Node.js is a versatile runtime environment that excels in building HTTP servers but lacks inbuilt high-level functionalities, prompting the use of frameworks like Express.js to simplify web application development. Express.js is a lightweight and highly popular Node.js framework that offers a user-friendly syntax for routing HTTP requests and creating middleware, becoming synonymous with Node.js much like Ruby on Rails. Despite its popularity and ease of use, Express.js has limitations such as the absence of built-in features for user authentication and form validation, and it requires additional handling for asynchronous error management, especially in earlier versions. The article discusses alternatives to Express.js, including frameworks like Fastify, Koa, Nest.js, Hapi, DerbyJS, and Sails.js, each offering unique features such as built-in JSON parsing, support for TypeScript, and MVC architecture, which can be more suitable for certain projects, especially those requiring more robust or specialized functionalities. These frameworks often provide improved routing syntax, automatic request parsing, and better error handling, making them attractive options for developers looking to leverage modern JavaScript tools and syntax in building scalable and maintainable web applications.