Most Popular Backend Frameworks for 2024

Quick Summary

• Popular backend frameworks improve security, make applications scalable, and aid in adding features faster.
• The choice of framework depends on the platform, technologies, and industry requirements.
• Top Backend frameworks for Web 2024: We recommend Django, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Spring, and ASP.NET.
• Top Backend frameworks for Mobile 2024: We recommend Express/Koa, React Native, Flutter, Ionic, and Google Firebase.

Introduction

Backend frameworks are the crucial foundation for web and mobile apps. They handle server-side logic, database interactions, and user authentication.  The right choice of backend frameworks greatly impacts performance, scalability, and security.

When building a web application for your business, picking the right backend framework is crucial. This decision can make the difference between a high-performance, secure, scalable solution and a subpar one. 

But how do you pick the right backend framework? Rest assured, this blog is here to guide you. It provides a comprehensive understanding of what to consider when choosing a backend framework. It also presents the top 10 backend frameworks for 2024 and the benefits of making the right choice.

Read on to learn how to choose the best framework for your projects and build a great product.

What are Backend Frameworks?

When we talk about the frontend (client-side) and backend (server-side) tech stack, we mean the components used to build an app. These components, like libraries and frameworks, work together, so we call them a “stack.”

It is crucial to choose the right backend development frameworks for your tech stack. A framework is a collection of pre-written and tested code in a specific programming language. 

A backend framework is a set of pre-written and tested code and tools that provide a structure for building websites, web apps, mobile apps, or software. This means developers don’t have to write common functions from scratch every time.

Without a framework, developers must start coding with a blank page, creating each part from scratch. With a framework, they have a structure and pre-made components, saving a lot of time and effort.  It makes a developer’s job easier. 

Java, PHP, Ruby on Rails—if you’ve heard of these, you already know something about backend technologies. These are amongst the best backend technologies.

Benefits of Backend Frameworks

A framework’s main goal is to make developing web applications easier and more consistent. It does this by giving developers ready-to-use tools, libraries, and components.

The main benefits of using backend frameworks are:

Security: A framework helps protect your application from outside attacks, problems, crashes, slowness, and other issues. This ensures that your app stays high-quality.

Scalability: Frameworks are very flexible. If you choose the right backend framework, you can use it to scale your web apps easily. Adding more features to your simple app is easier without switching to a new framework.

Integrations: Frameworks make adding new tools easy because they have built-in tools for common tasks.

Speed: Using backend frameworks saves development time and effort. They provide ready-made solutions for routing, database interactions, and user login. It means you can launch your app faster.

How to Choose the Best Backend Framework in 2024

When choosing a language and framework for your app, popularity shouldn’t be the only factor.

1. Consider your team’s technical skills. Stick to what they know well; switching to something unfamiliar can be inefficient.
2. Code readability matters. Clean code makes it easier for new team members to join and understand the project and helps manage updates smoothly.

3. Choose a framework with strong support. It’s not just about community size; popular frameworks often have better stability, which avoids issues when language updates require framework updates.

The other factors to consider when choosing a backend framework:

Speed and Performance: The framework should handle requests and process data efficiently for fast response times. It needs a good architecture and efficient database interactions to maintain speed, especially as your app grows.

Scalability: Your framework should scale smoothly as your app gets more users and data. Look for features like load balancing and distributed computing to handle increased traffic without slowing down.

Ease of Use: A user-friendly framework makes development easier and faster. It should have tools for managing data, handling security, and managing errors.

Compatibility: Ensure the framework works well with other technologies you plan to use, such as databases and front-end tools. It should also support different programming languages and platforms.

Community Support: A strong community provides support and resources. It helps developers troubleshoot problems, find solutions quickly, and keep up with best development practices.

6 Best Backend Frameworks in 2024 for Web Development

These are the top five popular backend web frameworks. Please don’t consider this list exhaustive; you may have to use some other frameworks based on your specific project needs. It’s a good idea to consult with experts before deciding on your tech stack.

