Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RunKit VS Nest.js

Compare RunKit VS Nest.js and see what are their differences

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RunKit logo RunKit

RunKit notebooks are interactive javascript playgrounds connected to a complete node environment right in your browser. Every npm module pre-installed.

Nest.js logo Nest.js

A progressive Node.js framework for building efficient, reliable and scalable server-side applications.
  • RunKit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-22
  • Nest.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-26

RunKit features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    RunKit provides an easy-to-use platform for prototyping and experimenting with Node.js code directly in the browser, without any setup.
  • Immediate Feedback
    The platform offers immediate execution and feedback for code snippets, making it ideal for learning and quick testing.
  • Installation-free
    There is no need to install Node.js or any other software locally as it runs completely in the browser.
  • Package Integration
    RunKit supports seamless integration with npm, allowing users to easily require and use any npm package in their code.
  • Collaboration
    Users can easily share their code with others, facilitating collaboration and peer learning.
  • Embedding
    Code snippets can be easily embedded into blogs or other web pages, enhancing content with interactive code examples.

Possible disadvantages of RunKit

  • Limited Environment
    Being a cloud-based platform, RunKit is limited in terms of custom environment configuration and local file system access.
  • Performance Constraints
    Execution performance might be constrained compared to running Node.js code locally, due to online execution limitations.
  • Dependency on Internet
    An active internet connection is necessary to use RunKit, which can be a drawback in offline scenarios.
  • Security Concerns
    Running code in a cloud environment could pose security risks, especially when dealing with sensitive data or code.
  • Feature Limitations
    Advanced Node.js features and debugging tools available in local development environments may not be supported.

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.

Analysis of Nest.js

Overall verdict

  • Nest.js is an excellent choice for building scalable and maintainable server-side applications, especially if you prefer a structured and opinionated framework.

Why this product is good

  • Nest.js is built on top of Express.js, which is a well-established framework in the Node.js ecosystem, providing robust features and flexibility.
  • It follows the modular architecture inspired by Angular, making it a great choice for developers familiar with Angular's dependency injection and design patterns.
  • Nest.js supports TypeScript out of the box, which enhances code quality and maintainability through static typing.
  • The framework is highly extensible and allows easy integration with various libraries and tools.
  • Nest.js provides extensive documentation and an active community, which facilitates problem-solving and learning.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a TypeScript-first backend framework.
  • Teams that value modularity and clear project organization in their web applications.
  • Projects that require rapid development with modern JavaScript features and strong community support.
  • Backend systems that need to be scalable and performant using Node.js.

RunKit videos

Runkit - NodeJS Notebook in Bangla | Create And Publish API from Your Browser Fast And Secure

Nest.js videos

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RunKit and Nest.js)
Data Science Notebooks
100 100%
0% 0
Web Frameworks
0 0%
100% 100
Data Science And Machine Learning
JavaScript 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 RunKit and Nest.js

RunKit Reviews

We have no reviews of RunKit yet.
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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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nest.js seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 219 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.

RunKit mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of RunKit yet. Tracking of RunKit recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Nest.js mentions (219)

  • Awesome Next.js API Routes with next-api-decorators
    Often, developers opt for a framework when building out APIs, as they offer alternative means of representing resources, and many tools and utilities designed to make this process easier. One such example is NestJS (Not to be confused with Next.js!). This is a batteries-included, powerful "framework for building efficient, scalable Node.js server-side applications". Heavily inspired by Angular, this framework... - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • Scalable REST API Architecture with NestJS, Prisma, Swagger, & Docker: How To.
    NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework inspired by Angular's architecture. It uses TypeScript and follows object-oriented programming principles, making it ideal for building scalable server-side applications. Its modular structure encourages the separation of concerns, leading to more maintainable code. (Check out Nest). - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Next.js vs Nest.js: Understanding the Difference
    Read more about Next.js here and Nest.js here. - Source: dev.to / 3 months 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 / 3 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 / 4 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Observable - Interactive code examples/posts

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

TextSTAT - TextSTAT is a simple programme for the analysis of texts.

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

Nodebook - Browser-based REPL notebook supporting many programming languages.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans