Go has established itself as one of the most popular languages for backend development, particularly for cloud-native applications. The language's simplicity, excellent performance, and first-class concurrency support make it ideal for building scalable services.

Unlike some ecosystems where frameworks are essential, Go's standard library is remarkably capable. Many production services run on nothing but net/http. However, frameworks can boost productivity significantly, especially for distributed systems and larger projects. In this guide, we compare the leading options to help you make an informed decision.

Go Backend Frameworks: An Overview

Here's a high-level comparison of the frameworks included in this article, comparing built-in support for common backend requirements.

Standard Library (net/http)

Go's standard library sets a high bar. The net/http package provides everything needed to build production web services, and with Go 1.22's enhanced routing, it's more powerful than ever. Many Go developers advocate starting with the standard library and only reaching for frameworks when specific needs arise.

Understanding net/http also helps when using any framework, since most are built on top of it. The patterns you learn transfer directly, and debugging becomes easier when you understand what's happening under the hood.

package main

import (
    "encoding/json"
    "net/http"
)

type User struct {
    ID   string `json:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

func main() {
    http.HandleFunc("GET /users/{id}", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
        id := r.PathValue("id")
        user := User{ID: id, Name: "John"}
        
        w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
        json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(user)
    })

    http.ListenAndServe(":8080", nil)
}

Key Features

• No external dependencies required
• Stable API guaranteed by Go's compatibility promise
• Excellent performance with no framework overhead
• Enhanced routing in Go 1.22+ with path parameters

Benefits

The standard library shines when simplicity matters. There are no dependencies to manage, no breaking changes to worry about, and no framework-specific patterns to learn. For simple services or when teaching Go, starting with net/http makes sense.

Limitations

The standard library requires more boilerplate for common tasks. Request validation, structured error handling, and middleware patterns must be implemented yourself. For larger applications with multiple services, this can lead to inconsistent code across the codebase.

When to Consider net/http

Consider the standard library when building simple, single-service applications, when learning Go, or when you want to minimize dependencies. It's also reasonable for projects where the team is experienced and has established patterns for common tasks.

Encore.go

Encore.go is designed specifically for building distributed systems in Go. Rather than just handling HTTP routing, Encore understands your services and infrastructure. You declare databases, Pub/Sub topics, cron jobs, and other resources directly in your Go code, and Encore provisions them automatically during local development.

The framework excels at making microservices feel natural to build. Service-to-service calls are type-safe function calls with automatic service discovery. Pub/Sub topics are declared as Go variables and work identically in local development and production. Built-in distributed tracing shows exactly how requests flow through your system without any configuration.

package user

import (
    "context"
    "encore.dev/storage/sqldb"
)

type User struct {
    ID   int    `json:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

var db = sqldb.NewDatabase("users", sqldb.DatabaseConfig{
    Migrations: "./migrations",
})

//encore:api public method=GET path=/users/:id
func Get(ctx context.Context, id int) (*User, error) {
    var user User
    err := db.QueryRow(ctx, `
        SELECT id, name FROM users WHERE id = $1
    `, id).Scan(&user.ID, &user.Name)
    return &user, err
}

Key Features

• Type-safe request validation based on struct types
• Infrastructure primitives (databases, Pub/Sub, cron) with automatic local provisioning
• Type-safe service-to-service communication with generated clients
• Built-in distributed tracing across services
• Service catalog and auto-generated API documentation
• Automatic architecture diagrams that stay in sync with code

Benefits

Encore makes building event-driven and distributed systems significantly easier. Creating a new service is as simple as creating a new folder with an API. Calling another service is a type-safe function call with full IDE autocomplete. Database queries, Pub/Sub messages, and API calls all show up in distributed traces automatically.

The consistent infrastructure SDKs mean you use the same patterns whether you're working with databases, Pub/Sub, cron jobs, or object storage. New team members can understand the codebase quickly because the patterns are uniform.

Limitations

Encore uses comment annotations for API definitions, which is a unique pattern in the Go ecosystem. If you need to integrate with infrastructure that Encore doesn't support natively, you can use standard libraries alongside Encore's primitives. The framework works best when you embrace its conventions.

When to Consider Encore.go

Consider Encore when building event-driven or distributed systems with multiple services, when you want type-safe service communication with automatic service discovery, when local infrastructure automation matters (databases and Pub/Sub without Docker), or when you want built-in observability across your entire system.

Try Encore.go

You can get started with Encore in minutes:

curl -L https://encore.dev/install.sh | bash
encore app create my-app --example=hello-world
cd my-app
encore run

See the Encore.go documentation for more details, or follow the REST API tutorial to build a complete application with a database.

Gin

Gin is the most popular Go web framework, with over 75,000 GitHub stars. It provides a martini-like API that many developers find intuitive. The framework is fast, includes built-in validation through struct tags, and has a large ecosystem of middleware.

Gin's popularity means extensive community resources, tutorials, and battle-tested middleware for common requirements. When you encounter a problem, someone has likely solved it before.

package main

import (
    "net/http"
    "github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
)

type User struct {
    ID   string `json:"id" uri:"id" binding:"required"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

func main() {
    r := gin.Default()

    r.GET("/users/:id", func(c *gin.Context) {
        var user User
        if err := c.ShouldBindUri(&user); err != nil {
            c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
            return
        }
        user.Name = "John"
        c.JSON(http.StatusOK, user)
    })

    r.Run(":8080")
}

Key Features

• High-performance HTTP router
• Built-in validation and binding via struct tags
• Extensive middleware ecosystem
• Crash-free recovery middleware
• Grouping routes for better organization

Benefits

Gin offers a great balance of features and simplicity. The binding and validation system reduces boilerplate for request handling. The large community means finding solutions and getting help is straightforward.