1. Laravel

Laravel is a PHP framework for building web applications. It was created in 2011 by Taylor Otwell and is based on Symfony. It’s open source and uses an MIT license. The code is hosted on GitHub. It’s highly popular in the PHP community.

Benefits:

• Laravel ensures your passwords are strong and secure.   
• You can easily add styles (CSS) and interactive features (JS) to your web pages, not just using PHP.
• Especially good when working on big and complex projects.
• Has a simple way to send emails using a SwiftMailer library.

By and Large, Laravel makes building secure websites easier, looks good, and handles much information.

2. Django

Django is a high-level Python framework for rapid development and clean, practical design. It simplifies web development by handling many common tasks, allowing developers to focus on building their applications. Known for its speed, security focus, and scalability, Django is used by many large websites.

Benefits 

• Django helps developers build apps from start to finish quickly.  
• It takes security seriously, so developers don’t have to worry about common security problems.
• Django can handle very busy websites and grow as needed to keep up with many users.

Django is great for quickly and securely building websites and smoothly handling large numbers of visitors.

3. SpringBoot

Spring Boot is a free, high-level framework for building robust, ready-to-use applications that can run independently or on the web. It helps developers build advanced Java applications for businesses. It handles the essential setup and connections. So developers can focus on creating their apps’ specific functions without worrying about where they will be used.

Benefits:

• Provides ready-made templates that help developers start building applications fast, saving time and effort.
• Ensures application safety with features like authentication, authorization, and protection against common security issues.
• Spring Boot makes testing easier with built-in support for different types of testing, ensuring that the code works reliably.
• Works well with many Java libraries and tools, making it compatible with various technologies and easy to integrate into existing systems.

Spring Boot helps developers build applications quickly, securely, and reliably while being compatible with various Java technologies.

4. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails (RoR) is a framework for building server-side applications. It organizes the application into three parts: Model, View, and Controller (MVC), which helps developers structure their code neatly. 

RoR has default setups for databases, web pages, and services, which speeds up development. It uses XML and JSON for data transfer and HTML/CSS with JavaScript for creating user interfaces. 

Benefits: 

• Provides built-in tools and modules that developers can use right away. This saves time because they can write less code from scratch.
• Follows clear standards for how things should be done, like organizing files. This makes projects easier to understand and keeps them working smoothly.
• RoR is open-source, so it’s free to use. Optional add-ons called Gems are also usually free or inexpensive. This means you can build powerful web apps without needing a big budget for software licenses.
• Helps developers work faster, keeps projects organized, and saves money on development costs.

5. ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is a flexible, free framework by Windows and dot Net. It’s used to build .NET applications and works with different tools in the .NET system. It uses C# and ensures that apps work well on Windows, Linux, and Mac computers, giving users a smooth experience no matter their device.

Benefits: 

• Developers write fewer lines of code because ASP.NET Core comes with many ready-to-use functions, which speed up the creation of apps.
• ASP.NET Core uses the same C# code to make sure apps work well on different platforms like Windows, Linux, and Mac. This means users get the same good experience regardless of their device.
• Skilled .NET developers can quickly adjust ASP.NET Core to ensure apps run smoothly and are easy to update.

6. Express

Express is a framework used for making the APIs and web apps with Node.js. It’s part of the MEAN stack, including Angular.js for the front-end and MongoDB for the database. Express helps create apps that work well and have lots of features. It’s one of the best frameworks for building apps that run online.

Benefits:

• Since many developers already know JavaScript, learning to use Node.js to make server-side parts of apps is easy.
• Express uses Google’s V8 JavaScript engine, which turns Node.js code into fast-running machine code. This means apps run almost as fast as if they were made for that device.

• Because all web browsers understand JavaScript, apps with Express can run on any device and in any browser. You only need one code set to make your app work on everything.

5 Best Backend Frameworks in 2024 for Mobile Development

1. React Native

React Native is a widely used framework for building mobile apps. It’s written in JavaScript and was first created by Facebook. Big companies like Walmart, Tesla, Uber Eats, Skype, and Shopify use React Native to develop their apps.

