Which Is the Best Python Web Framework: Django, Flask, or FastAPI?
As with many programming things, the answer is “it depends”.
The right choice hinges on answering a few questions: What kind of app are you building? What are your priorities? How do you expect your project to grow in the future?
All three popular Python web frameworks come with unique strengths, so assessing them in the context of your application will help you make the best decision.
Django is a great option if you need standard web app functionality out of the box, making it suitable for projects that require a more robust structure. It’s particularly advantageous if you’re using a relational database, as its ORM simplifies data management and provides built-in security features. However, the extensive functionality may feel overwhelming for smaller projects or simple applications.
Flask, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility. Its minimalist design enables developers to pick and choose the extensions and libraries they want, making it suitable for projects where you need to customize features. This approach works well for startups or MVPs, where your requirements might change and evolve rapidly. While Flask is easy to get started with, keep in mind that building more intricate applications will mean exploring various extensions.
FastAPI is a strong contender when speed is of the essence, especially for API-first or machine learning projects. It uses modern Python features like type hints to provide automatic data validation and documentation. FastAPI is an excellent choice for applications that need high performance, like microservices or data-driven APIs. Despite this, it may not be as feature-rich as Django or Flask in terms of built-in functionality, which means you might need to implement additional features manually.
For a deeper comparison between Django and the different web frameworks, check out the original article: