Flask vs Django: Which One To Choose In 2024?

The comparison debate between different frameworks is integral to choosing the right one for your next project. It is important to know the similarities as well as differences, the key features, and what the two frameworks offer individually. The comparison between Flask vs Django is an important one as these are the two of the most popular Python frameworks according to the Python Developers Survey 2020 by JetBrains. 

This article will help you get a better understanding of the two and make an informed decision.

What Basically Are Django And Flask?

Django

Django is a free and open-source Python web development framework that follows the Model–Template–View (MTV) pattern. Django was built with the aim to simplify the website development process and was created by Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison in the fall of 2003. It operates on the “batteries included” approach while focusing on reusable components, less code, and rapid development. 

Features of Django

Some of the most popular features of Django are given below:

• As a versatile framework, it can be used for any type of website (social network, news site, content management, and more) with content in any format like HTML, XML, JSON, etc. It works together smoothly with any framework that runs on the client side of a website.
• It automatically manages standard security features like user account management, transaction management, cross-site request forgery, clickjacking, etc. This makes it a very secure framework.
• Django incorporates the features of scalability and maintenance. Since it is a component-based framework and each layer is independent of the other, which ensures scalability at any level.
• It is written in Python which is currently the most popular language and can be run easily anywhere.

Flask

Flask is a microframework that has an interesting story to its creation. Armin Ronacher,  the creator of Flask had written two other solutions known as Werkzeug (a server framework) and Jinja2 (a template library). Out of fun, he took the two solutions and put them in a zip file together, and named it the Denied Framework before naming it Flask. When a developer installed this Denied Framework, the file automatically unzips and the two solutions run simultaneously. What was created out of fun, received a positive response, and is one of the most popular frameworks today.

Django has been around since 2005 whereas Flask is since 2010. You have to build everything on your own with Flask whereas Django is heavyweight and better for complex and complicated processes.

Features of Flask

Some most popular features of Flask are given below:

• It gives developers full control of the decision-making to build the application during the development (implementation) stage.
• Comes with a built-in development server and a fast debugger
• It has a coherent and neat API
• Easy and flexible configurations
• RESTful and HTTP request handling
• Integrated Unit testing support
• Werkzeug and Jinja2 are the two main dependencies that provide strong WSGI support and templates respectively.

Comparison Of Flask vs Django - Pros and Cons

Learning curve

If you’re new to the Python programming language or web frameworks, it is generally believed that Django has a slightly steeper learning curve than Flask. Django has certain benefits to it as it allows you to change the development team midway or if you need to scale the app with a different team after the project completion. It’s more convenient for experienced Python developers to understand the project’s architecture in Django than a project created in Flask. 

Project Speed

Django is known for creating complex web apps in record time. It provides developers with all the tools to create easily scalable, reliable, and easily maintainable web applications. On the contrary, Flask’s simplicity allows experienced developers to create small apps in short timeframes.

Offers flexibility and control

The highlighting feature of Flask lies in its simplicity and minimalism. This gives developers the liberty to implement everything as they want it with a huge range of external libraries and add-ons which makes it extensible and flexible as well. On the contrary, Django has built-in features and modules which doesn’t leave much room for flexibility.

Community support

In the case of the Django vs Flask comparison, Django has a huge community and thus immense support for newcomers and experienced developers. If you have any questions you can post the questions on various available platforms like Stack Overflow and will likely get an answer. The market for Django is relatively easy in terms of employment opportunities.

The Flask community is relatively smaller in comparison with that of Django. There’s a good chance that it will take time to get an answer if you have any questions or queries.

Frameworks time period in the market

Django came out in 2005 and has been around since. This means that the framework is developed and has gathered many extensions, plugins, and third-party apps that cover a wide range of needs and make it flexible. On the other hand, Flask has been around for a comparatively shorter period of time and thus is restrictive when it comes to options.

Which Framework Is Best for Your Project/App? Ways to Determine!

We have considered the pros and cons of both frameworks but when you’re looking at which framework will perform better with your project, it is important to consider the individual needs of your project. 

Structure of the app

If the demand of your project/App is customization and specific tools and libraries then Flask as a framework will be the best option but if you don’t require then Django will save not only time but resources with its built-in features and reasonable defaults.

Size of the project

The size of the project is a good determining factor to start finalizing a framework for your app. Flask is best for smaller, less complicated applications whereas Django works better with larger, more complex, and high-load applications. You should also consider the future scalability and growth plans for your app as well. Flask is flexible and easily extensible but that entails doing all the functionality on your own. It is easier to scale apps created with Django as it is fully featured out of the box.

Types of Projects for Flask vs Django

Types of projects that work better with each framework

• An online store will be better suited to Django, as the framework includes e-commerce modules and the ORM possibilities will be sufficient. 
• Online media would be suited to Django as the framework was originally created to cater to this niche. 
• A simple app with static content can be developed with Flask as it provides all the functionality needed and allows vast scope for customization.

Read everything about the web development process, features, design cost structure, and trends. 

Aim Behind the Comparison Between Flask vs Django

The aim of this comparison isn’t to declare one framework better than the other. It is rather to help you make an informed decision for your next project against the individual needs of your application/project. 

Both frameworks are for the rapid development of web apps and have their strong suits and not-so-strong points. It entirely depends on the needs of your project/application. If you’re aiming for flexibility and extensibility then Flask is your best option but Django offers larger community support along with a shorter development time period and resources. Also, you can hire Django developers from us for your next big project.

The main thing to keep in mind is that the individual needs of the project should take precedence when trying to choose a framework. It is not a one-size-fits-all thing but individual needs and growth take the cake here.