Best Kysely Alternatives

Flexible SQL query builder for Node.js supporting PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, and MSSQL. Chainable API for constructing queries with parameterized bindings. Features schema builder, migration system, seed files, transaction support, and connection pooling. Foundation for ORMs like Bookshelf.js and Objection.js. One of the most established query builders in the Node.js ecosystem.

Full-featured ORM for TypeScript and JavaScript supporting Active Record and Data Mapper patterns. Works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, and MongoDB. Features decorator-based entity definitions, migrations, relations (one-to-one, many-to-many), lazy/eager loading, query builder, transactions, and caching. Supports both Node.js and browser runtimes. 34K+ GitHub stars. Mature but losing mindshare to Prisma and Drizzle for new TypeScript projects.

Mature, promise-based ORM for Node.js supporting PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and SQL Server. Features model definitions with validations, eager/lazy loading, transactions, migrations, raw queries, and lifecycle hooks. Supports soft deletes, scopes, and virtual fields. One of the oldest and most battle-tested Node.js ORMs, widely used in enterprise apps though increasingly succeeded by Prisma and Drizzle in new projects.