In 2018, React Native underwent a major change to improve its functionality and fix its problems. This made it more flexible and better at building different kinds of apps.

Benefits:

• React Native works well with different JavaScript engines, especially Hermes, making apps run smoothly.
• It can directly use native modules without extra layers, which speeds up how fast your apps work.

• You write code once and use it on different platforms, like iOS and Android. This saves time and ensures that your apps work the same everywhere.

• React Native apps can be easily published on both the Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS).

2. Flutter

Flutter is a free framework made using the Dart language, which is becoming very popular. It lets developers write code that runs quickly without needing extra steps. Flutter uses special widgets to make apps look and work great. 

You can build apps that work on many different devices, like iPhones, Android phones, Windows computers, Macs, Linux computers, and even Google’s new operating system, Fuchsia. This makes it easy to create apps that can run on many devices.

Benefits:

• Flutter lets you see changes in your app right away without restarting it. This saves a lot of time during development and keeps developers happy.
• Flutter has special tools for making apps look good on different devices, like Android and iOS. You only need one code set to make your app work well everywhere.

• You can get your app out to users faster because Flutter helps you write cleaner and simpler code. It also has tools that make building apps easier and quicker.

3. Ionic

Ionic is a top framework for making apps that work on mobile phones, websites, and desktop computers. It uses common web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

According to its official website, Ionic is used in 15% of the apps you can find in app stores, and many big companies also use it for their apps. It’s very popular on GitHub, with many people liking and working on it. 

Benefits:

• Developers can make apps that run on many different devices with just one set of code.
• Ionic lets you change how your app looks for each type of device, like phones or computers, so it feels right on each one.

• You can use Cordova or Capacitor plugins to add features like using the camera or GPS without needing to write a special code for each device.

• With tools like Angular CLI and Ionic CLI, developers can test most apps without needing a real device or special software to see how they work.

4. Koa

Koa is a simple and free framework for creating app backends using Node.js. It’s known for using async functions to handle tasks better and deal with errors more effectively. Koa gives developers many options for setting up their servers without needing extra software.

Benefits of Koa:

• You can change how Koa works to fit your needs perfectly.
• Koa is easy to expand and adjust as your app grows.
• Koa helps you make apps quickly.
• Koa makes it simple to show things on websites and make them look good.

If you already know Node.js, Koa could be a great choice for making your app’s backend.

5. Xamarin

Xamarin is used for making apps that work on Android and iOS devices. It uses the C# programming language, which means developers don’t have to write as much code, which speeds up coding. You can also easily move apps to work on other systems like Windows and macOS.

Microsoft now owns Xamarin. Even though apps are made quickly, they still work really well and are high-quality. Xamarin apps work just like apps made specifically for Android or iOS. Using Microsoft Visual Studio with Xamarin makes managing and developing apps easier, which is great for productivity.

Benefits:

• Xamarin allows developers to create apps that work on both Android and iOS using the same codebase. This means less work and faster development.
• Developers use C# to write Xamarin apps, which requires fewer lines of code than other languages. This speeds up coding and makes it easier to maintain.

• Xamarin apps perform just as well as apps developed specifically for Android or iOS. They can access all device functionalities and deliver a smooth user experience.

• Xamarin integrates well with Microsoft Visual Studio, making it easy for developers to manage and build apps. This enhances productivity and collaboration.

• Xamarin has a strong community of developers who contribute tools, libraries, and resources. This support network helps developers solve problems and build better apps efficiently.

How can Valuetree help choose the right backend framework?

Knowledge of the top backend frameworks allows you to make the best decision for your projects. Before making a final decision, consider the pros and cons of each framework. However, it is always good to take advice from experts who can help you make the best choices for your project. 

Valuetree is a top web and mobile app development company that helps businesses with their backend development. We use the latest technologies to ensure your apps run smoothly and are strong. Our team of experts is good at what they do and is always coming up with new ideas. 

We can help businesses with all parts of their backend development, ensuring everything is clear and secure. If you want to know more about backend frameworks or need help with your project, contact us on sales@valuetree.io to get advice or discuss what you need.