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Nest.js VS ASP.NET Core

Compare Nest.js VS ASP.NET Core and see what are their differences

Nest.js logo Nest.js

A progressive Node.js framework for building efficient, reliable and scalable server-side applications.

ASP.NET Core logo ASP.NET Core

With ASP.
  • Nest.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-26
  • ASP.NET Core Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18

Nest.js features and specs

  • Modular Architecture
    Nest.js uses a modular architecture which is highly organized and maintainable. This allows for better separation of concerns and makes it easier to manage large-scale applications by dividing them into smaller, reusable modules.
  • TypeScript Support
    Nest.js is built with TypeScript, providing strong typing and compile-time checks. This leads to fewer runtime errors and improved code readability and maintainability.
  • Dependency Injection
    The framework includes a powerful dependency injection system, which enables better testability and easier management of application components.
  • Built-in Middleware
    Nest.js supports middleware out of the box, allowing developers to easily add additional request-processing logic at different points in the request lifecycle.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Nest.js offers comprehensive and detailed documentation, which helps developers quickly get up to speed and resolve issues more efficiently.
  • Scalability
    The framework is designed to be scalable, making it suitable for projects of varying sizes—from small applications to large enterprise-level systems.
  • Integration with Modern Libraries
    Nest.js seamlessly integrates with modern libraries and frameworks such as GraphQL, WebSockets, and TypeORM, extending its capabilities and allowing for versatile development options.
  • Active Community
    An active and growing community around Nest.js means there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and third-party tools available to assist with development.

Possible disadvantages of Nest.js

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its rich feature set and use of TypeScript, Nest.js can have a steep learning curve for developers who are not familiar with these technologies.
  • Overhead
    The reliance on the decorators and classes can introduce additional overhead, potentially making simple projects more complex than necessary.
  • Limited Flexibility
    Nest.js follows an opinionated architecture pattern, which can be restrictive for developers who prefer a more flexible or unstructured approach.
  • Performance
    While Nest.js is generally performant, the abstraction layers and TypeScript compile steps can introduce slight performance overhead compared to more lightweight alternatives.
  • Dependency on TypeScript
    The heavy reliance on TypeScript can be a drawback for developers who prefer to use plain JavaScript, or who are not familiar with TypeScript.
  • Community Compared to Mainstream Frameworks
    Although the Nest.js community is active and growing, it is still smaller compared to more established frameworks like Express.js or Koa, potentially limiting the amount of shared knowledge and third-party packages available.

ASP.NET Core features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    ASP.NET Core is a cross-platform framework, which means you can run your applications on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This flexibility allows developers to target a wider range of environments without being locked into a single operating system.
  • High Performance
    ASP.NET Core is known for its high performance, being built from the ground up to optimize speed and scalability. It uses a modular framework architecture and supports asynchronous programming, making it suitable for modern, high-traffic applications.
  • Unified MVC and Web API Frameworks
    In ASP.NET Core, MVC and Web API frameworks are unified into a single framework, simplifying the development model for building web and API-based applications.
  • Dependency Injection
    Built-in support for dependency injection simplifies the management of dependencies across the application, promoting cleaner architecture and testability.
  • Open Source and Community Support
    ASP.NET Core is open source and has a strong community around it. This means that developers have access to the source code and can contribute to its development. It also benefits from continuous improvements driven by community feedback.
  • Cloud Integration
    ASP.NET Core is designed with cloud deployment in mind, providing features and templates for streamlined integration with cloud platforms such as Azure.

Possible disadvantages of ASP.NET Core

  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, ASP.NET Core can have a steep learning curve for developers new to the framework or web development in general, due to its comprehensive set of features and tools.
  • Maturity of Third-Party Libraries
    Compared to the .NET Framework, some third-party libraries may not be fully mature or offer as many features, given that ASP.NET Core is a more recent platform.
  • Frequent Updates
    ASP.NET Core has a fast release cycle, which can be challenging for developers to keep up with. Frequent updates can mean regular changes to the framework that might require adjustments in application code.
  • Limited Windows-Specific Technology Support
    Some Windows-specific technologies and libraries might have limited or no support in ASP.NET Core, which can be a disadvantage for applications heavily reliant on those technologies.

