Software · head to head
Django vs FastAPI
FastAPI
Software
A modern, fast, high-performance web framework for building APIs with Python
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Django does not fully support asynchronous database access; FastAPI licensed under the MIT License per fastapi.tiangolo.com; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Django and FastAPI actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Django
- Model-View-Template (MVT)
- Object-relational mapping
- Automatic admin interface
- URL routing
- Template engine
- Form handling
- Authentication system
- Internationalization
Only in FastAPI
Nothing recorded that Django does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Django
- Web application developmentnot FastAPI
- Content management systemsnot FastAPI
- E-commerce platformsnot FastAPI
- API developmentnot FastAPI
- News websitesnot FastAPI
- Social networksnot FastAPI
FastAPI
No use cases recorded yet. See the FastAPI review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Django
- Does not fully support asynchronous database access
- Monolithic design can feel restrictive for small-scale or lightweight applications
- Batteries-included approach adds overhead if features are not needed
- Slower framework evolution due to backward compatibility requirements
FastAPI
- Licensed under the MIT License per fastapi.tiangolo.com; as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- FastAPI depends entirely on Starlette for its web layer and Pydantic for validation, per its own documentation, so it is not a standalone framework and inherits both dependencies' constraints
Pricing, plan by plan
Django
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full web framework
- Admin interface
- ORM system
FastAPI
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the FastAPI review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Django if
- You need model-view-template (mvt).
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want object-relational mapping.
Questions people ask
- Is Django or FastAPI better?
- Neither clearly leads. Django starts at Free and FastAPI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Django or FastAPI?
- Django starts at Free and FastAPI at Free.
- Does Django or FastAPI run on more platforms?
- Django runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. FastAPI runs on Web.
- Can I use Django for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Django best used for?
- Django is most often used for web application development, content management systems, e-commerce platforms, api development. Of those, web application development and content management systems are not what FastAPI is typically brought in for.
- What can Django do that FastAPI cannot?
- Django covers Model-View-Template (MVT), Object-relational mapping, Automatic admin interface, URL routing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Django: What databases does Django support?
Django natively supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite3, and Oracle databases through its ORM, allowing developers to switch databases without rewriting code.
SourceDjango: How does Django handle database schema changes?
Django includes a built-in migration system. Developers use makemigrations to create migration files and migrate to apply changes to the database schema.
SourceDjango: Does Django support asynchronous programming?
Django added basic async/await support, but full asynchronous database access remains limited. The framework does not fully support asynchronous programming, which can be a limitation for real-time applications.
SourceDjango: Is Django free and open source?
Yes, Django is free and open-source software maintained by the Django Software Foundation, founded in June 2008.
Source