Node.js propelled JavaScript to the top spot of the most popular programming languages.

This powerful addition to the versatile Java family, once used only for the front end development, makes things easier for developers – now it can be used for the server side too.

Besides this simplification of the development process, Node.js offers other handy functionalities such as the asynchronous non-blocking I/O model and a single-threaded event loop, which allow for scalability, speed, and flexibility.

Over the years, a number of Node.js-based frameworks have been developed to enhance its overall usability and add different new features.

Here’s a list of the ones which are considered to be the best.

1. Express.js

While this routing framework is minimalist and lightweight, it’s allows building robust applications and APIs.

Express.js acts as middleware for managing servers and routes.

The fact that it supports different packages and template engines such as Pug, Mustache, and others is a big plus.

Due to its flexibility and speed, Express.js is perfectly-tailored for supporting large-scale, feature-rich applications which require processing large volumes of data without sacrificing performance. That’s why it’s frequently used for enterprise, chat, and streaming applications.

Its comprehensive documentation and long-term support allow a high level of customization and further app development. As a matter of fact, 61% of developers believe that LTS is extremely important in terms of planning and scheduling updates.

2. Sails.js

This MVC-based framework has been developed by the same team who created Express.js.

However, Sails.js boasts much better capabilities than its teammate, as it comes with an ORM solution compatible with almost any existing database.

Besides that, it supports Socket.io which is why Sails.js is commonly used for social media apps, chat apps, online collaboration tools, and other real-time apps and games requiring quick responses.

Another benefit of this framework is that it incorporates Waterline.js which spares developers the ordeal of configuring multiple database queries.

Smooth transitions between Sails.js and other frameworks are enabled thanks to the fact that it’s based on a commonly used MVC structure.

Its speed and performance are the result of the implementation of Express.js for handling HTTP requests.

No wonder that Verizon, a US telecommunication company, and the Detroit Lions, an American football team, opted for Sails.js for the development of their respective websites.

3. Meteor.js

Do more with less code is how this full-stack framework can be best described.

Meteor.js is an out-of-the-box solution which enables building real-time apps. It’s worth mentioning that there are lots of pre-written modules ready to be used, while the community offers numerous reusable modules and packages too.

One of its notable functionalities is using the same API on both the client and server side which ensures the stellar overall performance.

This framework is particularly flexible, and it allows using other tools and technologies if tasks require them.

Besides, cross-platform development is made possible as the same code is used for different devices, which is why Meteor.js is a perfect solution for mobile applications running on different operating systems. This also means that these apps can be easily updated.

Finally, Meteor.js is known for its ability to handle large and demanding projects such as reaction commerce.

IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant, and Honeywell, a company offering industrial IoT-ready solutions, use Meteor.js for their website development purposes.

4. Koa 2

This is the second version of Koa, a framework which belongs to the Node.js MVC family, and it is its stable release.

Koa 2 is known for being modular and lightweight in terms of structure, thus allowing developers to build applications by adding only the features they need.

The implementation of generators which eliminate callbacks makes Koa 2 very good at handling errors.

According to the team behind Koa, no middleware is bundled within its core, which means that the middleware is more streamlined while every code line is granular.

5. Hapi.js

This lightweight open-source framework was initially developed by Walmart Labs in order to bring more traffic to their Black Friday event, and for that, they needed a powerful website which could handle such a big surge.

Hapi.js provides great collaboration functionalities with the help of plugins which allow development teams to work on different application components while leaving the rest of the app unaffected.

This capability makes it suitable for creating enterprise applications built by distributed and remote teams.

Built-in support for MySQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL databases lets you create static websites.

Another useful functionality of this framework is that it can be implemented as an API or website server, as well as an HTTP proxy.

The likes of Yahoo and even the UK government use this framework for their websites.

All these frameworks are reliable, fast, and powerful, which is why top Node.js developers agree that these are the best options if you want to build applications that can be easily customized and updated across various devices and operating systems.