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NestJS vs. Express: Why Structure Beats Speed in the Long Run 🚀


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Hamza Khan

When building backend applications in JavaScript/TypeScript, two names come up repeatedly: Express.js and NestJS.

  • Express is minimal, flexible, and lightning-fast to get started.
  • NestJS builds on top of Express (or Fastify) but enforces structure, scalability, and maintainability.

So, which one should you choose for your next project in 2025? Let’s dive deep.

🏗 Express.js – The Minimalist Approach

Express is essentially unopinionated. You can structure your project however you like. This is amazing for small projects but can get messy as your app grows.

👉 Example: A simple route in Express:

// server.js
const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.get("/users", (req, res) => {
  res.send("List of users");
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log("Server running on port 3000");
});

✅ Quick to set up
✅ Minimal boilerplate
❌ No enforced structure (your team decides everything)
❌ Harder to scale in large applications

🏛 NestJS – The Opinionated Framework

NestJS is built on top of Express (or Fastify) but adds a modular architecture inspired by Angular.

👉 Example: A simple route in NestJS:

// users.controller.ts
import { Controller, Get } from '@nestjs/common';

@Controller('users')
export class UsersController {
  @Get()
  getUsers(): string {
    return 'List of users';
  }
}

// app.module.ts
import { Module } from '@nestjs/common';
import { UsersController } from './users.controller';

@Module({
  controllers: [UsersController],
})
export class AppModule {}

✅ Built-in support for TypeScript
✅ Dependency Injection out of the box
✅ Modular & maintainable architecture
✅ Built-in testing utilities
❌ More boilerplate than Express
❌ Slightly steeper learning curve

⚡ Code Comparison: Express vs NestJS

Let’s compare how both handle a POST /users endpoint.

Express.js 

// server.js
const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.post("/users", (req, res) => {
  const { name, email } = req.body;
  res.json({ message: "User created", user: { name, email } });
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log("Server running on port 3000");
});

NestJS 

// users.controller.ts
import { Controller, Post, Body } from '@nestjs/common';

@Controller('users')
export class UsersController {
  @Post()
  createUser(@Body() userData: { name: string; email: string }) {
    return {
      message: 'User created',
      user: userData,
    };
  }
}

👉 Notice how NestJS enforces structure (Controllers, Modules, Decorators), while Express gives full freedom but at the cost of consistency.

🚀 Why Structure Beats Speed in the Long Run

  • Small apps → Express shines with quick setup.

  • Large teams & enterprise apps → NestJS wins because:

    • Clear modular structure
    • Enforced best practices
    • Built-in support for GraphQL, WebSockets, Microservices, Testing, and more
    • Long-term maintainability

As projects scale, the cost of lack of structure in Express often outweighs its initial speed advantage.

🔮 Final Thoughts: Which Should You Pick in 2025?

  • Choose Express if:

    • You’re building a small project, prototype, or API with minimal complexity.

  • Choose NestJS if:

    • You’re working with a team.
    • You expect your project to scale.
    • You want built-in TypeScript, testing, and architectural patterns.

👉 In 2025, NestJS is becoming the go-to choice for enterprise-grade apps, while Express still dominates in lightweight services.


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Hamza Khan