ORM Data v1.0.0 Updated 2026-01-29

Kysely

Type-safe SQL query builder

13.4k 2.1M/week Unknown N/A
80 /100
Strong pick Good confidence (85%)

Quick Verdict

Best For

  • Type-safe database access
  • Rapid development
  • Complex data relationships
  • Teams preferring code-first approach

Consider Alternatives If

  • Maximum query control
  • Simple CRUD operations
  • Performance-critical queries

Top Alternatives

drizzle 84prisma 86

Score Breakdown

6 dimensions evaluated with transparent methodology

Performance
80 −20

Efficient query generation with optimization features

  • Query optimization
  • Lazy loading support
  • Batch operations
Why not 100%:
  • −10 N+1 query risk
  • −10 Abstraction overhead
Developer Experience
76 −24

Type-safe queries with good tooling

  • TypeScript support
  • Auto-completion
  • Schema generation
Why not 100%:
  • −12 Complex query limitations
  • −12 Learning curve
Ecosystem
95 −5

Database and framework integrations

  • Multiple database support
  • Framework adapters
  • Migration tools
Why not 100%:
  • −2 Some databases better supported
  • −2 Plugin availability varies
Maintainability
53 −47

Stable with migration support

  • Migration system
  • Schema versioning
  • Rollback support
Why not 100%:
  • −23 Migration complexity at scale
  • −23 Schema conflicts possible
Cost Efficiency
90 −10

Open-source with no licensing fees

  • Free to use
  • No vendor lock-in
  • Community support
Why not 100%:
  • −5 Learning investment
  • −5 Expertise needed for optimization
Compliance
85 −15

Supports secure database practices

  • Parameterized queries
  • Audit fields support
  • Soft delete
Why not 100%:
  • −7 Security is implementation-dependent
  • −7 No built-in encryption

Compare Alternatives

How Kysely stacks up against similar technologies

TechnologyOverallPerfDXEcosystem
Current Kysely80807695
drizzle Type-safe, lightweight84———Compare →
prisma Best tooling, GUI studio86———Compare →
Full comparison with drizzle

Sources & Methodology

How we calculate these scores: transparent and reproducible

Deterministic Scoring

Same inputs always produce the same outputs. We use versioned lookup tables, not LLM opinions. Every score is explainable and reproducible.

Learn how it works →
primary

GitHub

Repository activity, stars, contributors, issue resolution time

primary

NPM Registry

Weekly downloads, package dependencies, version history

secondary

OSV Database

Known vulnerabilities, security advisories, CVE tracking

contextual

Community Signals

Stack Overflow activity, Discord engagement, developer surveys

Data version: 1.0.0 Last updated: 2026-01-29 Confidence: 85% Metrics: 26/01/2026

Frequently Asked