Nest.js videos

Why I chose Nest.js over Express.js in 2020

ASP.NET Core videos

Intro to ASP.NET Core Razor Pages - From Start to Published

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nest.js and ASP.NET Core)
Web Frameworks
80 80%
20% 20
Developer Tools
75 75%
25% 25
JavaScript Framework
100 100%
0% 0
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 Nest.js and ASP.NET Core

Nest.js Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
Nest (NestJS) is a framework for building efficient and scalable server-side backend applications using Node.Js. Internally, it actually makes use of JavaScript Back-end frameworks like Express (which is the default, and optionally Fastify can be configured to use as well!
Source: solguruz.com
10 Best Next.js Alternatives to Consider Today
For TypeScript aficionados seeking a framework with a modular, scalable architecture, NestJS stands out. Built on top of Node.js, NestJS offers a powerful set of abstractions for building server-side applications. Its modular structure facilitates the creation of scalable and maintainable codebases, making it a preferred choice for enterprise-level applications where a...
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
NestJS is a Node.js framework that’s inspired by Angular, and guess what? It’s written in TypeScript. Building with Typescript is like you’re navigating with the stars. It’s all about sturdy architecture, a server-side framework that enjoys the scripting superness while piling on extra sturdiness.
Top 10 Best Node. Js Frameworks to Improve Web Development
It is a structure, which is used for making expert, versatile Node.js applications on the server-side. It employs powerful JavaScript plus designed with TypeScript. Working with TypeScript indicates Nest brings uninterrupted writing and incorporates elements like the following
Top 14 Node.JS Frameworks: Which Will Rule in 2020?
Nest utilizes Express.JS and provides an unusual app architecture that allows for the easy development of easily maintainable, loosely paired and highly scalable and testable apps. Developers can use Nest CLI for developing NestJS apps with different features.

ASP.NET Core Reviews

Top 5 Flutter Alternatives for Cross-Platform Development
As for performance, both ASP.NET and Flutter perform really well. For ASP.NET Core, it’s partly due to the lightweight and efficient Kestrel web server. Flutter’s speed is thanks to the Dart VM and Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation.
Source: www.miquido.com
Exploring 15 Powerful Flutter Alternatives
ASP.NET Core is an open-source and cross-platform framework for building modern cloud-enabled web apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux. One unique capability ASP.NET Core introduces relates to scalability. The framework provides native integration with cloud platforms like Azure that allow web apps to scale up or out to potentially even millions of users with no code...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nest.js seems to be a lot more popular than ASP.NET Core. While we know about 217 links to Nest.js, we've tracked only 5 mentions of ASP.NET Core. 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.

Nest.js mentions (217)

  • Next.js vs Nest.js: Understanding the Difference
    Read more about Next.js here and Nest.js here. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Secure Your REST API Using Keycloak Role-Based Access Control
    In this article, we will walk through a step-by-step process to secure a Nest.js RESTful API using Keycloak. This includes setting up an application client and configuring authentication and RBAC for your API endpoints. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Next.js vs Nest.js: What to Choose in 2025?
    The rapid evolution of web development in 2025 makes it imperative to choose a framework that truly fits your project. Whether this involves a dynamic web application, scalable API, or high-performance SaaS product, the decision to select Next.js or Nest.js becomes all the more key. While both do their thing really well, in this sense, they don't do the same thing. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Why Ruby on Rails still matters
    Ok, you're right. I was referring to the usual ones (Next, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Remix, etc). Joytick looks cool. Besides this there's also NestJS https://nestjs.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Secure Your NestJS App: Implementing Authentication with Auth0
    Basic knowledge of NestJS and Javascript/Typescript. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
View more

ASP.NET Core mentions (5)

  • The Case For Go Backends
    However, usage of a C# framework like ASP .NET Core or a Java framework like OfficeFloor are more than capable in the right hands. The key is to understand the tradeoffs of each language and framework, and to choose the right tool for the job. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Exploring Xperience By Kentico: Introductions
    The administration UI is now built on React and ASP.NET Core which means it's fast 🚀! - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Trying to learn ASP.NET core, but confused by the documentation
    Per https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/aspnet/what-is-aspnet-core, "ASP.NET Core is the open-source version of ASP.NET, that runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows. ASP.NET Core was first released in 2016 and is a re-design of earlier Windows-only versions of ASP.NET.". Source: over 2 years ago
  • How can I convince my boss not to use Windows Server?
    But how about you both get your wishes: ASP.NET Core? Use a Linux server - with which you are familiar with, to host the live/production version. And the web application itself can be locally developed and tested in ASP.NET on a Windows server, which is what your boss wants? Source: over 3 years ago
  • 3 Different Hosting Models in Blazor
    Let’s remember that ASP.NET Core is cross-platform and can run practically anywhere. If you find yourself using C # for all your development, this is probably the best scenario for you to use anyway. With it, you can deploy your web application, which would also contain your Blazor Wasm assets in the same location. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nest.js and ASP.NET Core, you can also consider the following products

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

ASP.NET - ASP.NET is a free web framework for building great Web sites and Web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

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

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps