express-rate-limit vs limiter vs ratelimiter
Node.js Rate Limiting Libraries
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Node.js Rate Limiting Libraries

Rate limiting libraries in Node.js are essential for controlling the amount of incoming requests to a server within a specified timeframe. They help prevent abuse and ensure fair usage of resources by limiting the number of requests a user can make. These libraries provide various strategies for implementing rate limiting, such as in-memory storage, Redis integration, and more. By using these libraries, developers can enhance the security and performance of their applications while providing a better user experience by preventing server overload.

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express-rate-limit10,930,0793,209141 kB82 months agoMIT
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ratelimiter120,664725-116 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: express-rate-limit vs limiter vs ratelimiter

Integration

  • express-rate-limit:

    Express-rate-limit is specifically designed for Express.js applications, providing middleware that can be easily integrated into your route handlers. It allows you to apply rate limiting rules directly within your Express routes, making it very convenient for Express developers.

  • limiter:

    Limiter is a standalone library that can be integrated into any Node.js application, not just those using Express. It provides a flexible API that allows you to implement rate limiting in various contexts, making it suitable for microservices or non-Express applications.

  • ratelimiter:

    Ratelimiter is also a standalone library, but it focuses on high-performance scenarios. It can be integrated into any Node.js application and is optimized for speed, making it a good choice for applications that require rapid request handling.

Configuration Flexibility

  • express-rate-limit:

    Express-rate-limit offers a variety of configuration options, allowing you to set limits based on different criteria such as IP address, request path, and more. You can also customize the response sent to clients when they exceed the limit, providing a tailored user experience.

  • limiter:

    Limiter provides extensive configuration options, allowing you to define complex rate limiting rules, such as different limits for different routes or user roles. This flexibility makes it suitable for applications with diverse rate limiting needs.

  • ratelimiter:

    Ratelimiter offers a more straightforward configuration model with a focus on performance. While it may not have as many options as limiter, it provides essential features that cover most use cases effectively.

Performance

  • express-rate-limit:

    While express-rate-limit is efficient for most applications, it stores rate limit data in memory by default, which may not be suitable for distributed systems. However, it can be configured to use external stores like Redis for better scalability.

  • limiter:

    Limiter is designed for performance and can handle high request volumes efficiently. It supports various storage backends, including Redis, which allows for distributed rate limiting across multiple instances of your application.

  • ratelimiter:

    Ratelimiter is optimized for high throughput and low latency, making it an excellent choice for performance-critical applications. It is lightweight and can handle a large number of requests without significant overhead.

Use Cases

  • express-rate-limit:

    Best suited for Express.js applications where you need a quick and easy way to implement rate limiting without additional dependencies. Ideal for projects that require basic rate limiting features.

  • limiter:

    Ideal for applications that require complex rate limiting strategies or need to manage rate limits across different contexts. Suitable for microservices or APIs with varying rate limiting needs.

  • ratelimiter:

    Best for high-traffic applications that demand efficient request handling. It is suitable for scenarios where performance is critical, and you need a lightweight solution.

Community and Support

  • express-rate-limit:

    Express-rate-limit has a large user base and is well-documented, making it easy to find support and examples. The community actively contributes to its development, ensuring it stays up-to-date with best practices.

  • limiter:

    Limiter has a smaller community compared to express-rate-limit but is still well-documented. It may not have as many resources available, but it is actively maintained.

  • ratelimiter:

    Ratelimiter has a growing community and is gaining popularity for its performance features. While documentation is available, it may not be as extensive as express-rate-limit.

How to Choose: express-rate-limit vs limiter vs ratelimiter
  • express-rate-limit:

    Choose express-rate-limit if you are using Express.js and need a straightforward solution for rate limiting with built-in middleware support. It is highly configurable and integrates seamlessly with Express applications.

  • limiter:

    Choose limiter if you require a more flexible and customizable rate limiting solution that can work outside of Express. It allows you to define complex rate limiting strategies and is suitable for applications that need to manage rate limits across different contexts.

