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Drizzle ORM

TypeScript ORM that feels like SQL

open sourceupdated Aug 16, 2026
Raşit Akyol avatar

in 1 developer stackAll builders →

Lightweight, serverless-ready TypeScript ORM with zero dependencies bringing SQL-like syntax into TypeScript for maximum type-safety. Maps queries closely to raw SQL with full auto-completion and type inference. Features Drizzle Kit for migrations, Drizzle Studio for visual browsing, supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and Turso. Runs on Node.js, Bun, Deno, Cloudflare Workers, and Vercel Edge. 26K+ GitHub stars, growing fast as a Prisma alternative.

Read our Drizzle ORM review

A detailed review by the aicoolies team — click to read

Drizzle ORM is a lightweight, TypeScript-first object-relational mapper that takes a SQL-centric approach to database interactions in modern JavaScript and TypeScript applications. Weighing in at roughly 7.4KB minified and gzipped with zero external dependencies, Drizzle solves the problem of heavyweight ORMs that abstract away SQL to the point where developers lose control over their queries. It lets you define your database schema directly in TypeScript using a syntax that closely mirrors SQL CREATE TABLE statements, providing compile-time type safety and full autocompletion throughout your codebase.

Drizzle stands out with its code-first schema definition, automatic migration generation via Drizzle Kit, and support for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and Microsoft SQL Server. It offers both a SQL-like query builder and a relational query API for more complex data fetching patterns. Drizzle Studio provides a visual interface for browsing and editing data, creating and altering tables and views, and refreshing schemas. The ORM also includes a built-in seeding package, a custom DrizzleQueryError wrapper for better error diagnostics, and cache layer support for optimizing query performance.

Drizzle ORM is designed for TypeScript developers building serverless applications, edge functions, and full-stack projects where bundle size and cold start times matter. It integrates seamlessly with frameworks like Next.js, Remix, Nuxt, and SvelteKit, and works natively with serverless platforms including Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge Functions, and AWS Lambda. Its zero-dependency architecture and thin abstraction layer make it particularly popular among developers who prefer writing SQL-like code with type safety rather than learning a proprietary query language.

Pricing

Free / Drizzle Studio (bundled)

Platforms

Node.js, Bun, Deno

Categories

Tags

Use Cases

Prisma logo

Prisma

Next-generation Node.js ORM

Next-generation TypeScript ORM with schema-first design and auto-generated, type-safe database client. Define models in Prisma Schema Language, manage migrations via Prisma Migrate, and browse data in Prisma Studio. Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, MongoDB, and CockroachDB. Prisma Accelerate provides edge caching and connection pooling, Optimize offers AI-powered query analysis. 40K+ GitHub stars, widely adopted in Node.js/TypeScript.

Open SourceTelemetry
Sequelize logo

Sequelize

Promise-based Node.js ORM

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.

Open Source
TypeORM logo

TypeORM

ORM for TypeScript and JavaScript

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.

Open Source

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Used in Stacks

Comparisons

Gel vs Drizzle ORM — Graph-Relational Database vs TypeScript-First ORM

Gel and Drizzle ORM solve the data access problem from opposite directions. Gel provides a complete database with EdgeQL query language that eliminates the impedance mismatch between application objects and relational tables. Drizzle ORM works with existing PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite databases, providing a TypeScript-first query builder that generates type-safe SQL with minimal abstraction overhead.

GelDrizzle ORM

Prisma vs Drizzle ORM — Schema-First Abstraction vs SQL-First TypeScript ORM

Prisma and Drizzle ORM are the two dominant TypeScript ORMs in 2026, representing opposite philosophies on database access. Prisma uses a dedicated schema language with a generated type-safe client that abstracts SQL behind an intuitive API. Drizzle defines schemas directly in TypeScript with a query builder that mirrors SQL syntax, offering smaller bundles, no code generation step, and native edge runtime compatibility.

PrismaDrizzle ORM

Prisma vs Drizzle ORM — TypeScript ORM Comparison for Modern Full-Stack Development

Prisma and Drizzle ORM are the two leading TypeScript ORMs in 2026, each with passionate communities. Prisma provides a schema-first approach with an intuitive query API, auto-generated migrations, and Prisma Studio for visual database management. Drizzle ORM is a lightweight, SQL-like TypeScript ORM that gives you type-safe queries that look and feel like SQL, with zero overhead and maximum performance.

PrismaDrizzle ORM

FAQ

What is Drizzle ORM?

Lightweight, serverless-ready TypeScript ORM with zero dependencies bringing SQL-like syntax into TypeScript for maximum type-safety. Maps queries closely to raw SQL with full auto-completion and type inference. Features Drizzle Kit for migrations, Drizzle Studio for visual browsing, supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and Turso. Runs on Node.js, Bun, Deno, Cloudflare Workers, and Vercel Edge. 26K+ GitHub stars, growing fast as a Prisma alternative.

Is Drizzle ORM free?

Yes — Drizzle ORM is open source and free to use. Free / Drizzle Studio (bundled)

Is Drizzle ORM open source?

Yes — Drizzle ORM is open source.

What are the best Drizzle ORM alternatives?

The top editor-verified Drizzle ORM alternatives are Prisma, Sequelize, TypeORM.

How does Drizzle ORM score in our review?

Our hands-on review scores Drizzle ORM 88/100 overall, based on speed, privacy, and developer-experience testing.