Developer Tools · head to head
Deno vs Node.js
Deno
Developer Tools
A fast, open-source, fully Node-compatible JS runtime with TypeScript baked right in
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
Node.js
Web Development
JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine
- From
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Deno egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications; Node.js slower cold-start time in serverless environments compared to Bun which wakes up in under 5ms
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Deno and Node.js actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Deno
Nothing recorded that Node.js does not also cover.
Only in Node.js
- V8 JavaScript engine
- Event-driven architecture
- Non-blocking I/O
- npm package ecosystem
- Cross-platform runtime
- Built-in modules
- Asynchronous programming
- Real-time applications
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Deno
- Running TypeScript natively without transpilation overheadnot Node.js
- Migrating Node.js applications to secure-by-default runtimenot Node.js
- Deploying edge functions and serverless containers seamlesslynot Node.js
- Consolidating developer tools into single binarynot Node.js
Node.js
- Web server developmentnot Deno
- API developmentnot Deno
- Real-time applicationsnot Deno
- Microservicesnot Deno
- Command-line toolsnot Deno
- Desktop applicationsnot Deno
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Deno
- Egress bandwidth overage costs $0.20/GB which can become expensive for high-traffic applications
- CPU time overage is $0.10/hour on Pro and Builder tiers, adding to costs for compute-intensive workloads
- Enterprise pricing is not disclosed; requires sales contact
Node.js
- Slower cold-start time in serverless environments compared to Bun which wakes up in under 5ms
- Requires separate setup for TypeScript support unlike Deno which treats TypeScript as native
- Larger memory footprint on startup compared to lightweight alternatives like Deno
Pricing, plan by plan
Deno
Free- FreeFree
- 1 million requests/month
- 20GB egress bandwidth
- 10 apps
- Pro$20/month
- 5 million requests/month
- 200GB egress
- 50 apps
- Builder$200/month
- 25 million requests/month
- 2,000GB egress
- 10,000 apps
- Enterprise$null/month
- Custom limits on all metrics
- 99.95% reliability SLA
- Email support with SLA
Node.js
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Node.js review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Node.js if
- You need v8 javascript engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
- You also want event-driven architecture.
Questions people ask
- Is Deno or Node.js better?
- Neither clearly leads. Deno starts at Free and Node.js at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Deno or Node.js?
- Deno starts at Free and Node.js at Free.
- Does Deno or Node.js run on more platforms?
- Deno runs on Web. Node.js runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
- Can I use Deno for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Deno best used for?
- Deno is most often used for running typescript natively without transpilation overhead, migrating node.js applications to secure-by-default runtime, deploying edge functions and serverless containers seamlessly, consolidating developer tools into single binary. Of those, running typescript natively without transpilation overhead and migrating node.js applications to secure-by-default runtime are not what Node.js is typically brought in for.
- What can Deno do that Node.js cannot?
- Node.js covers V8 JavaScript engine, Event-driven architecture, Non-blocking I/O, npm package ecosystem.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Deno: How much does Deno Deploy cost?
Deno Deploy offers a free tier at $0/month, Pro at $20/month, and Builder at $200/month. Enterprise has custom pricing. All plans include base request and bandwidth limits, with overage charges for additional usage.
SourceNode.js: What is Node.js current LTS version in 2026?
Node.js 22 is the current LTS in 2026, with Node.js 24 now available as the mature version with native TypeScript support and enhanced security features.
SourceDeno: What are Deno Deploy's overage charges?
Egress bandwidth overages cost $0.20 per GB. CPU time overages are $0.10 per hour on Pro and Builder tiers. Memory time and KV database operations also incur charges beyond included limits.
SourceNode.js: On what platforms can Node.js run?
Node.js is a cross-platform JavaScript runtime that runs on Windows, Linux, Unix, macOS, and other operating systems including z/OS, SmartOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and IBM AIX.
SourceDeno: How many apps can I deploy on Deno's free plan?
The free tier includes 10 apps with up to 1 concurrent build. Pro tier supports 50 apps with 3 concurrent builds, and Builder supports 10,000 apps with 20 concurrent builds.
SourceNode.js: Is Node.js free and open-source?
Yes. Node.js is free and open-source software. It was created by Ryan Dahl in 2009 and officially presented as open-source on May 27, 2009.
SourceDeno: How many team members can access Deno Deploy?
The free tier supports up to 3 team members. Pro supports 10 team members. Builder supports 25 team members. Enterprise has custom seat limits.
SourceRelated pages
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- Node.js vs Tailwind CSS
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- Node.js vs Alpine.js
- Node.js vs Astro
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