Limitations

Gin uses its own context type rather than the standard context.Context, which can feel non-idiomatic. The framework's popularity also means some middleware is of varying quality. Once you're deep in Gin patterns, migrating to another framework requires significant effort.

When to Consider Gin

Consider Gin for general-purpose API development with a single service, when you want a large community and ecosystem, or when the built-in validation and binding features would save significant time.

Echo

Echo is a high-performance framework focused on REST APIs. It's similar to Gin in many ways but with a slightly different API design and excellent documentation. Echo uses the standard context.Context and returns errors rather than calling panic, which many Go developers prefer.

The framework's documentation is particularly strong, with clear examples and comprehensive guides for common tasks. This makes Echo approachable for developers new to Go web development.

package main

import (
    "net/http"
    "github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
)

type User struct {
    ID   string `json:"id" param:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

func main() {
    e := echo.New()

    e.GET("/users/:id", func(c echo.Context) error {
        var user User
        if err := c.Bind(&user); err != nil {
            return err
        }
        user.Name = "John"
        return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, user)
    })

    e.Start(":8080")
}

Key Features

• High-performance optimized HTTP router
• Clean error-returning handlers
• Comprehensive built-in middleware
• OpenAPI/Swagger integration
• WebSocket support

Benefits

Echo's API design feels more idiomatic to Go developers who prefer error returns over panics. The documentation quality means ramping up new team members is straightforward. OpenAPI integration makes it easy to generate API documentation.

Limitations

Echo has a smaller community than Gin, which means fewer third-party resources. The frameworks are similar enough that choosing between them often comes down to personal preference.

When to Consider Echo

Consider Echo when you appreciate clean API design and excellent documentation, when you want OpenAPI integration, or when you prefer error returns over Gin's approach.

Fiber

Fiber is inspired by Express.js, making it familiar to JavaScript developers transitioning to Go. Unlike most Go frameworks, Fiber is built on fasthttp rather than net/http, providing exceptional performance at the cost of some compatibility.

The Express-like API means developers coming from Node.js can be productive quickly. Fiber's performance characteristics make it suitable for high-throughput applications where every microsecond counts.

package main

import (
    "github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
)

type User struct {
    ID   string `json:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

func main() {
    app := fiber.New()

    app.Get("/users/:id", func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
        user := User{
            ID:   c.Params("id"),
            Name: "John",
        }
        return c.JSON(user)
    })

    app.Listen(":8080")
}

Key Features

• Express.js-inspired API
• Exceptional performance via fasthttp
• Zero memory allocation in hot paths
• Built-in middleware for common requirements
• WebSocket support

Benefits

Fiber is ideal for teams transitioning from JavaScript to Go. The familiar API reduces the learning curve significantly. The performance characteristics are excellent, making it suitable for latency-sensitive applications.

Limitations

Fiber's fasthttp foundation means some net/http middleware won't work directly. The different memory model requires understanding fasthttp's constraints. If you're experienced with Go, the Express-like patterns may feel non-idiomatic.

When to Consider Fiber

Consider Fiber when your team is coming from JavaScript/Express, when maximum performance is critical, or when you want a familiar API for a faster learning curve.

Chi

Chi is a lightweight, composable router that stays close to the standard library. It's fully net/http compatible, meaning any standard middleware works without modification. Chi doesn't try to be a full framework; instead, it focuses on doing routing well.

The composable design makes Chi excellent for building modular applications. You can mount routers, create subrouters, and group middleware in intuitive ways. Many developers use Chi as a routing layer while handling other concerns with standard library patterns.

package main

import (
    "encoding/json"
    "net/http"
    "github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
    "github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
)

type User struct {
    ID   string `json:"id"`
    Name string `json:"name"`
}

func main() {
    r := chi.NewRouter()
    r.Use(middleware.Logger)
    r.Use(middleware.Recoverer)

    r.Get("/users/{id}", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
        user := User{
            ID:   chi.URLParam(r, "id"),
            Name: "John",
        }
        w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
        json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(user)
    })

    http.ListenAndServe(":8080", r)
}

Key Features

• Full net/http compatibility
• Composable router with subrouter support
• Lightweight with minimal dependencies
• Idiomatic Go patterns
• Built-in middleware collection

Benefits

Chi feels like an extension of the standard library rather than a framework. All net/http middleware works. The learning curve is minimal if you understand net/http. The composable design scales well as applications grow.

Limitations

Chi provides routing and middleware, not validation or binding. You'll need additional libraries or custom code for request validation. For teams wanting more structure, Chi's minimal approach may require establishing more patterns manually.

When to Consider Chi

Consider Chi when you want enhanced routing while staying close to the standard library, when net/http compatibility matters, or when you prefer composable, minimal tools over full frameworks.

How to Choose

The right framework depends on your specific situation:

net/http is ideal for learning, simple services, or when minimizing dependencies matters most.

Encore.go excels for distributed systems with multiple services, when you want type-safe service communication, local infrastructure automation, and built-in observability across your entire system.

Gin offers the largest community and ecosystem, making it a safe choice for general-purpose API development with a single service.

Echo provides similar capabilities to Gin with excellent documentation and a slightly more idiomatic API.

Fiber is perfect for teams coming from JavaScript or when maximum performance justifies the fasthttp tradeoffs.

Chi fits when you want enhanced routing while staying close to the standard library patterns.

Go's simplicity means switching frameworks is less painful than in some ecosystems. Build something small with your top candidates to see which tradeoffs matter most to your team.

Building something with Go? Join our Discord community to discuss framework choices with other developers.