  • ratelimiter:

    Choose ratelimiter if you need a lightweight and efficient rate limiting library that focuses on performance. It is designed for high throughput and can be used in various Node.js environments, making it ideal for applications with high traffic.

Similar Npm Packages to express-rate-limit

express-rate-limit is a middleware for Express.js that helps to limit repeated requests to public APIs and endpoints. It is particularly useful for preventing abuse and ensuring fair usage of resources by controlling the rate at which clients can make requests. By implementing rate limiting, developers can protect their applications from denial-of-service attacks and reduce the load on their servers.

While express-rate-limit is a popular choice for rate limiting in Express applications, there are several alternatives that offer different features and capabilities. Here are a few notable options:

  • express-brute is a robust rate-limiting middleware for Express.js that provides more advanced features compared to express-rate-limit. It allows you to define complex rate-limiting strategies, including support for different stores (like memory, Redis, etc.) and customizable error messages. If you need a more flexible and powerful solution for rate limiting that can handle various scenarios, express-brute is a great choice.

  • express-slow-down is another middleware for Express.js that focuses on slowing down responses instead of outright blocking requests. This can be particularly useful in situations where you want to deter abusive behavior without completely denying access. By introducing delays for repeated requests, express-slow-down can help mitigate the impact of abusive clients while still allowing them to access the service.

  • rate-limiter-flexible is a flexible and powerful rate-limiting library that can be used with various frameworks, including Express.js. It supports a wide range of features, such as different storage backends (Redis, MongoDB, etc.), dynamic limits based on user roles, and more. If you need a highly configurable rate-limiting solution that can adapt to different requirements, rate-limiter-flexible is an excellent option.

To explore how these packages compare, check out the following link: Comparing express-brute vs express-rate-limit vs express-slow-down vs rate-limiter-flexible.

Similar Npm Packages to limiter

limiter is a rate-limiting middleware for Node.js applications. It helps developers control the rate at which requests are processed, preventing abuse and ensuring fair usage of resources. By implementing rate limiting, applications can protect themselves from denial-of-service attacks and manage traffic more effectively. While limiter provides a solid solution for rate limiting, there are other libraries that serve similar purposes. Here are a few alternatives:

  • express-rate-limit is a popular middleware for Express applications that allows you to limit repeated requests to public APIs and endpoints. It is highly configurable, enabling developers to set limits based on various criteria such as IP address, request path, and more. With built-in support for handling exceeded limits, express-rate-limit is an excellent choice for Express applications that require robust rate-limiting capabilities.
  • ratelimiter is another rate-limiting library that provides a simple and flexible API for implementing rate limits in Node.js applications. It allows developers to define limits based on different criteria and offers features such as burst control and dynamic rate limits. If you are looking for a lightweight and straightforward solution for rate limiting, ratelimiter is a great option.

To see how limiter compares with express-rate-limit and ratelimiter, check out the comparison: Comparing express-rate-limit vs limiter vs ratelimiter.

Similar Npm Packages to ratelimiter

ratelimiter is a rate-limiting library for Node.js applications that helps manage the number of requests a user can make to a server within a specified time frame. This is particularly useful for protecting APIs from abuse, ensuring fair usage, and preventing server overload. While ratelimiter provides a solid solution for rate limiting, there are several alternatives available in the Node.js ecosystem. Here are a few notable ones:

  • bottleneck is a powerful and flexible rate-limiting library for JavaScript. It allows developers to control the rate of function calls, making it suitable for scenarios like API requests, database queries, or any other asynchronous operations. Bottleneck supports features like priority queues, clustering, and multiple strategies for rate limiting, making it an excellent choice for applications that require fine-grained control over request rates and concurrency.

  • express-rate-limit is a middleware for Express.js applications that provides basic rate-limiting functionality. It is easy to set up and configure, allowing developers to limit repeated requests to public APIs and endpoints. This library is particularly useful for protecting against brute-force attacks and ensuring fair usage among users. If you are building an Express application and need a straightforward way to implement rate limiting, express-rate-limit is a great option.

