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TypeORM vs Kysely(2026)

TypeORM is better for teams that need mature and battle-tested. Kysely is the stronger choice if best typescript types of any query builder. TypeORM is free and Kysely is free.

Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.

By Bikram Nath

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TypeORM logo

TypeORM

free

TypeORM is a mature ORM for TypeScript with support for Active Record and Data Mapper patterns across many databases.

Visit TypeORM
Kysely logo

Kysely

free

Kysely is a type-safe SQL query builder (not a full ORM) for TypeScript with excellent autocomplete and zero magic.

Visit Kysely

How Do TypeORM and Kysely Compare on Features?

FeatureTypeORMKysely
Pricing modelfreefree
Starting priceFreeFree
Active Record & Data Mapper✓—
Decorators✓—
Migrations✓✓
Relations✓—
Multiple DB support✓—
Query builder✓—
Type-safe query builder—✓
Raw SQL escape hatches—✓
Multiple dialects—✓
Edge-compatible—✓
No codegen—✓

TypeORM Pros and Cons vs Kysely

T

TypeORM

+Mature and battle-tested
+Multiple ORM patterns
+Great for enterprise apps
+NestJS default
−Complex configuration
−Slower than Drizzle
−Decorator-heavy API
−Type safety less strict than Prisma
K

Kysely

+Best TypeScript types of any query builder
+Close to raw SQL
+Fast
+Edge-compatible
+No codegen step
−Not a full ORM (no relations magic)
−Less magic means more code
−Smaller community than Prisma

Should You Use TypeORM or Kysely?

For most teams, TypeORM is the better default: it offers mature and battle-tested and is free. Choose Kysely instead if best typescript types of any query builder matters more than complex configuration. There is no universal winner — the right pick depends on your budget, team size, and whether you value mature and battle-tested or best typescript types of any query builder more.

Choose TypeORM if…

  • •Mature and battle-tested
  • •Multiple ORM patterns
  • •Great for enterprise apps

Choose Kysely if…

  • •Best TypeScript types of any query builder
  • •Close to raw SQL
  • •Fast

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