chi vs Echo
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A small, standard-library-compatible router for building Go HTTP and REST API services.
Open source · MIT
A minimalist Go web framework for building fast HTTP servers and APIs.
The short answer
Choose chi if you need…
- Go developers building REST API services
- Teams that want routing built on the standard net/http package
- Projects that need route groups, nested sub-routers, or mounted handlers
- Developers who want optional middleware and route documentation generation
Choose Echo if you need…
- Go developers building REST APIs or backend services
- Teams that want a small framework on top of the standard library
- Developers who need middleware for logging, panic recovery, or JWT auth
- Projects that need automatic TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt
Side-by-side
| chi | Echo | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23k | 32.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | Go |
| Last code update | 19 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
chi
chi is a routing library for Go that maps incoming web requests to the code that should handle them, such as sending /articles/123 to a function that loads article 123. It is built on Go's standard net/http package and context package, so handlers and middleware written for the standard library generally work with it. It is aimed at larger REST API projects that need to stay organized as they grow.
Echo
Echo is a web framework for the Go programming language, used to build web servers and APIs. It is built on Go's standard net/http package and adds a fast router, request data binding with validation, middleware, and centralized error handling. It also supports automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt and HTTP/2.
Best for
chi
- Go developers building REST API services
- Teams that want routing built on the standard net/http package
- Projects that need route groups, nested sub-routers, or mounted handlers
- Developers who want optional middleware and route documentation generation
Echo
- Go developers building REST APIs or backend services
- Teams that want a small framework on top of the standard library
- Developers who need middleware for logging, panic recovery, or JWT auth
- Projects that need automatic TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt
Strengths
chi
- Small core router (the README says under 1000 lines of code) with no external dependencies
- Compatible with net/http, so existing standard-library handlers and middleware can be reused
- Supports route groups, sub-routers, and mounting for organizing large APIs
Echo
- Built on Go's standard net/http, so it works with existing http handlers via WrapHandler and WrapMiddleware
- Includes routing, binding, middleware, and error handling without a large dependency footprint
- Actively maintained, with a v5 release line and a published support policy
Not ideal for
chi
- Developers who want a full web framework with templates, ORM, and built-in auth, since chi covers routing and relies on separate packages for other needs
- People not writing Go, since the library is Go-only
- Beginners with no Go experience, since the README assumes familiarity with Go handlers and context
Echo
- People who do not write Go, since it is a Go-only library
- Beginners with no programming background, since it assumes Go knowledge
- Users who need a finished application rather than a framework to build one with
Trade-offs
chi
- Routing only; features like rendering, validation, and database access need separate packages or your own code
- The README's examples use string keys for context values, which is a pattern the README itself shows and not a fully type-safe approach
Echo
- Requires understanding of Go, so it is not suitable for non-programmers
- Major version v5 changes the API from v4, so older tutorials and packages may need adapting; v4 is supported only until 2026-12-31 for bug fixes
- Many middleware packages are third-party, so their quality and Echo version compatibility must be checked individually
Getting started
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between chi and Echo?
chi: A small, standard-library-compatible router for building Go HTTP and REST API services. Echo: A minimalist Go web framework for building fast HTTP servers and APIs. chi suits go developers building rest api services, while Echo suits go developers building rest apis or backend services.
Are chi and Echo free?
chi: Free and open source. Echo: Free and open source.
Is chi or Echo more popular?
Echo has more GitHub stars (32.8k) than chi (23k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to chi and Echo?
Other options people compare them with include Gin, Kratos, dio, Fiber, Vapor.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.