Django vs FastAPI

Django9.1Visit FastAPI8.3Visit

Higher score Django #2 in Web Frameworks 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Django

vs

FastAPI #7 in Web Frameworks 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit FastAPI

• Django fits best

  Python teams needing a full-featured backend

• FastAPI fits best

  Python teams building documented APIs

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Side by side

Feature	Django 9.1/10 Visit ↗	FastAPI 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.3
Ranking	#2 in Web Frameworks	#7 in Web Frameworks
Best for	Python teams needing a full-featured backend	Python teams building documented APIs
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Cloud
Support	Community, Docs	Docs, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Django 2/2 · FastAPI 1/2
Included ORM	✓ (best)	—
Built-in authentication	✓	✓
Specs
Framework type	Backend	Backend
Primary languages	Python	Python
Rendering modes	Hybrid	Not checked yet
Deployment targets	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
License model	Open-source	Open-source
Our review
Pros	Built-in ORM, authentication, authorization, and content administration Security protections address common web vulnerabilities Supports both WSGI and ASGI deployment targets	Generates OpenAPI, JSON Schema, Swagger UI, and ReDoc documentation Validates request data with Python types and Pydantic Includes dependency injection, security utilities, WebSockets, and background tasks
Cons	Deployment is self-hosted rather than managed Python-focused backend scope may not suit other language teams Support channels center on documentation and community	Does not include an ORM Deployment is self-managed or handled through cloud infrastructure Primary support channels are documentation and community
Our verdict	Django is a free, open-source web framework for building Python web applications. It suits solo developers and teams across small, mid-market, and enterprise organizations that want a backend framework with common application components… Read the review →	FastAPI is an open-source Python backend framework for developers building web APIs. It uses standard Python type hints for request validation and produces OpenAPI and JSON Schema documentation, with interactive Swagger UI and ReDoc… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Django — where it wins

  • Built-in ORM, authentication, authorization, and content administration
  • Security protections address common web vulnerabilities
  • Supports both WSGI and ASGI deployment targets

  Where it doesn't

  • Deployment is self-hosted rather than managed
  • Python-focused backend scope may not suit other language teams
  • Support channels center on documentation and community

• FastAPI — where it wins

  • Generates OpenAPI, JSON Schema, Swagger UI, and ReDoc documentation
  • Validates request data with Python types and Pydantic
  • Includes dependency injection, security utilities, WebSockets, and background tasks

  Where it doesn't

  • Does not include an ORM
  • Deployment is self-managed or handled through cloud infrastructure
  • Primary support channels are documentation and community

• Django9.1/10 · Free plan

  A free Python backend framework combining ORM, authentication, administration, and deployment flexibility.

  Visit DjangoFull verdict →
• FastAPI8.3/10 · Free plan

  A free, typed Python backend framework with automatic API schemas and interactive documentation.

  Visit FastAPIFull verdict →