Comparison

Knex.js vs Prisma

On the evidence we track, Prisma leads this comparison with a composite score of 79/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Knex.js full profile →Prisma full profile →

Machine formatsMarkdown JSON GraphQLAll open, no key required.

Knex.js64

★Prisma79

Attribute comparison across 2 tools
Attribute	Knex.js	PrismaLeader
vioscaleAI score	64 / 100medium · 72%	79 / 100high · 75%
Pricing
Free tierpricing.free_tier	-	✓
Modelpricing.model	open_source	freemium
Price levelpricing.price_level	free	low
Starting pricepricing.starting_price	-	$10
Transparentpricing.transparent	-	✓
Integrations
Countintegrations.count	-	3
Security
Certificationssecurity.certifications	-	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA
Disclosure policysecurity.disclosure_policy	-	✓
Gdprsecurity.gdpr	-	✓
Hipaasecurity.hipaa	-	✓
Iso27001security.iso27001	-	✓
Scorecardsecurity.scorecard	5.7	6.7
Soc2security.soc2	-	✓
Vulnerabilitiessecurity.vulnerabilities	Count: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=knex&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0 · Max severity: CRITICAL	Count: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40prisma%2Fengine-core&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0
Reliability
Sla pctreliability.sla_pct	-	99.95
Status pagereliability.status_page	-	✓
Adoption
Dependent reposadoption.dependent_repos	94,868	2,028
Github starsadoption.github_stars	20,341	47,599
Package downloads weeklyadoption.package_downloads_weekly	2,755,017	16,762,732
Stackoverflow questionsadoption.stackoverflow_questions	-	14,000
Activity
Commits last 30dactivity.commits_last_30d	0	100
Release
Cadence daysrelease.cadence_days	28	6
Historyrelease.history	20 items	20 items
License
Spdxlicense.spdx	MIT	Apache-2.0
Language
Primarylanguage.primary	JavaScript	TypeScript
Market
Availabilitymarket.availability	-	Available worldwide · Popular in US, GB, EU
Content
Faqcontent.faq	3 items	8 items

Score

vioscaleAI score

Knex.js64 / 100medium · 72%

Prisma79 / 100high · 75%

Pricing

Free tier

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Model

Knex.jsopen_source

Prismafreemium

Price level

Knex.jsfree

Prismalow

Starting price

Knex.js–

Prisma$10

Transparent

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Integrations

Count

Knex.js–

Prisma3

Security

Certifications

Knex.js–

PrismaSOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA

Disclosure policy

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Gdpr

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Hipaa

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Iso27001

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Scorecard

Knex.js5.7

Prisma6.7

Soc2

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Vulnerabilities

Knex.jsCount: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=knex&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0 · Max severity: CRITICAL

PrismaCount: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40prisma%2Fengine-core&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0

Reliability

Sla pct

Knex.js–

Prisma99.95

Status page

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Adoption

Dependent repos

Knex.js94,868

Prisma2,028

Github stars

Knex.js20,341

Prisma47,599

Package downloads weekly

Knex.js2,755,017

Prisma16,762,732

Stackoverflow questions

Knex.js–

Prisma14,000

Activity

Commits last 30d

Knex.js0

Prisma100

Release

Cadence days

Knex.js28

Prisma6

History

Knex.js20 items

Prisma20 items

License

Spdx

Knex.jsMIT

PrismaApache-2.0

Language

Primary

Knex.jsJavaScript

PrismaTypeScript

Market

Availability

Knex.js–

PrismaAvailable worldwide · Popular in US, GB, EU

Content

Faq

Knex.js3 items

Prisma8 items

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for orm & database tools. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Capability comparison for ORM & Database Tools
Capability	Knex.js	Prisma
Core
Type-safe queries	✓	✓
Schema migrations	✓	✓
Relations / joins API	✓	✓
Languages	JavaScript, TypeScript	TypeScript, JavaScript (Node.js)
Modelling
Schema-first modelling	✓	✓
Flexibility
Raw SQL escape hatch	✓	✓
Portability
Multiple database backends	✓	✓
Ops
Connection pooling	✓	✓
DX
Data browser / studio	✗	✓

Core

Type-safe queries

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Schema migrations

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Relations / joins API

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Languages

Knex.jsJavaScript, TypeScript

PrismaTypeScript, JavaScript (Node.js)

Modelling

Schema-first modelling

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Flexibility

Raw SQL escape hatch

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Portability

Multiple database backends

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Ops

Connection pooling

Knex.js✓

Prisma✓

Data browser / studio

Knex.js✗

Prisma✓

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Knex.js

A Node.js library that provides a programmatic interface for constructing SQL queries, featuring support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, and other popular databases with built-in connection pooling and streaming capabilities.

Independently observed

Prisma

Leader

An integrated platform that combines an object-relational mapper, managed PostgreSQL database service, and application hosting designed to work together natively. It enables developers to build and deploy applications with type safety throughout the data layer, automated per-branch databases, and usage-based pricing.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Knex.js

Open source

as of 2026-08-14verify ↗

Prisma

Leader

from $10/moHybridFree tier

From free tier. Usage-based pricing with hard spend limits. Unlimited data transfer included.

FreeFree
- Prisma ORM
- Prisma Compute
- Prisma Studio
- CLI + Management API
StarterFrom $10/month
- Prisma ORM
- Prisma Compute
- Prisma Postgres
- Prisma Studio
- CLI + Management API
- +2 more
Pro$49/month
- Prisma ORM
- Prisma Compute
- Prisma Postgres
- Prisma Studio
- CLI + Management API
- +4 more
Business$129/month
- Prisma ORM
- Prisma Compute
- Prisma Postgres
- Prisma Studio
- CLI + Management API
- +6 more

as of 2026-09-14verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platform and deployment support comparison
Supports	Knex.js	Prisma
WebPlatforms	-	✓
CLIPlatforms	-	✓
Cloud / SaaSDeployment	-	✓

Platforms

Web

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

CLI

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Deployment

Cloud / SaaS

Knex.js–

Prisma✓

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

Knex.js

Not documented yet.

Prisma

Leader

7 total

AI SDK
Next.js
Hono
Vite
Supabase
Vercel Edge Functions
Cloudflare Workers

Independently observed

Still deciding?

Knex.js or Prisma: which one depends on you

A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.

Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.