Software Alternatives & Startups

JSON Web Token VS PM2

Compare JSON Web Token VS PM2 and see what are their differences

JSON Web Token

JSON Web Tokens are an open, industry standard RFC 7519 method for representing claims securely between two parties.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
PM2

Advanced, production process manager for Node.js

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, JSON Web Token should be more popular than PM2. It has been mentioned 313 times since March 2021.

social mentions
313 vs 60
Identity Provider popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 207

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

JSON Web Token
PM2
Website jwt.io pm2.keymetrics.io
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

JSON Web Token 6 features
PM2 5 features
  • Stateless
    Since JWTs are self-contained, they do not require server-side sessions, enabling stateless authentication and reducing server memory usage.
  • Scalability
    JWTs can easily be used in distributed systems and microservices architectures due to their stateless nature, facilitating horizontal scaling.
  • Decentralized Issuance
    Multiple issuers can create and sign their own tokens, allowing for more decentralized and flexible authentication mechanisms.
  • Performance
    JWTs eliminate the need for database lookups during authenticating requests, as the token contains all the necessary information, which can lead to performance improvements.
  • Cross-domain and Mobile Compatible
    JWTs are widely supported by different platforms and can easily be used in cross-domain situations and with mobile applications.
  • Security
    JWTs can be signed and optionally encrypted, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the data they carry.

Possible disadvantages

  • Size
    JWTs tend to be larger than session IDs, which can increase the amount of data transmitted during requests.
  • Expiration Handling
    Managing token expiration can be complex. Once a token is issued, it remains valid until it expires or is explicitly revoked.
  • No Built-in Revocation
    Unlike sessions, JWTs cannot be easily revoked server-side, making it difficult to immediately invalidate tokens without additional mechanisms.
  • Security Risks
    If a JWT is intercepted or compromised, it can be used until it expires. Thus, it should be properly secured and transmitted over HTTPS.
  • Token Overhead
    Embedding too much information in the token payload can lead to performance overhead and potential data exposure risks.
  • Complexity
    Implementing JWT correctly requires a thorough understanding of security practices and token lifecycle management, which can add complexity to the system.
  • Process Management
    PM2 provides efficient process management, allowing you to easily start, stop, and restart applications. It handles the daemonization of processes and ensures that all your services run continuously.
  • Monitoring & Logging
    PM2 offers robust monitoring and logging features, providing real-time metrics on CPU and memory usage, along with comprehensive logging to help debug issues and monitor application performance.
  • Cluster Mode
    PM2 supports cluster mode, enabling you to run multiple instances of your application to utilize multi-core systems effectively, thereby improving performance and handling more traffic.
  • Easy Deployment
    With PM2, deployment is simplified through built-in functionalities like management of environment variables and automatic startup scripts, making it easier to deploy applications across environments.
  • Platform Agnostic
    PM2 is platform-agnostic and can be used with diverse environments and languages, though it is optimized for Node.js applications, offering flexibility to manage various types of applications.

Possible disadvantages

  • Overhead
    While PM2 is lightweight, it can add some overhead, particularly in smaller or simpler applications where its full range of features may not be necessary.
  • Configuration Complexity
    For new users or simple applications, PM2's configuration options may seem complex, with a steep learning curve to understand and leverage all available features effectively.
  • Memory Usage
    PM2's memory usage can be higher compared to more minimal solutions, which might be a concern for resource-constrained environments or small-scale projects.
  • Limited to JavaScript by Default
    Although you can manage other types of applications, PM2 is primarily designed for Node.js, so managing non-JavaScript applications could require additional effort or wrappers.
  • Potential Issues with Large Projects
    In some cases, PM2 may face challenges scaling very large projects due to its process management design, requiring more thorough testing and configuration tuning.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

JSON Web Token
PM2

Overall verdict

  • JWT is a widely-accepted standard used for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object. It is a good choice for scenarios where security and scalability are primary concerns. However, it also requires careful implementation to ensure security, especially when dealing with sensitive information.

Why this product is good

  • JSON Web Token (JWT) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. The claims in a JWT are encoded as a JSON object that is used as the payload of a JSON Web Signature (JWS) structure or as the plaintext of a JSON Web Encryption (JWE) structure, enabling the claims to be digitally signed or integrity protected with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) and/or encrypted.

Recommended for

  • Stateless authentication
  • Distributed systems
  • Microservices architecture
  • Applications needing scalable, self-contained access tokens
  • Browser-based applications

No analysis of PM2 yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

JSON Web Token 3 videos + Add
PM2 3 videos + Add

JSON Web Tokens Suck - Randall Degges (DevNet Create 2018)

More videos

  • - JSON Web Tokens with Public Key Signatures
  • - RFC 7519 JSON Web Token (JWT), Review

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (PM2) Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

More videos

  • - Cut or Carry: Spyderco PM2 ParaMilitary 2 Review
  • - Spyderco Paramilitary 2 S110V Long-Term Review (Best value PM2?)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
JSON Web Token
PM2
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using JSON Web Token and PM2. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

JSON Web Token 313 mentions
PM2 60 mentions
  • Sessions vs JWTs: you are choosing how often you pay for state
    A JWT is signed, not encrypted. Anyone holding the token can read every claim inside it. jwt.io will do it for you in a browser. - Source: dev.to / 20 days ago
  • I built 6 free dev tools to skip the signup walls — here's what I learned
    You know that moment when you just want to decode a JWT, but jwt.io wants you to log in to "save your tokens"? Or when you need a quick curl command and Postman's 200MB Electron app feels like overkill? - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How Broken Access Control Became OWASP's Top Security Risk
    JWT.io documentation emphasizes a common access control failure specific to token-based authentication: accepting role or permission claims from a JWT without verifying the token's signature. Tokens that can be modified by users without... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago

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  • The hosting setup nobody talks about anymore
    At this point we have a few options to handle our Nuxt site. We could just copy the dist folder over, install node, and use something like pm2 to manage the node process. While this works, I find it a little brittle. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • JavaScript Awesome Package
    PM2 - PM2 is a daemon process manager that will help you manage and keep your application online 24/7. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • PM2 process management for Node.js - Mastering PM2 Process Management...
    Now you have the tools to keep your Node. Js apps running strong. Experiment with the ecosystem. config. Js file. Explore more advanced PM2 features on their official website. Remember, consistent uptime builds user trust. If you're... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago

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Alternatives to JSON Web Token and PM2

When comparing JSON Web Token and PM2, you can also consider the following products.