  • limiter is a simple and lightweight rate-limiting library that can be used in Node.js applications. It provides a straightforward API for limiting the number of requests or operations that can be performed within a specified time frame. Limiter is ideal for developers looking for a minimalistic solution without the overhead of more complex libraries.

  • p-limit is a promise-based library that allows you to limit the number of concurrent asynchronous operations. While it is not a traditional rate limiter, it can be effectively used to control the concurrency of API requests or other asynchronous tasks. If your application needs to manage the number of simultaneous operations rather than just the rate of requests, p-limit is a suitable choice.

  • rate-limiter-flexible is a highly flexible rate-limiting library that supports various storage backends, including Redis, MongoDB, and in-memory storage. It offers advanced features like dynamic rate limiting, multiple strategies, and support for different types of limits (e.g., IP-based, user-based). This library is ideal for applications that require robust and customizable rate-limiting solutions.

To explore how ratelimiter compares with these alternatives, check out the comparison: Comparing bottleneck vs express-rate-limit vs limiter vs p-limit vs rate-limiter-flexible vs ratelimiter.

README for express-rate-limit

express-rate-limit

tests npm version npm downloads license

Basic rate-limiting middleware for Express. Use to limit repeated requests to public APIs and/or endpoints such as password reset. Plays nice with express-slow-down and ratelimit-header-parser.

Usage

The full documentation is available on-line.

import { rateLimit } from 'express-rate-limit'

const limiter = rateLimit({
	windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
	limit: 100, // Limit each IP to 100 requests per `window` (here, per 15 minutes).
	standardHeaders: 'draft-8', // draft-6: `RateLimit-*` headers; draft-7 & draft-8: combined `RateLimit` header
	legacyHeaders: false, // Disable the `X-RateLimit-*` headers.
	ipv6Subnet: 56, // Set to 60 or 64 to be less aggressive, or 52 or 48 to be more aggressive
	// store: ... , // Redis, Memcached, etc. See below.
})

// Apply the rate limiting middleware to all requests.
app.use(limiter)

Data Stores

The rate limiter comes with a built-in memory store, and supports a variety of external data stores.

Configuration

All function options may be async. Click the name for additional info and default values.

OptionTypeRemarks
windowMsnumberHow long to remember requests for, in milliseconds.
limitnumber | functionHow many requests to allow.
messagestring | json | functionResponse to return after limit is reached.
statusCodenumberHTTP status code after limit is reached (default is 429).
handlerfunctionFunction to run after limit is reached (overrides message and statusCode settings, if set).
legacyHeadersbooleanEnable the X-Rate-Limit header.
standardHeaders'draft-6' | 'draft-7' | 'draft-8'Enable the Ratelimit header.
identifierstring | functionName associated with the quota policy enforced by this rate limiter.
storeStoreUse a custom store to share hit counts across multiple nodes.
passOnStoreErrorbooleanAllow (true) or block (false, default) traffic if the store becomes unavailable.
keyGeneratorfunctionIdentify users (defaults to IP address).
ipv6Subnetnumber (32-64) | function | falseHow many bits of IPv6 addresses to use in default keyGenerator
requestPropertyNamestringAdd rate limit info to the req object.
skipfunctionReturn true to bypass the limiter for the given request.
skipSuccessfulRequestsbooleanUncount 1xx/2xx/3xx responses.
skipFailedRequestsbooleanUncount 4xx/5xx responses.
requestWasSuccessfulfunctionUsed by skipSuccessfulRequests and skipFailedRequests.
validateboolean | objectEnable or disable built-in validation checks.

Thank You

Sponsored by Zuplo a fully-managed API Gateway for developers. Add dynamic rate-limiting, authentication and more to any API in minutes. Learn more at zuplo.com

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Thanks to Mintlify for hosting the documentation at express-rate-limit.mintlify.app

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Finally, thank you to everyone who's contributed to this project in any way! 🫶

Issues and Contributing

If you encounter a bug or want to see something added/changed, please go ahead and open an issue! If you need help with something, feel free to start a discussion!

If you wish to contribute to the library, thanks! First, please read the contributing guide. Then you can pick up any issue and fix/implement it!

License

MIT © Nathan Friedly, Vedant K

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