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Nest.js VS FeathersJS

Compare Nest.js VS FeathersJS 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.

FeathersJS logo FeathersJS

Wow your users. Build incredible real-time applications in record time.
  • Nest.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-26
  • FeathersJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17

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.

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.

Nest.js videos

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

FeathersJS videos

OSS 2019: FeathersJS with David Lueke

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nest.js and FeathersJS)
Web Frameworks
80 80%
20% 20
JavaScript Framework
72 72%
28% 28
Developer Tools
78 78%
22% 22
Development
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 Nest.js and FeathersJS

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.

FeathersJS Reviews

We have no reviews of FeathersJS yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nest.js should be more popular than FeathersJS. It has been mentiond 217 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.

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

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 / 10 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nest.js and FeathersJS, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

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

Sails.js - Realtime MVC Framework for Node.js