Clodo vs Hono vs Worktop: Which Cloudflare Workers Framework Should You Use?

Hono: The Lightweight Champion

Hono is a modern web framework designed for edge computing platforms. It prioritizes performance and developer experience with minimal overhead.

Strengths ✅

• Smallest Bundle Size (~10KB gzipped)
• Largest Community - Most integrations and examples
• Maximum Flexibility - Bring your own everything
• Zero Opinionation - You control the architecture
• Excellent Docs - Extensive tutorials and guides
• Multi-Platform - Works on Workers, Deno, Bun, Node.js

Weaknesses ⚠️

• More Setup Required - Need to add database, auth, etc.
• More Decisions - Choose your own patterns
• Middleware-Only - No built-in database layer
• Learning Curve - Need to understand architecture

Clodo: Full-Stack Framework

Clodo is a batteries-included framework designed specifically for Cloudflare Workers. It includes database support, type safety, and production-ready patterns out of the box.

Strengths ✅

• Built-In Database Layer - D1 integration out of the box
• Type Safety - Full TypeScript support with compile-time safety
• Faster Development - Less code, more features
• Production Ready - Best practices baked in
• Integrated Testing - Test utilities included
• Growing Community - Rapidly expanding ecosystem

Weaknesses ⚠️

• Larger Bundle Size (~25KB gzipped)
• Less Flexible - Opinionated architecture
• Smaller Community - Fewer third-party integrations
• Might Not Fit Your Style - Opinions may not align

Worktop: Minimalist Approach

Worktop is a micro-framework for Cloudflare Workers that provides minimal abstraction while offering routing and middleware capabilities.

Strengths ✅

• Tiny Bundle (~5KB gzipped)
• Minimal Abstraction - Close to native Workers
• Great for Learning - Understand how Workers work
• Easy to Debug - Simple, transparent code

Weaknesses ⚠️

• Limited Features - Bare essentials only
• Small Community - Fewer resources and examples
• No Database Support - You handle all persistence
• More Boilerplate - Less automation, more manual work

Feature Comparison Table

Code Examples: Side-by-Side Comparison

Building a Simple API Endpoint

Clodo Example

import { Clodo } from '@clodo/framework';

const app = new Clodo();

// Database-backed endpoint
app.get('/users', async (req) => {
  const users = await req.db
    .select('*')
    .from('users')
    .limit(10);
  
  return { users };
});

// Type-safe POST handler
app.post('/users', async (req) => {
  const { name, email } = await req.json();
  
  const user = await req.db
    .insert('users')
    .values({ name, email })
    .returning('*');
  
  return { user }, { status: 201 };
});

export default app;

Hono Example

import { Hono } from 'hono';

const app = new Hono();

// Manual database setup required
app.get('/users', async (c) => {
  // You need to handle DB connection
  const users = await fetchUsersFromDatabase();
  return c.json({ users });
});

app.post('/users', async (c) => {
  const { name, email } = await c.req.json();
  
  // Manual insert and validation
  const user = await insertUser({ name, email });
  
  return c.json({ user }, 201);
});

export default app;

Worktop Example

import { Router } from 'worktop';

const router = new Router();

router.get('/users', async (req, res) => {
  // Minimal abstraction - very close to raw Workers
  const users = await fetch('https://api.example.com/users')
    .then(r => r.json());
  
  res.send(200, { users });
});

router.post('/users', async (req, res) => {
  const data = await req.text();
  const { name, email } = JSON.parse(data);
  
  const user = await createUser({ name, email });
  res.send(201, { user });
});

export default router.listen;

Decision Matrix: Choose Based on Your Needs

Real-World Performance Metrics

* Hono and Worktop timings depend on your database implementation

Frequently Asked Questions

TL;DR - Key Takeaways

• 🚀 Clodo: Full-stack, batteries-included, best for SaaS and when you want to ship fast
• ⚡ Hono: Lightweight, flexible, huge community, best for APIs and microservices
• 🎯 Worktop: Minimalist, tiny, best for learning or ultra-lightweight functions
• 📊 Performance: All are fast. Choose based on features, not speed (< 5ms difference)
• 🔄 Migration: You can switch between them later (1-2 weeks effort)
• 🎓 Learning: Start with Worktop to understand Workers, then move to Hono or Clodo
• 🏢 Production: All production-ready. Match your architecture needs
• 💡 Pro Tip: Don't overthink it. You can change later. Pick one and start building

Next Steps

Ready to choose? Here's what to do next:

• Clodo: Get started with the Clodo quick-start guide or learn how to build SaaS
• Hono: Visit Hono official docs
• Worktop: Visit Worktop GitHub
• Cost Analysis: See cost comparison with AWS Lambda
• Learn More: Complete guide to Cloudflare frameworks

Questions or corrections? This comparison is based on current framework capabilities as of January 2025. The framework landscape evolves rapidly. If you see outdated information, please let us know.