and minimizes the complexity of database management.
  • Rich Ecosystem
    Meteor has a comprehensive ecosystem, including various plugins and packages that enhance functionality and help developers to quickly add features.
  • Developer Productivity
    Meteor emphasizes simplicity and productivity with features like hot code reload, which shortens the development feedback loop by updating the web page or app without a full refresh.
  • Strong Community
    Meteor has an active and supportive community, providing extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums that help developers troubleshoot and share knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Meteor

  • Performance Issues
    For complex or large-scale applications, Meteor can face performance bottlenecks, especially around the use of MongoDB's oplog tailing for real-time data updates.
  • Single Database Limitation
    Meteor's default reliance on MongoDB can be a limitation for projects that would benefit from using other types of databases or require relational data structures.
  • Package Management
    While Meteor has a rich package ecosystem, it uses its own package manager, which can sometimes lead to compatibility issues or limit the ability to use NPM packages directly.
  • Learning Curve
    Though designed to be easy to use, Meteor’s unique concepts and full-stack nature can present a learning curve for developers who are not familiar with JavaScript or full-stack development.
  • Lack of Control
    Meteor's high level of abstraction can be a double-edged sword, making it difficult for developers to optimize certain aspects of their application or have fine-grained control over performance.
  • Community Shifts
    The Meteor community has experienced shifts and changes since its inception, and there have been periods of uncertainty regarding its long-term viability and support.

Analysis of Meteor

Overall verdict

  • Meteor is a solid choice for developers looking for an efficient and integrated solution for building real-time web and mobile applications. Its real-time data synchronization capabilities and full-stack approach make it particularly appealing for those who prioritize speed and simplicity.

Why this product is good

  • Meteor is a full-stack JavaScript platform for developing modern web and mobile applications. It's praised for its ease of use, quick prototyping capabilities, and seamless integration of front-end and back-end operations. Meteor simplifies real-time updates and has a strong package ecosystem.

Recommended for

    Meteor is recommended for startups and individual developers who need to rapidly develop and deploy their applications. It’s also suitable for teams focusing on applications where real-time data synchronization is crucial, such as chat applications or collaborative tools.

FeathersJS videos

OSS 2019: FeathersJS with David Lueke

More videos:

  • Review - ❄️ Chill Stream | Building EntropyChat.app | node.js, FeathersJS, Vue.js, Vuex, Electron

Meteor videos

The Meteor | Discraft Disc Review

More videos:

  • Review - Meteor Review - with Tom Vasel
  • Review - Royal Enfield Meteor 350 | Meteor 350 | Next Generation Royal Enfield Thunderbird | Review by Aj

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FeathersJS and Meteor)
JavaScript Framework
72 72%
28% 28
Developer Tools
19 19%
81% 81
Web Frameworks
26 26%
74% 74
Python Web Framework
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FeathersJS and Meteor

FeathersJS Reviews

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Meteor Reviews

20 Next.js Alternatives Worth Considering
Exploring Next.js alternatives can open up a world of possibilities for web development projects. Choosing from frameworks like Gatsby.js, Nuxt.js, or Svelte can offer tailored features for server-side rendering, single-page applications (SPAs), and static site generation. Each option has its strengths, whether you’re aiming for speed with Hugo, ease of use with Jekyll, or...
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
Meteor — a full-stack platform that’s got every stage of your app covered. Real-time by default, it’s about in-sync, on-the-fly updates across client and server. Magic? Feels like it.
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Meteor.js is a JavaScript-based platform for developing web applications. It’s open source and supports various programming paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and event-driven programming. Meteor.js is based on the Node.js framework and uses an asynchronous programming model.
Source: ninetailed.io
20 Best JavaScript Frameworks For 2023
Meteor.js, also known as Meteor, is a Node.js-based isomorphic JavaScript web framework that is partially commercial but primarily free and open-source. Meteor simplifies real-time app development by providing a complete ecosystem rather than requiring multiple tools and frameworks to achieve the same result.
Top 10 Best Node. Js Frameworks to Improve Web Development
It is a pretty fundamental full-stack Node.js method for creating mobile web applications. It is an ideal one and works with iOS, Android, or web desktop. Also, Meteor too executes application progress very prepared by allowing a platform for the entire development of the web application to continue in the corresponding language, none other than JavaScript.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FeathersJS should be more popular than Meteor. It has been mentiond 39 times since March 2021. 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.

FeathersJS mentions (39)

  • Show HN: Triplit – Open-source syncing database that runs on server and client
    This is just using sqlite under the hood and none of this will scale. Why build your own query builder as well when you could just hook in one of the many ORMs in the NPM ecosystem and add support for 50+ other databases. This also isn't really something you could drop into an existing project very easily. Overall, I'm not impressed. Here are some other options I prefer: https://feathersjs.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Ask HN: Can anyone suggest few open source projects for SaaS Boilerplate?
    For backend this might help https://feathersjs.com. I’m not affiliated with them, just a happy user. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Best NodeJS frameworks for seamless backend development
    Feathers.js is a web framework built on top of Express which provides a simple way to develop a scalable and reliable application. Feathers.js supports many databases and works with any frontend technology including iOS, Android, and React Native. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Choosing a backend API framework
    Feathers.js - fully fledged backend framework, with almost anything out of the box. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Node.js 20 is now available
    For anything CRUD or that can be modeled as such, I use FeathersJS (https://feathersjs.com/). - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
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Meteor mentions (13)

  • Big Changes at Meteor Software: Our Next Chapter
    Our new Meteor brand represents our commitment to modern JavaScript. It features a cleaner, more contemporary design that represents our future direction rather than just our heritage. The redesigned Meteor website is now ready and includes a really cool interactive demo that showcases what Meteor can do. We're excited for you to check it out and experience Meteor's capabilities firsthand. - Source: dev.to / 13 days ago
  • Reactive Data Structures in MeteorJS - Reactive Stack
    MeteorJS brings client-side reactivity out of the box. No matter which frontend framework you choose, you will always have an integrated reactivity that synchronizes your data and the UI. This is one of the core strengths of MeteorJS. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • MeteorJS 3.0 major impact estimated for July 2024 ☄️ - here is all you need to know 🧐
    The next major MeteorJS release is coming in July 2024! After more than two years of development, this is the final result. The first discussions started in June 2021 and there has been multiple alphas, betas, rcs and a huge amount of package updates. These were constantly battle-tested by the Meteor Core team and the Community, shaping the features and performance of the platform one by one. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Tutorial: how to install Meteor.js with Tailwind CSS and Flowbite
    Meteor.js is a full-stack JavaScript platform for developing modern web and mobile applications. Meteor includes a key set of technologies for building connected-client reactive applications, a build tool, and a curated set of packages from the Node.js and general JavaScript community. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Meteor.js with Vite, Solid, and Tailwind CSS
    Meteor.js is a full-stack platform that simplifies the development of web applications by providing a unified approach to building both the front-end and back-end. With real-time data updates, Meteor.js speeds up the development process and ensures you can create powerful applications. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FeathersJS and Meteor, you can also consider the following products

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

Koa.js - Next generation web framework for node.js

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

Sails.js - Realtime MVC Framework for Node.js

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

Adonis JS - AdonisJs is a Node.js web framework with breath of fresh air and drizzle of elegant syntax on top of it